Its quite understandable that, having made the long trip to Ball, you might like to put on the sail covers and head inland. Ball is, after all, one of the world's most magical islands. Yet, there are some great short sails to be had, to nearby islands, that are well worth a trip.

Nusa Lembongan, Ceningan, Nusa Penida
This is a classic day out. The passage across to the three islands off the east coast of Ball is only about 12 miles and conditions are rarely arduous.
The island group comprises Nusa Lembongan, the only one with any noticeable tourism; Ceningan, smallest and great to explore by push bike and Nusa Penida, large, but only 30,000 people and very, very undeveloped.
The anchorage at Nusa Lembongan is on the west coast and easily identified by the range of leisure craft anchored in the bay. Best to grab a spare mooring to avoid reef damage, but you may have to move at some point. Lunch ashore is fun - look out for Coconuts right in front of the baby surf break; Wayan's, up on the cliff in the right-hand bay and the Waka or Nusa Lembongan resorts, fora more up-market experience in the bay directly South of the anchorage. Nusa Penida is almost entirely steep-side-to. Two anchorages of note here are Crystal Bay at the south of the Ceningan Channel (great snorkeling, but prone to swell with any wind in the south) and Toyapakeh at the north of the Channel (where the go is to take your dinghy and explore the channel between Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan-motor south and drift back on the current....)

The Gilis
Not the most unique names ('Gili' means island!), this group of three tropical jewels are, nonetheless, quite special.
Located off the northwest corner of Lombok, they are a good day sail from Benoa. Hug the shoreline as far as Candidasa, to catch the back eddies, then bear off toward Gili Trawangan.
Gili T, as it is known, has become quite the happening island, popular with the party crowd from Europe. Not a great anchorage in the channel and watch out for fierce currents. Only worth it if you really want to let your hair down.
Gili Meno is almost uninhabited and has an unusual inland freshwater lake.
Gili Air is the choice. Take care to avoid the large reef off the southwest point and another small reef just south of the lagoon. The entrance is best found by tracking well south along the middle of the strait to the south of the island, bearing up to north and swinging west into the lagoon once clear of the small reef. If the wind is in the south (it can get up unexpectedly), better to anchor in Tuluk Gnarat, the bay directly south of Gili Air. Once on Gili Air, take a horse and cart around the island (there are no cars anywhere on the Gilis) then grab a hammock and kick back with good winds off the Java Sea to cool you.

Authors : Richard McCandless The Yacht Haven