Exmouth - Western Australia

Saturday - 10/08/2013

One of the first jobs we had to do when we got in the marina was wash the dock down, this section of the marina is a brand new dock the whole finger was still being completed whilst we were there, the work commenced in March when they drove the poles in and then May they commenced installing the floating docks. No sooner than they had the first section in a colony of sea gulls (hundreds) moved in and they stay on the dock most of the day and night so you can imagine the droppings and the smell was a little high. The marina management do not know what to do about them they are not allowed to shoot them so they are hoping that when the boats start moving in the gulls will find somewhere else.

(The new marina finger the mast right down the far end is ours)

We are told that we were lucky to get a berth as when all the work is completed which was completed the day before we left, all the berths are booked out by locals and there is a waiting list with a lot more people wanting berths.

I did a search for a car hire in town there are the four usual services with cars at $97 per day plus insurance, then I found Allen's Car Hire, he has his own fleet plus an agent for Hertz, his own fleet is aged cars in good running order not flash but alright at $55 per day plus $20 per day insurance so we organised that and the crew on 'Banyandah' went halves in the costs and we ran around together. Glen has another crew member flew up from Tassie Louise she is going as far as Geraldton.

So Nancy and I walked to town picked up a cheap hire car from Allen's Car Hire, we drove up to the CBD which is quite small checked things out and went back to the marina. Allen's Car Hire is also a car and boating gear store so we were able to pick up some gear whilst we were there.

We called into 'Banyandah' on the way passed and told them about the car and discussed what they wanted to do about fuel runs and shopping and having a look around. We decided to do the fuel run in the morning and then go for a drive, do the big shopping on Tuesday car goes back Wednesday.

After that we returned on board to do work, 'Alana Rose' has not had a good wash since Darwin and she is filthy and crusty with sea water. Anchoring off the coast with SE winds brings the desert dust plus places like Port Hedland and Dampier with the iron ore loading, although I must say these two places were quite good as they spray the storage down with water which keep the dust levels down.

Nancy cleaned inside whilst I cleaned outside and that is how the afternoon was spent.

Whilst washing the boat Nigel came to see me and said that a bloke heard us talking fuel and he has some fuel that is surplus to his needs and he would sell it at a discounted price, was I interested, silly question, course I was interested with fuel prices at the bowsers  at $1.85 litre. So we went then and picked up our discounted fuel in our containers.

Fuel prices in Exmouth that we saw was as follows:

Caltex main service station in town $1.85

Exmouth Fuel Supplies next to Allen's Hire Car $1.81

Caravan Parks out of town $1.81

(Exmouth Game Fishing Club)

Sunday - 11/08/2013

We all piled into the car and went into town for a look around sourced the Laundromat for the 'Banyandah' crew had coffee picked up a few items from the IGA stores, there are two of them and I have been told owned by the same person, it pays to look in both before buying as prices differ between the shops on different items.

We had coffee before heading back to the marina via the Thirsty Camel, they had my beer on special and some wine specials so I picked some up.

 After all the work and showered we all had dinner at the Exmouth Game Fishing Club which is located at the marina just at the top of the finger we was on so not far to walk home. Very good food very friendly service and drink prices very good. We all had a good night before returning on board for a good night's sleep.

At dinner last night the young lady that served us told us that they had roast dinner Sunday nights so we asked if we could book, but unfortunately they were booked out which is the case for most Sunday's you have to book early. So Louise said that she would cook us a roast dinner so we had roast dinner on 'Banyandah' and a good entertaining night with much liquid refreshments.

Monday - 12/08/2013

All in the car for a tour of Exmouth. We headed out of town towards Tantabiddi Boat ramp and anchorage as we were interested to see where our first anchorage would be. On the way we stopped at the Harold E Holt Communications Naval Base which is detached from the aerial farm a few kilometres away. This base used to be the USA base for communications with their Submarines which was back in the cold war days.

