Malacca Sailing Guide, Malaysia

Malaysia

Peninsula Malaysia runs from Singapore to the Thai border with approximately 400 miles of coastline forming the eastern boundry of the famous Malacca Straits.

Navigation through the straits is not difficult with a few shallow areas which are well buoyed and lit. Commercial shipping traffic is very heavy and a good watch is essential day and night.

The once legendary piracy in the Malacca Straits is less of a problem today. Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia introduced tough anti-piracy measures in 1992. There have been reports of a few cases concerning commercial shipping, but many yachts make the passage without problems. Patrol boats from both countries will be encountered in their respective waters.

There are good road and rail links between all the coastal towns and to Kuala Lumpur, where there is a major international airport. Ferry services also operate between Singapore and Malaysian ports, Penang and Langkawi and between Langkawi and Thailand.

There are two seasons corresponding to the northeast and southwest monsoon, with May to October being the wetter season. Winds in the Malacca Straits are often fickle and strongly affected by the local land masses of the Malay peninsula and Sumatra.

Small, sometimes quite strong, squalls called “Sumatras” are frequent. Thunderstorms are common and insurance companies often have to deal with lightning strike claims.

In recent years thick smoke haze from forest fires in Sumatra has been a problem limiting visibility in the Straits.