A few days ago we had again a great tour. Together with a family from Pakistan we sailed up to Kilim River. After they had left us, Gerd and I stayed there overnight as we knew we had a tour back the next day. Ian and his wife Tess with their daughter living at present in KL, booked DADDELDU because some of his friends had joined a tour with us last year and had told him not to miss out to go on an island hopping or sunset cruise with us. 

He, his wife, their daughter and a visiting couple with son from the UK came by taxi to Kilim River and I picked them up with a longboat. As it was just about 10 a.m. we did the regular tour to the bat cave, the eagle feeding and the mangrove tour. At about noon we boarded DADDELDU and took off to our hidden lagoon. After just half an hour sailing we dropped anchor and went for a swim. Our crew started to prepare lunch and I took the boy and the girl for a dinghy ride. As we have a 15 HP engine on our rubber dinghy we can plane on the water as long as the boat is not too heavily loaded. Everyone is impressed by the speed of that little boat and it is big fun to run around the little islands with it! Well, I showed them a small cave where no tourists normally go. As it was low tide we could drive into it by dinghy and it was just nice to see how much it impressed the kids. Next we drove to one of my favorite islands. Coming closer you can see how the trees grow out of the rocks without any soil. Luckily both kids had a sensitivity for seeing this kind of untouched and unique nature. I switched off the engine and we were completely silent for a while. The benefit came straight away as we saw a very colorful bird that even I had not seen before. The parents were swimming to the beach where we finally all came together again. 

But I knew the beach would be dirty so I had already planned to clean it up a little bit and carried some big plastic bags. I was delighted to see that all of my guests started to help me and within 10 minutes we had an impressive amount of garbage. Let alone the flip flops we found were about 30! Especially after spring tide twice a month all beaches are swept over by garbage that comes up from the Strait of Malacca.  Well, after we had done our work, we refreshed ourselves with a little swim. I had taken some drinks from the boat and we sat in the warm water chatting away when a little nasty fish came and bit me. Nothing to worry and no mark left on my leg, but I was not amused. 

Coming back we experienced a short thunderstorm with a lot of downpour. What a relieve that our guests had fun even driving back in the rain. It didn’t bother them the least as the rain was warm. We had a delicious meal and a couple of drinks together on the aft deck. By now our crew is such a good team that I feel like a guest myself.

 After an afternoon downpour normally the sunset is even more stunning. And so it was this day. Our guests left late and Tess, the mother of the kids told me that she envied us for our lifestyle so much that for the first time in her life she started thinking about buying a sailing yacht  herself. Again, we had a fabulous day and made friendship with people we had not known the day before.

The concierge of the Bon Ton resort gave as a call a few days ago and asked if we would be willing and capable to take a family with 5 little children. Of course this is no problem at all for us and we always see a chance to make future captains out of the little ones and to open their eyes for the beauty of being on the water with a yacht.

The oldest of these kids was eleven and the youngest one was about 1 1/2 years old.

Robin and Helen, the adults, are sister and brother coming together after many years for a first holiday. Robin lives in England and his sister in Australia. So they met” half-way”on Langkawi. 

Robin is a passionate sailor who has also participated in some great races in his life. We offered the family to sail to the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden. That is the largest fresh water lake of Langkawi and the scenery is stunning.We have been there many times and  still love to go there! 

We left the marina of the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club at 10:30 and sailed for two hours to the island Dayang Bunting. There we dropped anchor, took the dinghi and went ashore. 

It takes just a 10 minutes walk up and down through the jungle to finally come to the lake. The water is cooler than the ocean and you can be sure that there is no jelly fish at all! All of us were sweaty, so we jumped into the water and enjoyed this refreshment. 

After that I took the family for a walk around the lake. Just a few months ago a new path has been built that leads you half around the lake and ends up at a platform from where you can overlook the ocean and the lake at the same time.

“Walk quietly, then we might be lucky to see some animals”,  I told the kids and it was funny to see how excited they got. And indeed just a few meters away we saw a few monkeys right above us in the trees. Of course I had told them not to carry food or cans in their hands so the monkeys were not interested in us at all.

A few very colorful butterflies joined us for a while and some majestic eagles were flying above us in the mountains.

Noah, the little boy, went together with me and had a lot of fun climbing through the jungle and up and down the stairs. From the platform at the end of the walk we could see our boat DADDELDU on the anchorage.

On our way back we saw two big monitor lizards!

When we came back to the yacht, Shan, our Indian chef, had prepared the meal. Helen and her kids are vegetarian, but Robert enjoyed a piece of fresh mackerel.

On our way back we were lucky to see some dolphins and the kids had a lot of fun.

Coming back to the marina they were tired but happy.

Do not hesitate to go with your kids on a cruise! Langkawi is the safest cruising area we have ever seen in our 20 years of intensive sailing all over the world. The 99 islands are so close to each other that it is almost like sailing on a lake.

