http://www.medanabaymarina.com/

Medana Bay is a small marina for yachts in NW Lombok. It has ten berths for yachts and 15 moorings. The berths have metered electricity and water. Ashore there are toilets, showers and a cafe.

The Marina website has good approach information on it, which is accurate. The leading lines are easily seen through binoculars and bring yachts safely into the mooring field. A night-time entry could be made as the leading lines are lit but good daylight gives a much better view of the surrounding reefs. The bay is open to the north with reefs on either side. There are red and green marker buoys marking the edge of the reefs but are not lit at night.

On arrival at the mooring field, some of the moorings seemed to be very close to the reef and to other boats. In fact, there is plenty of room for boats to swing and the moorings right at the edge still have 5m depths beneath the stern at LW. The moorings looked to be in good condition. They aren’t numbered but have black pick-up buoys. The moorings cost 100,000 Rp / night ($10). There is an anchorage cost of $5, which is to cover the cost of shore-side facilities. With a WNW wind, the boats sit side-on to the slight swell which works its way in and it can be rolly, but not bad at all.

The floating pontoons, attached to the shore by land bridges, also looked to be in good condition, with all cleats in situ and with working electricity and water. Boats can come alongside the H docks at each end (4 berths). Boats using the middle finger docks can either med-moor with an anchor out front/back or tie the sea-facing part of the boat to a mooring buoy ahead of the pontoon. Peter, the owner, recommends bows facing out to prevent the slapping of small waves under the stern. Access to/from the dock is easiest when the wind is lighter i.e. early or late in the day. You can anchor or take a mooring to wait until the wind has eased. The berths cost $16 a night, the cost currently not related to length.

There are basic cold water showers and toilets (European and squat) which are clean and functioning. The dock areas and grounds are spotlessly clean, a welcome respite from the rubbish-strewn beaches in eastern Indonesia, with staff working hard to keep it that way. Rubbish bags are immediately taken from you and disposed of when you arrive ashore so that there is no accumulation of waste to attract pests like rats.

The Sailfish Cafe is the perfect setting to enjoy a burger, Bintang or delicious Indonesian cuisine. The portions are somewhat small but good value for money. A meal ranges from 15 Rp to 55 RP ($1.50 – $5.50) and the drinks from $1 – $4. The cafe has free wifi but it’s very slow.

Tanjung, the local town, is 4 km away and has a good morning market, numerous ATMs, pharmacies and a post office. For larger supermarkets, it’s best to go south to the capital. The marina can organise air-conditioned cars and drivers to take you there or to take you for sight-seeing tours. The roads on Lombok are good, although the traffic can be quite heavy around the capital.

Peter and Ace have created a lovely environment for yachties at Medana Bay Marina. They are also very good hosts, taking time to get to know each visitor and doing their best to meet their requirements. They have good links with the local community and employ some excellent staff. The prices are inexpensive and represent very good value for money. We wish them every success in the future.

Sid, Wilf and Susan Bright

SY Yindee Plus

http://www.yindeeplus.net/Yindee_Plus/Welcome.html

The Bright family on their cutter-rigged sloop Yindee Plus are in Indonesia at the time of posting, having begun their extended cruising from the UK in 2008. Their blog has lots of interesting reports and twin sons Sid and Wilf have their own blogs also.

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