This simply meant that there was no one available to make decisions on the RW next steps or the logistics around supplying the boat in Krueng Raya from Banda Aceh, a one hour drive and probably involving 4 or 5 10-15 ton trucks.

We could not have got in when we arrived anyway as three Indonesian patrol boats arrived just before us, as well as the interisland ferry, so the wharf was locked up until 1400 at the earliest.

This means the crew got a day off, quite a good thing really as there are many aching muscles that need to be rested wherever possible. Currently we are at anchor just off Krueng Raya awaiting instructions.

I've been trying to talk to Pete Morris all day about the situation, the whats and whens for us, but as everytime I get through to him it sounds like he has his head in a jet engine, it is difficult to see many decisions getting made until later tonight about our movemnts. Everyone on the ground in Banda Aceh for MSF is dealing with this cargo problem, including Pete so we just have to wait for him to get through to us.

In other news though and to make myself feel like we are doing something proactive in the situation we have been putting yachts we have either run into on our voyege of the last day, or people we know supplying yachts for the relief effort in touch with Indonesian NGOs to assist with their assessed areas of need where yachts may be a good tool. Its something at least. We talked to two yachts just off Banda Aceh and also to one in Phuket Thailand just about to leave. Some of you may know Madeleine Habib, GP 1st Mate, well she is on that one, she is also ex MSF logistics. I got them in touch with Estee at Wahli so perhaps these guys will be working together soon. IDEP could also be interested so I passed the details onto them as well.

At the crew meeting today we debriefed on the loading and unloading operations thus far. Basically I think everyone is pretty pleased with how it is all going, but we are missing one vital element. We are weak on being entirely operational with getting large volumes off the boat when we are at anchor. It will be a case that in most places we are operating we will be at anchor due to wharfs being demolished in the Tsunami or earthquake, or indeed smaller isolated communities with no facitities. Moving cargo by inflatable is possbile but time consuming. In all reality we need a landing craft on board, something with a flat bottom drawing very little in the water. We are looking into this.

If we can find local fishing boats in these places, then of course it is great to use them and pay with diesel, food or a bit of money, whatever they need. We cannot always count on these guys being around though, for instance here in Krueng Raya, there are plenty of fishing boats (those that have not been sunk) in the bay, but there is noone on them or using them, which would normally be the case in the Indonesian fishing community. They are either dead or helping out somehow on land, with family, whatever, they are simply not here, I find it quite eerie.

Well that's about it from this computer, I think I'm going to have a beer and watch a movie or something. Waiting for the call from Pete, very frustrating at these points, but we need to be flexible, it's our job and it's what we are going to be.

Good Night,
Rob