Out the front of the base is a model submarine or part thereof, at the back of it is a door with a window and when looking inside there appears to be a mini submarine but I cannot find any information about it.

(Submarine model outside the Naval Base)

(When looking in the window of the above submarine I spotted this which looks like a mini sub but I cannot find out anything about it)

(This is the sign outside the Naval Base, an interesting point the township of Exmouth only came to being in 1963 after this Naval Base)

Websites of interest (You may have to copy and paste address):

http://nautilus.org/publications/books/australian-forces-abroad/defence-facilities/naval-communication-station-harold-e-holt-north-west-cape/#axzz2bvQyBjRF

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Communication_Station_Harold_E._Holt

From here went continued down the track until we reached the turn off to the light house

the Vlamingh Head Lighthouse is located 17km north of the Exmouth. The Lighthouse overlooks Lighthouse Bay and has the distinction of being one of the few places in Australia where you can watch the sun rise and set. The Lighthouse was built in 1912 and stands on the northernmost tip of the Cape Range.

 

 

(SS Mildura's anchor with the Lighthouse in the background, it was after the Mildura run aground that the lighthouse was built)

Website information:

http://www.exmouth.wa.gov.au/vlaming-head-lighthouse.aspx

This site was also used during the war having a radar tower and this was camouflaged with sandbags in front of a timber wall and camouflaged netting, the steel structure still standing and there are some sand bags or the contents of them remaining probably due to the rain wetting them and the sun drying them making them like mud bricks.

(The old radar framework and remaining sandbags)

(Warning about not going near the sandbags)

 

 

 

At the base of the lighthouse hill is the Lighthouse Caravan Park  and holiday units.

 

 

(The Lighthouse Caravan Park below and those towering antennas)

 

 

From here we went to Tantabiddi boat ramp and had a good look at the anchorage, when we get here in the boat we have to pass through reefs, this is well marked with leads and port and starboard markers. After checking this out we drove up the road a short way to the rangers station but decided we would not go into the National Park. We then headed back towards town calling in at the Homestead Caravan Park to see if we could get a coffee but we struck out on that cold drinks only.

We then called in at the Turtle Centre, although it is not the time now for turtles to come ashore to lay eggs the centre has a lot of information and has the story of the turtles life. We walked onto the beach front and watched the crashing surf from the SW swell and I suppose we all quietly thought about being out there in this type of seas on this coast.

(The turtle Centre that has displays and information)

(These pictures are all around the centre that tell the turtle story which I have copied below)

The turtle story.

Hatching turtles from sand to sea, the mother lays eggs in the sand on the beach,

we grow down below out of reach, when the sands are warm only girls are born, when the sand is cool it is boys as a rule,

we hatch out in the sand after 8-12 weeks, it takes 6 days to the surface, then the ocean we seek,

 We dodge gulls and crabs to reach the waves on the shore, the dangers won't stop there will always be more,

as we enter the surf we swim for our lives, to avoid hungry fish we have to dart and dive,

for the next 8 years you may think we are 'long gone', but we drift on the currents growing big and strong,

 more than 20 years later we start heading for home, only one in a thousand  will arrive fully grown,

 between the reef and the shore near the beach where we hatched,  we meet in October  to look for a match,

high tide at night people must take care, for females on the beach are easy to scare,

we dig holes in the sand and lay eggs in our nest, we leave about a hundred there's no time to rest,

the cycle of this journey is a natural trend,  with your support and care,  we will be back to breed again.

We then called in to the Lighthouse Caravan Park for that caffeine hit, but again disappointed.  Many places here have some days of operation only and this was not one of them.

Before going back to town we detoured to the cape to see the wreck of SS Mildura there is not much left these days as the sea has taken most away.

 

So it was back to town for a coffee and lunch, after lunch we did the important shopping, the needed and probably not needed but wanted refreshments, beer, wines and spirits. My XXXX beer was still on special so got some more of that, the back of the car was filled with goodies. So we returned on board storing our goods.

