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.
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