ADVENTURE CRUISING IN THE PIRATE ZONE
With rainforest, rivers, the world’s top dive spots, unique wildlife, and sea-gypsy communities, the island of Borneo is a fantastic place to explore by yacht. So why are its north-eastern waters devoid of cruising boats?
The only way to sail safely is with a military escort by the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM). And the only way for that to happen is to join the last leg of the Sail Malaysia Passage to the East Rally. Coves, mangroves, shoals, creeks and reefs make it tricky for pursuit boats to patrol this area. For cruising boats, though, it is a dream destination.
In 2020, with Malaysia in lockdown and international borders shut, the rally was cancelled. No tourists and very little shipping for the past few months meant nature had been making an explosive comeback. We persuaded the rally organisers to run the final leg for just six crews who were marooned in Sabah and desperate to get sailing. With luck, we would have the water to ourselves.
INTO THE DANGER ZONE
The downside of sailing in any rally