(The serious shopping for the two boats)

As 'Banyandah' supplied dinner last night we did tonight, so dinner on 'Alana Rose' and a few more liquids, Nancy had a surprise belated birthday cake from Nigel.  Nancy's birthday was on the 4 August and we were in Dampier and had dinner at the Mermaid Hotel Restaurant and we did not tell Glen and Nigel it was Nancy's birthday only that we did not want them to do anything special. This had come up in conversation about ages last night when it was pointed out I was the old man of the group. Well Nigel had put his talents to work and made a cake. So when our dinner was finished and Nancy was washing the dishes Nigel went back to their boat got the cake and brought it back lit the candles and sang happy belated birthday to Nancy. The comical part was the only candles that they had on their boat was left over from someone else's birthday, two numbers  '65', they could have put them 56 but Glen thought it would be funnier having 65. So we had another great night with great company.

(Nigel with Nancy after presenting her with a cake he cooked for her)

Tuesday - 13/08/2013

Today all back in the car to town to get food stores, the big shop and the 'Banyandah' crew did their laundry whilst we all shopped, with all groceries loaded we went for coffee then back to the boats to unload and pack away. After lunch Glen and I went back into town to get unleaded fuel, oil, gas and a few items we required. Then returned on board.

We are waiting for the weather to change for favourable sailing down the coast, meantime doing a little maintenance to the boat today I scrubbed the grass skirt off the hulls, the moss around the waterline is growing well.

Tonight we all had a quiet night on board.

Wednesday - 14/08/2013

I started the washing early as we had a lot to do the car had to go back this morning so Nancy took the car back and I stayed on board and finished our laundry, when that was finished I checked the engines and gave them a bit of a run.

The afternoon was spent getting some blog notes together and photos.

Another quiet night aboard.

Thursday - 15/08/2013

Today is the big challenge, testing our skills on eighteen holes of golf. The five of us walked to town and hired our clubs and ball at the mini golf course, yes 18 holes of mini golf. What a fun time we had, I think we changed a few rules along the way or at least made some up.

 

(We all had fun)

This was followed by lunch at the Grace's Tavern before walking back to the marina and the rest of the day was quiet.

Friday - 16/08/2013

Looks like we sail tomorrow after checking the weather  strong winds behind us to start with but should be a good sail.

Nancy went into town to do the fresh goods shopping whilst I did checks on the boat, checked bilges, giving them a clean out and checking bilge pumps and alarms, give the engines another run in and out of gear, toped up fresh water tanks . Gave the boat a hose down cleaning the week of dust off it.

Glen and Nigel came over for a quick sundowner

 

s before we all went to the Exmouth Game Fishing Club for dinner again, very nice meals at good prices. We had the mandatory bottles of red wine, it was a good night. Back on board for a good night sleep as we will sail in the morning.

Cheers.

Dampier to Montebello Islands and Montebello Islands to Exmouth via Thevenard Island

Wednesday - 07/08/2013

I woke up around 0250 hours and could see the stern light of 'Banyandah' in the distance, Nancy was also awake so I made a cup of tea and we got ready to sail, we set off at 0315 hours and motor sailed out of the  anchorage and into the side of the shipping channel. I could just make out 'Banyandah' as she runs a tri-light at the top of the mast which can be seen at a further distance due to height, they are probably 5-6 nautical miles ahead of us.

(Chart showing anchorage at Enderby Island where we left from for the Montebello's)

I also had two other sets of lights which looking at the iPad AIS on the net was tugs towing barges coming my way I passed the first one near the end of the shipping channel and the other a little way out to sea. We had some good wind and we sailed quite well as dawn broke I could see we were gaining on 'Banyandah'  gradually we had 63NMS to cover today and we had to get to the islands in good light. Out near the islands are some major gas plants, gas wells linked together via under sea pipe works to I Varanus Island where there is gas and oil plants, these have restricted zones where we can't sail so we have to go around the marked areas and these areas are only marked on the charts.

