Currently based in the Trobriand Islands of Papua New Guinea he didn’t hesitate to up-anchor and sail the 5500 odd kms to visit us. After 8 weeks of sailing and stopping off at small islands through PNG, Indonesia, Micronesia and the Philippines he finally arrived in Kaohsiung. Thanks to a good mobile phone reception just beyond sight of land north west of Luzon I quickly alerted him of Typhoon Nuri that was looking like crossing his path in the Bashih Channel between the Philippines and Taiwan. An extra three day anchored down in the shelter of Santiago Island, Luzon, meant he arrived in Kaohsiung Harbour on the 25th of August. Just 3 days before we departed to Japan for 2 weeks.

Though the timing was bad for us, it fitted in nicely with the Kaohsiung International Regatta held on the 6th and 7th of September, a practice run for the World Games here in Kaohsiung next year.

Keen to enhance the race’s “International” standing, Leprena II was enthusiastically encouraged to participate as the Australian entrant. Two TV stations and a newspaper interview helped promote the event and catapulted this solo-sailor into a minor local celebrity.

Wearing a fisherman’s hat and white beard this old man is Peter.

Although approaching his 70’s he is still as fit as a young man. It took him a month to sail to Taiwan for the upcoming event.

He sailed alone with his yacht from Australia and on the way he was robbed by pirates in Indonesian waters.

 

He tried to combat the pirate with a shotgun but couldn’t and was later tied up and beaten. There are scars left from knife wounds both on his arms and legs but such an ordeal does not dent his courage. Instead it adds more life experiences.

There is a deeper reason for his drive to come to this beautiful island of Taiwan. His son has found his roots in Taiwan.

 

..which has also made him a “Taiwanese” grandfather. Taiwan is just like a second home to him. You may catch a glimpse of Peter at the yacht display area of Glory Harbor this Saturday between 2 and 4 pm for public viewing. For those who are interested please come along and discover the charm and beauty of yachting.

FTV reporter Liao Jing-Hsiong, Kaohsiung.

 

Correction: The pirating occured 3 years ago in PNG waters

The regatta and race by all accounts were very successful. Though suitably built for distance racing, solar panels, wind generator, a hull full of belongings along with a quickly convened crew of locals meant Leprena II came in 5 minutes outside the race time limit to score a DNF (Did Not Finish). Though he was very impressed with the pre and post dinners, hospitality, crystal participant’s trophy as well as a substantial participation reimbursement.

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It is fair to say that very few yachties make it to Taiwan. It took half a day to clear customs and immigration on arrival. A simple sail outside the harbour requires lengthy crew and itinerary registration. Motoring inside the harbour is apparently not permitted as we discovered during a leisurely Saturday cruise.

Leprena II has been moored at the Shaochuantou yacht pier at Sizihwan opposite the ferry point to Chijin Island. It is a great location in the hustle and bustle of Kaohsiung harbour. A popular destination for outdoor wedding photo shoots and now very crowded on weekends as the port-side destination station of the newly opened orange line of the KMRT.

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Both Grandpapa and the boat are a huge hit with the kids. If the success of a sleep-over is measured by how little sleep is achieved I think Leprena II ranks most successful.

He is currently in Hong Kong where his partner Frances will join him. They will return here for another month by which time this very busy typhoon season will have hopefully subsided. They intend returning to PNG via Philippines and perhaps Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Typhoon Fung-wong has been bearing down on Taiwan for the past few days. Like a thundering bowling ball it hit the central east coast early this morning, hurled over the 3000m mountain range and left the central west coast early this evening. Though the winds were not too strong, the rain has been steady. And there is yet more to come over the next day as the tail of the typhoon drops its remaining water. It is now on its way to China and hopefully on course to Beijing for a final scrub down before the Olympics.

Today was a typhoon holiday, the second in three weeks. All government and major businesses were closed to allow people to stay home, watch TV, sing songs and nibble through mountains of snacks. Small shops and many markets remained open for business. Like the rain jacket van and the vegetable vendor below.

Things are generally well organised for the heavy rains. Drainage is pretty good, all rivers have large levees, bridges and overpasses are built to deal with the volumes of rain that can come.

Our own laneway is prone to flooding whenever we receive more than a few hundred millimeters over a couple of hours. Despite regular complaints to the authorities and the occasional re-digging of the drains, most the neighborhood have resigned to providing individual flood control. We let the floodwaters into the outside section of the house but board up the two ground floor entries to give us an extra 30cm of flood comfort. Last year the boards were reached twice. So far this year they have not been reached.

And every good rain takes out at least a few roads. Typhoon Kalmaegi three weeks ago washed out sections of this road below. The excavators here are widening the river just 2 day ago. In anticipation of more flooding perhaps?

Or an orchard placed too close to a river.

When it rains, people generally just get on doing what they always do.

Here are links to some East Asian typhoon resources.

• Taiwan Central Weather Bureau 
• Japan Tropical Cyclone Information
• Typhoon2000, a great reference for all typhoons