“MY BLUES SHIP” is a Privilege 48 catamaran, owned by Martin, a German sailor who lives in Langkawi since a few month. We were crewing for the day, myself (Andy) & Maggie my partner; we are from UK, have our own yacht so are experienced in sailing matters. As crew I am responsible for the comfort & security of our guests, also the practical handling of the yacht, on orders given by the skipper (Martin). Maggie has similar duties but on this day her emphasis was more on food preparation. The party was a family of 12 adults & 3 children from Holland. The Tanjung Rhu Resort had recommended Blue Water Star Sailing for the private yacht charter and Eva had advised to do an island hopping tour finished with a sunset cruise.

MY BLUES SHIP has a length of 15 meters & a beam (width) of nearly 10m. This gives an enormous amount of deck space plus the stability of a catamaran, so very safe and comfortable. Internally there are berths for about 16 in comfort.

We had all worked well together preparing for the trip, at exactly 11am the party arrived at the marina berth, Martin  was welcoming everyone aboard, introductions were made & all seated comfortably in the fully shaded cockpit, flowers were on the table & cold drinks were served. As the responsible captain, he distributed life vests for all who required them (mainly the children) & discussed the itinerary for the day. It was decided we should go to the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden, the biggest freshwater lake of Langkawi. The journey leads through stunning islands, all untouched, with overwhelming lush green hills and colorful and dramatic rock formations.

We slipped the lines & motored out of the marina, Martin happily sounding off the horn! As we motored towards the destination Maggie was back in the galley whilst I served drinks & generally kept things tidy, Martin was socializing, sailing stories, that kind of thing, people are always interested in our “different” lifestyle. The guests were sunbathing, taking in the scenery; chatting & the children were happily playing below.

After about 2 hours of sailing we dropped anchor in a much protected bay, lowered the dinghy’s and & Martin & I ferried the guests to the pier near the lake. Our Dutch guests had a 10 minutes walk ahead of them through the jungle to get to the lake. They took a refreshing swim, saw some monkeys & enjoyed their time. Meanwhile back aboard Maggie prepared the table setting out the food. As soon as the guests reappeared on the pier, Martin & I went to collect them. They were in high spirits having enjoyed their swim & encounters with monkeys. The lunch was served on return, everyone eat well enjoying the many varieties of sandwich, fruits, pasta salad, green salads etc, wine was served for those that wanted & the usual beer & soft drinks. Soon after lunch the guests enjoyed another swim from the boat, rinsing away the salt with a deck shower.

Up anchor, away back to Kuah, a little wind out with the Genoa, motor sailing now, everyone relaxing on deck I went around offering ice creams as Maggie finished up down below, the ice creams were enjoyed by all (me included). Dolphins away to starboard! They weren’t too playful but the guests enjoyed seeing them. Martin supervised as one of the small boys was now steering the yacht, around in a circle, ok whatever, he was having fun & that’s what its all about! As we slowly approached to the marina a beautiful sunset changed the colors of the sky and with the last light we arrived at the marina where Eva met us & gave garlands of flowers & took some photos. Everyone made their goodbyes & thanks & we were left then just to clean up a little, altogether a good day.

We joined a fantastic tour on your extraordinary motor yacht NAUTINESS in April 2007. As a family with little kids we worried if they would enjoy such a trip, but all of us had a day of great fun and unforgettable memories. At 10 a.m. we stepped on the most luxurious motor yacht we have ever had the pleasure to charter  and for a reasonable and affordable price! Worth every single penny we paid! You took us from Telaga Harbour to the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden, a cruise of about two hours. The sea was calm, as it is most of the time in the Langkawi archipelago as you told us, because the area is so well protected by the surrounding islands. Our 5 year old son Jaime had a great time with Captain Luke steering the boat together with him while our 2 little daughters where having fun to help in the kitchen to prepare some snacks! We dropped anchor at the beautiful island of Pulau Dayang Bunting, surrounded by magnificent limestone cliffs and, although such a nice place the only boat around. Unbelievable! The crew of NAUTINESS drove us with their little rubber dinghi ashore. A short ten minutes walk through the jungle took us to the famous Fresh Water Lake. Our kids had big fun to go for a swim and feed the little fishes. After about one hour we came back to the boat and felt quite hungry. What a surprise the buffet was! Tiger prawns, chicken satay, salads, fresh vegetables, tropical fruits and, last but not least the birthday cake for little Jaime! Captain Luke took his guitar and the crew sang a birthday song for our son. Me and my wife Carol had a memorable glass of champagne in the jacuzzi on the sundeck of this immaculate yacht while the crew was taking care of our kids. We sailed back to Telaga Harbour at about 7 p.m. and admired the most wonderful \r\nsunset as the topping of this spectacular day sailing the islands of Langkawi. We had to leave Langkawi the next day and we do admit that it was the best day of our 2 weeks holiday. We keep in touch and we definitely book one of your boats for an overnight stay on our next holiday. You took care of us in the most friendly and professional way possible. Thank you very much and we’re sure you will be successful in Langkawi