(Chart showing the no go areas each place is a gas well head)

(One of the well heads)

 

(Chart showing track into the Northern Passage, lat/long for each waypoint as on the chart)

(Disturbed water with the tide flow at the entrance of Northern Passage)

We were just behind 'Banyandah' when we entered the Northern Passage into the Montebello's we anchored at the first bay on Trimouille Island, this island is where the British tested the atomic bomb in 1956, there are three sites where this occurred, once on the island there are some warning signs advising not to stay more than one hour per day as radiation could cause problems. The problem is the weather has to rule us and it tells us we can only really stay one night or a week. A week would be nice but then we may miss the right weather for getting down this western coast line which can be treacherous. So it is good that we sailed early so we got here early enough to have a look around. We left the first anchorage after going ashore and went to the southern anchorage on the same island. The islands here are beautiful and it is a shame we have to leave after such a short visit. The end of the day we went over to 'Banyandah' for sundowner's.

 

(North anchorage at Trimouille Island, waypoint as on chart)

(The above warns that a British Atomic Weapon was test exploded above this point in 1956, there are a total of three areas that this happened in these islands)

(This sign is near the beach)

(View from land of the northern anchorage)

 

(This chopper landed on the hill and then hovered over the water for some time, they had something lowered on its hoist, not sure whether they were taking readings or what)

(This monitor does not appear to be affected by the radiation levels its and others tracks were all over the place along with many old turtle nests)

(Main Bay anchorage at the southern end, waypoint as on chart)

We discussed what we were going to do the next day Glen said they were going out to the western side of the islands and heading for Serrurier Island, at this point I thought we would head back towards the coast as the wind predicted did not suit us being a catamaran we do not point into the wind as well as a monohull, so it maybe we head different directions but we would catch up somewhere going down the coast.

We wished each other fair sailing before we left their boat and went back on board for dinner and an early night.

Montebello Islands to Exmouth via Thevenard Island

Thursday - 08/08/2013

Ready before first light although we need the light to see our way through the maze of islands, although a very short visit I am pleased we made the effort to see them. At this point with the wind blowing and it's direction I have not made up my mind which way we will go, I will wait until we get outside of the island and make the decision then. We went through the small gap north of Daisy Island and steered a course to bypass the restricted area when I realised we have to go out of our way a fair distance and when we turn we would have the wind in the wrong area for sailing so we decided to go with 'Banyandah' idea. We had to sail south before crossing the islands to the western side where water depth allowed. We took a slightly different path to 'Banyandah' due to the pointing into the wind difference. I had found both chart plotters accurate in this area and now hoped they continued to be true as we passed over water 3 metres deep. The unnerving part was the water is so clear you can see the bottom and it looks so close. Banyandah was able to short cut across but we maintained the same level going down the island, they were able to stay in a straight line on course where we had to tack, as soon as we got passed the shallows at the bottom of Barrow Island I was able to tack SSE and that put us quite a way ahead of our mates.

We did not make the miles we had hoped for so we all decided to anchor at Thevenard Island and we anchored there at 2040 hours so it was a long day.

(Anchorage at Thevenard Island, waypoint as on chart)

Friday  - 09/08/2013

Up at sparrows as usual before first light getting ready to sail, at first light we weighed anchor  and motored to the gutter channel of shallow water and found our way out through that passage, once clear of the passage we hoisted the mainsail and unfurled the headsail and we were away under sail. It was a beautiful morning blue skies and bright blue seas, ahead of us was a couple of ships one appeared to be on the move and I tried to call them but did not get a response, it was moving in front of us and I wanted to know if it was towing the other vessel.

(The track out through the gully of Thevenard Island, chart plotters were quite accurate)

I continued with caution and kept checking with the binoculars and could not see any tow lines so we continued on our way enjoying the sail. We got to Flat Island some 25NMS from where we started and the wind died, at first I thought it was because of the island but it did not recover to what it was and we slowed somewhat.

