Voyages of Four Friends, 4F

30/03/2018

The voyages of Four Friends continue with the National University of Singapore! Read more about her expedition to Anak Krakatoa in February 2018.

On 25 February, 15 NUS staff, students and alumni set off on a week-long NUS Study Trips for Engagement and EnRichment (STEER) voyage in collaboration with Tembusu College, from Jakarta to the Krakatoa archipelago. The trip was the ninth voyage by NUS Seafarers, an initiative of the Office of the Se...

20/05/2016

The good ship 4F, and Captain Blake are back in Balinese waters - keep an eye out for the handsome schooner, and her even handsomer Captain!

27/12/2015

The inmates who chose to remain on 'prison island': Pulau Buru was one of our most memorable anchorages. With some of the clearest waters we observed, we enjoyed superb diving & snorkelling. Unusually, the local inhabitants were not particularly friendly - perhaps because of the island's history...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-35129415

BBC Indonesian's Sri Lestari visits Indonesia's Buru Island for political prisoners to find out why they stayed, even when they could have gone home.

13/11/2015

Wonderful news for those wishing to cruise in Indonesia: by presidential decree, visiting yachts will no longer need to have the C.A.I.T (clearance approval for Indonesian territories) permit to cruise in Indonesia! Nor will the temporary import duties be payable.

yacht, waters, sea, indonesia, regulation

13/11/2015

Mr & Mrs Captain Blake have safely arrived back in Singapore with the Ship, and got treated to a sumptuous meal at the Fleckers (celebrating their anniversary!). It is wonderful to have Warren and Tue, as well as our grand lady Four Friends back at Changi Sailing Club. Next stop: Langkawi, via some minor works at Dalac Marine!

26/10/2015

Just five countries account for 60% of the plastic-based rubbish that ends up in our seas. Sadly, Indonesia is one of the five, as we observed at even the most remote islands and beaches we visited.

We're so excited to share with you the results of more than a year’s worth of research about how we can stop plastics from entering the ocean! Today, we’re r...

05/10/2015

A rather different free-diving operation undertaken in an autumnal East Sussex, England, to help fix a leaky swimming pool! Our tropical wet-suits didn't quite cut it for this dive, but our trusty assistant peahen kept it fun!

29/08/2015

Dash and Indi loved jumping off the ship - one of many jumps captured in an unusual way!

22/08/2015

The charming McDonough family (Ryan, Mel, Indi and Dash) join 4F for her leg from Bau Bau (SE Sulawesi), past Kakabia Island, the Taka Bone Rate marine national park, and finally to Salayar Island.

Ryan first sailed on old Four Friends (the ketch) when he and Phil were just ten years' old; for this trip we got to introduce the next generation of McDonoughs (Indi, 7.5 yrs old, and Dash, 4.5 yrs old) to adventures on the seas.

The title of the album comes from the kids' love of jumping from high places off the ship!

22/08/2015

Two filters are located at bottom of image: the fresh water filter (to flush the system with filtered fresh water), and the 5-micron filter at right to filter all the plankton and sediments out of the sea water. Next, the sea water passes trhought the high pressure pump (top right), on an electro-magnetic clutch driven pulley off the starboard ship's diesel engine, forcing the sea water through the membrane (black tube) at 800 psi. Fresh water is produced out the other end, which feeds to the ship's water tanks. The blue coloured control panel controls the various components of the system: booster pump, and high pressure pump as well as flushing of the system.

22/08/2015

Nestled on the forward bulkhead between the ship's main engines (that sexy fire engine red), is the Open Ocean water maker (http://www.openoceanwatermakers.co.nz).

Driven by the starboard engine, a high pressure pump takes filtered sea water from outside, and forces it at 800 psi through the reverse osmosis membrane (the black tube visible at centre right), producing 110 litres of the purest fresh water per hour.

20/08/2015

The curious 'leaning rumahs' (houses) of Padang kampung, Pulau Salayar. As usual, we were welcomed with huge smiles and 'hello mister!' by young and old alike. The small communities we have met along the way in Indonesia have been - without exception - hugely friendly and welcoming, together with a substantial entourage of children by the end of each visit.

17/08/2015

The ship has returned to Gili Trawangan, in the Lombok Islands. After four months of deserted islands and wonderful locals, the return to a party island is a tad bit jarring for 4F's crew... At 0400 tonight we head back to Bali!

15/08/2015

FOR SALE: We are selling our 4 month old pristine condition & lovingly well maintained dive compressor LW 100 portable at SGD 4,500$ including 8 final stage filters + 1 spare V-belt. If you know any one who may want it please put them in touch to negotiate pronto! Delivery in Bali / Singapore possible. Price negotiable for quick sell!

14/08/2015

If you haven't yet had the chance to cruise on 4F, here are some interior shots of the ship captured by Oriel. Not pictured is the forward cabin, which has a large double berth plus a upper third berth. Altogether, the ship has thirteen berths, but is ideal for eight adults.

14/08/2015

Tom K. and Tim K. introduce the third generation of 4F'ers! Tom, his son Jack and daughter Emma, Tim and daughter Sophie, together with friends Trevor, Pascale and her dad Rick cruise from Sorong (West Papua), through Rajah Ampat, to Seram Island.
Tom's father Charlie is one of the original Four Friends, and now Tom continues the tradition for a new generation of 4F.

14/08/2015

Scenes from various dives in Rajah Ampat, Seram, Kakabia, Taka Bone Rate.

14/08/2015

Our delightful week+ layup at Pulau Doom, in Sorong West Papua. It was such a delight to hang out with the distinctly Papuan kids of the local island during our long stay here.

13/08/2015

We just bid farewell this morning to the awesome McDonough family: Ryan, Mel, Indi (7.5 yrs) and Dash (4.5 yrs) at Salayer Island. Together, we sailed from
Bau Bau to Kakabia Island, Taka Bonerate marine national park, and onwards to Pulasi and Salayar.
Ryan last sailed with 4F when he and Phil were ten years' old! It was such a pleasure introducing the next generation of 4F'ers with Indi and Dash. Stay well you guys and thanks for the spare bilge pumps, sumptuous cheeses and Tim Tams! We love ya!

03/08/2015

But a brief moment reconnected to the grid to put up some updates, and only but a few pics on the phone! We had a wonderful 13 days with Tom K, Tim K, Jack, Trevor, Sophie, Pascal (plus Pascal's dad Rick - but too short a stay!) and Emma cruising from Sorong through Rajah Ampat, and back to Seram Island where we had a truly memorable couple of days in Ora Bay. Here we gained an insight into the production of Cloves, which partly gave the Spice Islands their fame in history. A big THANK YOU to Tom and Tim, our 4F brothers and family! We miss you guys!

03/08/2015

The ship arrived in Bau Bau, SE Sulawesi the day before yesterday, and its crew are enjoying the delights of dry land!