![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/svslowflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/bugs-edit-1.jpg?resize=576%2C1024&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/svslowflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/bugs-everywhere-edit-1.jpg?resize=840%2C630&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nYup…they made an appearance just after the new year. We saw a few flying around our boat. Didn’t think much of it until they kept on appearing…every other day or so around 2-4pm when the boat would heat up from the sun. We finally thought twice and took a better look at them…and then a lightbulb went off!!!! TERMITES?! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/svslowflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/wtf-edit.jpg?fit=840%2C630\")
We saw a few holes in our companion way and tapped it with a screwdriver….. someone has been busy.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/svslowflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/wtf-wings-edit.jpg?fit=768%2C1024\")
More evidence…they drop their wings when they have found a mate and burrow to make a new colony…ekkks…<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n We spend days researching them, what to do about it, and finally trying to find companies to fumigate us, the only option we were comfortable with as it had been 2 months of these little %&#@$! <\/strong> eating away at our home. We have so much wood in our boat and storage space in places a small child couldn’t get to, there is no way to detect where they are without tearing EVERYTHING up and out and searching tirelessly for days or weeks. Fumigation it is…however, this is not an easy task. Especially when you are trying to organize it around the holiday season and then when you have already committed yourself to volunteer for a regatta. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We had a company come out to inspect our boat…this was a joke (though they were just trying to do their job) as again there was no way to detect them. We unfortunately killed the ones we saw so there was “no evidence” of them present. So I decided to start a collection and I would send the company’s manager photos just to prove we had them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/svslowflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/wtf-inspection-edit.jpg?fit=840%2C630\")
Keep looking guys….<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/svslowflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/wtf-my-collection-edit-577x1024.jpg?resize=577%2C1024&ssl=1\")
My collection has started…I had many more later…they stayed alive for over a week?!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/svslowflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/wtf-my-collection-close-up-edit-768x1024.jpg?resize=768%2C1024&ssl=1\")
Its not a flying ant which is what we thought back in Kumai. They don’t have a segmented body like ants do…<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n Finally, they agreed fumigation was necessary (after multiple long discussion that we live on this boat and for all safety reasons, can’t have termites eating away at it…in the middle of an ocean!!!). We had a date for a team from another island, Penang (the local office did not have a fumigation team in Langkawi) to come fumigate…unfortunately it was right in the middle of the regatta. We spoke to our “boss” and they said they understood and would let us “off” for that day. However, when that day came, it was determined they could not do it where our boat was because it was a safety hazard. Apparently, the gas they use is deadly…duh…just didn’t think to ask about WHERE we should be for such a lethal chemical..silly me. So the fumigation was called off…for now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Royal Langkawi International Regatta<\/strong> was a blast…even though we\/I was dealing with scheduling the fumigation. We learned a lot and moreover…that we don’t know crap about racing sailing boats. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/svslowflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Regatta-sign-edit.jpg?fit=768%2C1024\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/svslowflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/regatta-training-edit.jpg?fit=840%2C630\")
Training day: Had to go through a bag which had spcific itens for each boat. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/svslowflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/regatta-training-anchors-edit.jpg?fit=840%2C630\")
Different anchors for different marks and for the boat.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/svslowflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/regatta-gear-radio-edit.jpg?fit=768%2C1024\")
Large and HEAVY radios each mark boat had so we could contact each other.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/svslowflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/regatta-markers-edit.jpg?fit=840%2C630\")
I never realized how large these marks are….. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/svslowflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/regatta-pins-edit.jpg?fit=768%2C1024\")
The “Pins”….they mark the start and finish line<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/svslowflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/regatta-simon-edit.jpg?fit=840%2C630\")
Simon, our ruthless leader (LOL). He has been doing regattas for many, many years throughout asia. He was headed to Dubai next. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n We got to choose which mark boat we wanted to be on…originally both Trevor and I were on the “Pin boat” (I had no idea what that meant at the time) but as soon as I hear the Start boat had a “real bathroom”…I jumped ship : ) Trevor stayed on the Pin boat while I was to be assigned, in “luxury”,on the Start boat. What I didn’t know was the amount of work that goes on the Start boat…bathroom might not of been the best trade…just kidding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/svslowflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/regatta-start-boat-edit.jpg?fit=840%2C630\")
The start boat<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/svslowflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/regatta-start-boat-flags-and-course-edit.jpg?fit=768%2C1024\")
On the start boat we had to signal which racing class was on what course at the stern of the boat. Each flag represent a class. The numbers represent the course.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/svslowflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/regatta-start-boat-race-class-and-course-edit.jpg?fit=768%2C1024\")
Each race, which there were usually 2-3 races a day, was determined by the wind direction and speed and the the capability of each racing class.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/svslowflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/regatta-start-boat-wind-direction-edit.jpg?fit=840%2C630\")
I love this guy…this was Simon’s right hand man for the managing the locals on the mark boats, media boats, and the authorities. He is determining the wind direction with a piece of cassettt tape around a pencil and a compass…clever…a new trick up my sleeve…just need a cassette tape : )<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/svslowflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/regattta-start-boat-horn-edit.jpg?fit=768%2C1024\")
The horn…we had to blow it between each start of each class, and the finish line. They let me “toot” it a few times <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/svslowflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/regatta-trevor-in-pin-noat-edit.jpg?fit=840%2C630\")
Trevor on the Pin boat. They would basically follow the Start boat as they would set the start and finish line… They really didn’t do anything else…so Trevor tells me. He basically played video games on his iPad all day…rough life!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n So the race begins…. so much easier if you just see it for yourself : )<\/p>\n\n\n\n