We had booked a berth at Exmouth Marina, they have a new finger (dock with number of berths) there now with a 20 metre catamaran berth which they allocated to us, we told them that we may not get there in office hours and would confirm our ETA when we get closer. They were very obliging, it is run by the Department of Transport and have very nice staff being Ainsley and Marcie.

We had to continue to sail towards Sunday Island as that is where the wind favoured us for sailing when we reached this point we had to turn towards Exmouth, this meant head on wind and tide against us. We were motor sailing at 6.2 knots through the water but only 4.2 knots across the ground, losing 2 knots is quite big but we were still on target for 1730 hours.

Nancy rang Ainsley and told her of our ETA and she said she would leave all the necessary stuff in the power box, she also emailed us a layout of the new section of marina so we could see where our berth was.

As we approach Exmouth one item stands out well before you see land and that is the aerial farm of the naval base, these antennas are very high, taller than the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State Building. I will tell more later.

(Radio antennas, when first seen they look like they are coming out of the sea.)

(I had to change course to give way to this big boat 'Mermaid Cove')

We was allocated the 20 metre cat berth, thinking it was a cat berth we assumed that the dock would run both sides and rigged up for a stern starboard side to. However, the design of the marina is that one side of the berth is pontoon and the other is poles with securing devices on it, so when we were rigged for starboard side to we had to go in bow first. This caused another problem and that was that the power and water was so far away, so we went out of the berth Nancy with some grumbling at me raced around changing ropes and fenders over for a port side stern to. Just as we got settled 'Banyandah' came in passed us and said they will pop over for a belated sundowner's once secured alongside.

(One thing we had to do on arrival was wash the dock due to the droppings from this and many more friends)

After sorting everything out we went for a walk to check out where everything was, the toilet block is a good walk and is very airy with a good gap between walls and roof, the men's similar to that of the women's has two toilets, one being a disabled toilet that also has a cold shower, there is one other shower for marina guests that is locked and the key is supplied that has hot and cold shower taps. On the marina complex is a Game Fishing Club which is probably the majority of type of sailors in the area, their facilities are much larger with a lot more toilets and showers, I would imagine members have a key to these, but they are open when the restaurant is open.

After our sundowner's we had a meal and crashed in bed. 

Cheers.

Port Hedland to Dampier

Port Hedland to West Moore Island

Saturday - 03/08/2013

We were ready at first light and followed 'Banyandah' out of Port Hedland, when I got up at 0530 hours there was one ship already passing us on its way out of port with the four tugs and after we had got out of the port there was one on its way in. We had notified the port authority that we were entering the channel and let them know when we had left it.

There was favourable winds again for the morning and up until mid afternoon and we sailed quite well until then although we could not quite keep up with 'Banyandah' and in the very light winds after lunch the crept away in the end we had to start an engine

It was our plan to sail to Cape Conssigny and because we were sailing so well in the morning Glen called on the radio and suggested we keep going to Depuch Island, we agreed we would follow. Later when they were creeping away from us I called Glen and asked if he was getting some wind that I wasn't, he said no unless they have strong winds they motor sail, they had been doing that all day so I was quite pleased to see that we had been keeping up with them most the day under sail.

(Chart showing track into West Moore Island's bay. Note that when coming around the small reef  give it a very wide berth and it is quite shallow close to it we had to change course as we started to run out of water depth. The wreck that is marked on the chart in the anchorage area is no longer there it has rotted away.)

We ended up anchoring just on dark at West Moore Island, it used to be a pearling farm but has closed down, it now has a fisherman's lodge, (West Moore Island Fishing Lodge), the owner was very obliging and offered a mooring there which 'Banyandah' took they did offer it to us but we said no they could take it. It is very protected in the bay behind the island, it may also be worth mentioning that the wreck that is marked on the chart is no longer there as it has totally rotted away.

