Captain’s Log: Kutad Cove, Corregidor and Subic Bay Yacht Club Marina

Feb 5-8

Hi All,

Yea…we did it!!! Leg 1 of MMMAC is completed….Mystic Moon Malaysia to Alaska Cruise…..say MAC….ok, if you have a better name bring it on….Kota Kinabalu Malaysia to Subic Bay Philippines was leg 1!!!!

– N 14 50, E 120 18; 540nm made north; 2820nm more northing to go; ~6750nm to Sitka Alaska!!
– 774 nm total
– 653 gal diesel used
– 112.6 engine hours; 111.6 GEN hours (love that AirCon!!!)
– 1.37nmpg….not too bad slowed down a lot as well as bashed and fought adverse current
– no fishing
– 22 days, 2 nights on passage; 20 nights at anchor

Kutad Cove: Why oh why when you are comfortable in an anchorage that is protected on 3 sides that the WIND and SEAS decide that it will be 180* opposite the forecast and come in the gap…..yep….Mr Weather is laughing his head off again. We did have a very relaxing “snow” day capped off with a yummy steak dinner and a 2002 Cosentino Syrah….excellent!!! In the middle of the afternoon the winds shifted to West….as right into the cove….and built to the 10-15kt range….fortunately Mystic stayed right into the winds and with the flopper out we were fairly comfortable. The very lovely resort….well, nice to look at, security came out in a boat asked how long we were going to be…leaving tomorrow…ok, you can stay….are you a member….no….sorry you can’t come ashore….even for dinner/drinks…..sorry…..fine!!!!

Corregidor: Hmmmm…..this is getting to be deja vu….a loud windy noise at 3am…yep, the wind is doing 10-15G20 kts in the anchorage…..doesn’t bode well for our 13nm run to Corregidor…..sure enough, forecast from all FOUR models….5-15kts….what do we get….20-30G35kts, 2-4′ North swell, 3-4′ NE wind chop..pretty much on the nose…TG it was only 13nm….slowed to 5.5 kts and just rode it out….spray and all……whaaaaaaaa!! 13nm, 5.8 SOG, 2.5 hours!

We think we have a proxy for the weather models….if it is blowing >30kts in the Pacific that is enough for the winds to blow over the mountains and we get hit hard on the lee side through all the gaps…..<30 kts the models do ok…..well, the last 5-6 days it was blowing >30kts in the Pacific and we got hammered…so now we know!!!

Corregidor has a lot of history, especially during WWII. We enjoyed our tour very much although it does not seem they are set up for drop-ins….I think most people arrive with prearranged tours and tour guides. We get to the anchorage about an hour after a big ferry arrives from Manila…with about 60 people. We launch the dinghy and go over to the pier…too high for our dinghy so we will beach it….but a security guy on the pier motions us over to the ferry…there the captain says tie alongside….oh, great, thanks….when do you leave….2:30pm…ok…it is 10:15ish so no issues…..hmmm…..the security guys asks if we want a tour…yep…ok, but all the buses/jeeps are being used….really….wait about 30 min…ok, so he walks us to the admin office to pay…..after about 45 min another guy comes by and says wait another 50min….I say no, we have to catch the ferry….his eyes get very big….gets on the radio and yells lots of local stuff….10 min later we have a jeep….Edward is our guide….he is a Captain on a local boat that brings tourists to the island….like, not a normal tour guide…but, don’t worry I’m pretty good….AND he was….wow….what history…..and those guns/cannons/mortars are huge!!!!

“From December 29 to the end of April 1942, despite incessant Japanese aerial, naval and artillery bombardment, the garrison on Corregidor, which consisted of the 4th Marine Regiment and combined units from the United States Army, the US Navy, and locally recruited Filipino soldiers, resisted valiantly, inflicting heavy enemy losses in men and aircraft. (maybe 17k men)

The defenders were living on about 30 ounces of food per day. Drinking water was distributed only twice a day, but the constant bombing and shelling often interrupted the distribution of rations. When the bombardment killed horses of the Cavalry, the men would drag the carcasses down to the mess hall and they would be eaten. The continued lack of proper diet created problems for the Corregidor garrison, as men weakened and lacked reliable night vision. From Cebu, seven private maritime ships under orders from the army, loaded with a supply of food, sailed towards Corregidor. Of the seven ships, only one reached the island, the MV Princessa commanded by 3rd Lieutenant Zosimo Cruz (USAFFE).

Japanese bombing and shelling continued with unrelenting ferocity. Japanese aircraft flew 614 missions, dropping 1,701 bombs totaling some 365 tons of explosive. Joining the aerial bombardment were nine 240 mm (9.4 in) howitzers, thirty-four 149 mm (5.9 in) howitzers, and 32 other artillery pieces, which pounded Corregidor day and night. It was estimated that on May 4 alone, more than 16,000 shells hit Corregidor.

