Chinese New Year Cruise to Mirs Bay

Chinese New Year is always quiet for the gweilo who stay in Hong Kong over the holidays, so a few of us planned a week-long cruise up to Double Haven. We motor-sailed north out of Hebe in light wind, anchoring the first night at Tai Mei Tuk, followed by a very good-value seafood feast at a roadside Indian restaurant.

From there it was a beautiful wing-on-wing sail through the Tolo Channel and the narrow gap between Double Island and Crescent Island into Double Haven. The following days were spent diving into impossibly clear water, hiking the abandoned village trail to Cat O, and flying a drone over the old fishing village.

Heading home, Malarky broke the bolts holding the propeller shaft to the gearbox halfway across the bay, which meant an undignified tow back to Wong Shek. The weather turned for the final leg home — 20-knot easterly, blown-out mizzen sail, and two hours of the hardest solo sailing I've done.

If you haven't done Double Haven and Cat O, go.

農曆新年對留守香港的洋人總是特別安靜，於是我們幾個人計劃了一週巡航北上印洲塘。微風中從白沙灣向北機帆並進，首晚停泊大尾篤，之後在路邊印度餐廳享用超值海鮮盛宴。

之後經塔門海峽、雙島與新月島之間的狹窄水道，順風翼帆進入印洲塘。接下來幾天在清澈得不可思議的水中跳水、徒步荒村小徑上往貓洲、用無人機航拍舊漁村。

返航途中，Malarky 在橫渡海灣時變速箱連接螺旋槳軸的螺栓斷裂，意味著尷尬地被拖回黃石。最後一段回家天氣轉差——20節東風、後帆爆裂，兩小時我航海生涯中最艱難的單人航行。

如你未去過印洲塘和貓洲，去吧。