We had a beer and then dinner and had an early night.

West Moore Island to Port Robinson

Sunday - 04/08/2013

Setting sail again just after first light leaving a very comfortable anchorage of West Moore Island's Bay we headed towards Point Samson one problem we were looking at was a place to anchor and Glen suggested that we may be able to go into the marina there, he had spoken to a bloke in Darwin that came from there, he said he would contact the harbour master when we were closer.

We had a good sail and as we neared Point Samson Glen made contact with the harbour master, the problem was that we had to get there before 1330 hours or we would not get in as there would not be enough water to get in. The entrance is dredged to zero datum so there is only the tide height to get in and out this we could not do so we had to look at another plan.

(Ships loading as we pass Cape Lambert)

(Some of the hardware used for the loading of ships)

We had a discussion and we suggested Port Robinson and so we agreed we would go there so we changed course to round Cape Lambert a loading wharf for iron ore and then headed down to Port Robinson. Charts indicate pearl farm on the way there but these have also been removed. We entered the port following the guide as the water is shallow and there are some reef areas. The shallowest we had was 2.2 metres and this was near low tide.

(Chart showing track and anchorage at Port Robinson, the charted pearling area is not operating)

We dropped anchor and settled down we invited the boys on 'Banyandah' over for sundowners and dinner. We had only met Glen (owner/skipper) before we had not met Nigel. Glen bought over some potatoes and onions saying he never comes empty handed, Nancy told him to take them back but he would not have it. We had a good night and a few laughs not to mention some refreshments.

Nearby is a caravan park which has many caravans parked there are also some caravans and campervans parked on the beach or near the beach, one campervan on top of the hill would have had a great view.

(A room with a view, camper on top of the hill)

(Looking across the water at the gas burning towers at Dampier)

We had a very enjoyable night, two very nice blokes.

Port Robinson to Dampier, via Flying Foam Passage

Monday - 05/08/2013

Setting sail early again but with light winds we had to motor sail most of the way. We headed to Flying Foam Passage which conjure up many thoughts of racing waters and I believe it can be if you enter at the wrong tide times, we had picked the time of near slack water and had no difficulty whatsoever, it was very calm. The other concern we had was that the passage was choked with pearl farming only enough room for two boats to pass. Well again the pearl farms have gone, there are large boat moorings near Collier Rocks to the edge of the centre of the channel, I did see a light on the near last buoy we passed near where you have to change course to keep in the deeper water.

(This mooring buoy had a light attached and is the one where we had to change course to follow the passage and was one of the last buoys we passed on the way in)

(There are an assortment of mooring buoys in this part of the passage)

(Chart showing our track from Port Robinson to Flying Foam Passage, we had picked the tide right to go through the passage and it was calm all the way)

As we left the passage we enter a massive harbour area and the chart indicates channels to the many different docks, I got the iPad out and checked the AIS on the internet for ship movements, there was a couple of tugs and a large ship going to the salt loading wharf not near us. We called the harbour authority to let them know our intentions and they thanked us for that. We headed across all the channels making sure we stayed out of the restricted circles by the loading docks and continued to the channel that leads to the small boat anchorage near the sailing club which is right at the other end of the harbour.

 

(Coming to the end of the passage the Dampier infrastructure stands out)

'Banyandah' entering the harbour)

 

 

(Entering Dampier harbour, there are many channels marked to the different jetties, they have a turning circle and or a restricted area that we had to stay outside )

 

 

 (Nigel and Glen concentrating as we pass them in the harbour)

 

When we arrived we noticed that the anchorage areas was quite full of moorings many of them are used by working boats for the mines and gas and oil rigs, we anchored on the outside edge of these although we could have gone closer in near the beach where Glen went.