As of about April 15, 1942, the combined strength of the four fortified islands—including US Army, Philippine Scouts, Philippine Army, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Philippine Navy, and civilians—totaled about 14,728.[2]

From April 28, a concentrated aerial bombardment by the 22nd Air Brigade of Maj. Gen. Kizon Mikami—supported by ground artillery on Bataan from May 1–5, preceded landing operations.

Japanese propaganda to its home population repeatedly declared in this period that Corregidor was about to fall, followed by weeks of silence when did not happen. Imperial General Headquarters finally declared that the resistance was becoming a serious embarrassment.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Corregidor

Here is another good article written from a Japanese perspective:

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/08/10/national/history/corregidor-stands-silent-sentinel-philippine-history/#.WnuOrKiWaUk

The tour normally is 2 hours and we could have easily taken 4 hours….they have a small but informative museum….we got to spend 20 min and could have stayed an hour…..we got to see many of the bunkers/batteries including Geary Battery which took a direct hit and with its loss Gen Wainwright was forced to surrender. Edward takes us to the Milinta tunnel….but, it is closed for a show….can we see the show…yes, it starts in 10 min….so we pay and it’s a walking 30 min video of the 1942 Japanese bombing, Macarthur’s retreat, the Filipino President and life in the tunnel…..very well done!!! We get out and it’s 2pm….time to go to the ferry, so we missed the south end of the island tour, including the Japaneses memorial…only 40 of 5,000 Japanese soldiers survived. We get to the ferry, launch the dinghy and 10 min. later on Mystic we see the ferry leave….whoa….that was close!!!

SBYC: We left Corregidor at 7am and made it to Subic Bay Yacht Club marina by 12:15….we had trawler like conditions 80% of the time…as forecast….hmmm….one out of five the last 5 days, 20% accuracy…..Mr Weather is just a grinin’:)))) So what happened the other 20%….well, we were close to Mt Silanganan with the winds <5 kts, then bam, 20-25G30….WTH….lasted maybe 6 miles, seas built to 2-3′, made us turn on Mr Leaky stabilizer….arghhh!! 42nm, 5.5 hours, 7.6kt SOG

We were met on the dock by a host of boat buys….Oliver is the lead guy and we quickly contracted with him to wash Mystic….he took one look and said what happened…we said Mindoro winds and he just nodded and said we’ll get right on it….he had 3 other guys and they did the best wash job Mystic has had in a very long time….canvas and all….USD60…he will start on the detail/polish tomorrow!!

Also……due to all the downtime w/the internet and a senior moment I forgot to discuss our trip to Calauit Park. We left Busuanga Bay on Wednesday, Jan 31 around 9am for the 3 hour trip, like over a week ago….~21nm, trawler like conditions until the last 4 miles….then 15-20G25…ugh!!! This Park was developed by President Marcos in 1976……they brought over animals from Kenya….giraffes, zebras, et al…..and let them roam the island. It was a cool thing to do….we’ve never fed a giraffe before….still didn’t pet the zebras….they looked and acted pretty mean. Some bad news though, the gazelles didn’t make it due to poaching and they still have other animals hunted from time to time….the guide says it’s also from the indigenous people who got displaced and want their land back!!

https://www.thepoortraveler.net/2013/04/calauit-island-wildlife-preserve-african-tours-coron-palawan-philippines/

The Plan: For the next 2 weeks it’s all about TLC for Mystic….fix leaky stabilizer, clean fuel tanks, touch up bottom paint, major detail on the outside and a long list of engine maintenance….lots of hot yoga time…ugh!!! We haul on Monday and Steve (New Zealand Wesmar Tech) arrives on Wednesday…..may the force be with us and my back survives!!!

But wait….JOMTTFA…..just one more thing to fret about…..there is a LO/Tropical Depression forming south of Guam that the GFS model tracks all the way to the Philippines….not good if it should intensify into a cyclone. Good news….it tracks well to the south over Cebu….about 250nm away…..good news….the Euro model has it not as intense and further south…..we shall see!!

Hope all is well:

John
Mystic Moon

PS: Finally pictures on the website but not w/o a lot of anxt. Globe the bigger carrier sucks…3G and throttles you back with no warning. So, as people advised we went and got a 2nd Sim card from the rival carrier, Smart….4G….we put that in Kathy’s iphone and the Verizon sim in her old phone…..whoa….sign of the times….3 sim cards!!!

https://www.mysticmoonvoyages.com/photo-gallery/nggallery/main-album/Busuanga-Philippines

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