(Chart showing anchorage area, looks confusing with the channel markers but it is not confusing although going to the anchorage there is a cardinal marker that was not on the charts)



(Again the anchorage in a closer view)

Once secure we thought we would go ashore and see where things were we wanted to get a few supplies, fuel and water. We went to the Hampton Harbour Boat & Sailing Club where the office was open and spoke with Lyn, a really helpful person, she explained that they only have a small supermarket now with limited supplies as all the big shops have moved to Karratha, diesel fuel and water is available on the dock but ULP fuel is from the Truck Stop or Karratha both quite a distance away.

We headed up to see the supermarket and checked what they had to sell and did the shopping whilst we were there. They also have a bottle shop there and their prices are reasonable not that we needed anything there.

After checking things out we headed back to the boat to get some chores done. I started with a water run taking all our containers ashore which totalled 160 litres, Nancy operated the tap whilst I filled the containers in the dinghy then once back aboard I transferred the water into the starboard tank which near filled it. By the time we did this and had showers it was time to go ashore for dinner.

There is  the Mermaid Hotel which has a nice restaurant, although we were told the main bar can become rather rowdy and they have girls come from time to time showing quite a bit of skin, we missed out on that. We had dinner with Glen and Nigel at the restaurant which was very pleasant, when we first arrived at the hotel for drinks then dinner we bumped into the manager and he made us feel really welcome explaining where things were and what's on.

At dinner we discussed what we was going to do we wanted to head out to the Montebello's which is due west about 63NMS sail, Glen and Nigel said they would like to see them also, looking at the weather we were not sure if we could fit it in, my concern was the wind direction when we had to head back to the mainland. After much chatter we decided we would go the plan was for another day in Dampier then leave.

It was unfortunate that the Sailing Club only opens a few nights a week and we were leaving before one of the open nights.

The Sailing Club has a great complex with a double boat ramp with floating docks, a dinghy dock for dinghies less than 3.5 metres opposite this dock is another dock that some of the smaller working boats use, very large tinnies which they use to ship crews out to the larger working boats, this dock has a water tap and hose where you can top up water containers. These docks are well protected with a rock wall around it. Outside this dock is the fuel dock that is very busy, you have to book phone Shirley on 0400 238 724, she is a bit of a character and not backward of telling you off if you do the wrong thing. Diesel prices are quite good at $1.85 per litre same as the service station in Exmouth.

Tuesday - 06/08/2013

As soon as I was up I went with all the water containers and topped them up and used this on board to do the washing. The sailing club has one washing machine and we knew the boys wanted to use that so we used our own on board. I did the washing and Nancy did the hanging out after that was finished I did another water run which was enough to fill the tanks and have our normal 60 litres reserve.

(This is the Sailing and Boat Club's boat ramps with docks and the dinghy dock on far left and workboat dock on the far right)

(The dinghy dock on the right as you enter the enclosure from the harbour)

(The workboat dock which is opposite the dinghy dock and there is a tap and hose for water at the inside end of the dock, be careful at low tide it gets shallow near the tap)

(Filling the water containers)

(Returning to the boat with the water)

Glen contacted us and said he was organising the fuel run so I asked if he could tag me on the same run and I would meet him there at the awarded time. This he did and we had to go to the dock at 1000 hours, this is when we both got into trouble with Shirley, Glen got told off for organising me to come along I got told off because I did not ring her and give her my details. Actually she was alright but she was pointing out how things should work. We filled our containers and said we needed to return for more so she organised 1400 hours for us.

Later Glen contacted us to tell me that Shirley would be a little later and that he had talked to a local bloke who suggested that we sail out to Enderby Island this afternoon, around 10NMS which would make our trip shorter to the Montebello Islands. So after fuelling up we readied for sailing and set off for the island. Between the port and the island there are a lot of moored barges and working boats some are lit at night some are not. I had a good sail out there until the last mile when we ran out of wind. We had an early night, 'Banyandah' was going to set out at 0200 hours in the morning we decided we would go later.

Cheers