Darwin - our first days

Saturday - 03/11/2012

After arriving in the marina and Rob and Alison left to let us settle in and said we could go over to their place once we were settled and invited us for dinner.

We secured the docking lines and got the covers out and put those in place then we set up our portable air-conditioner and found that it is just not quite good enough to do the whole boat so we had to keep changing it from salon to cabin for night time. Once settled and showered we got ready to go out. Alison and Rob picked us up and we went to the Dinah Beach Cruising Yacht Association Club for dinner and a few drinks. We had a good night.

The first week and a half as gone by like a blur it has gone that quick and I have not made notes to say all the things we have done we have been in company a lot with Alison and Rob and their family which has been great They have fed us so often I said we will have to pay board.

Sunday was a rest day we did not do much at all then on Monday we caught the bus into the city and was surprised that our pension card gives free bus travel and it is only $2 for anyone else. We had a walk around town and had a coffee before starting the shopping when the shopping was complete we caught a taxi back to the marina and unloaded everything and packed all away. The city has changed quite a lot since our last visit as I mentioned before but the city is still very nice and relaxed.

Alison had offered her car to us and I first declined as I do not particularly like using other peoples vehicles but on Tuesday (06/11/2012) I did change my mind and asked to use the car to go and pick up another air-conditioner so we have one in the salon and one in the cabin, I also bought a bit of timber to make a false door that I can put the exhaust hose from the portable air-conditioner. So that was the Wednesday's project to make the false door and get that air-conditioner up and working.  We had sundowners on Ted and Desley's boat that is on the end of our dock with another couple and their names escape me at the moment.

Friday we went into the city on the bus again to do a little shopping and in the afternoon we had organised a sundowners in the BBQ area of the marina and had about eight or nine people turn up which was good, after sundowners we headed to Alison and Rob's for dinner and organised the work for the weekend to get their yacht out of the water and on the hard.

Saturday we headed to the Dinah Beach Club and marked the ground out where we were going to put Rob' yacht 'Babe' on the hard, a crane arrived and we moved eight concrete blocks in place that 'Babe' would sit on. Then after a couple of thirst quenchers at the club we headed out to fill some sand bags to go on top of the concrete blocks.

(All blocks in place ready for 'Babe' The Pig on a Mission)

(Out bush we found a sand hill to fill the sand bags)

Sunday was a rest day and Monday was getting 'Babe' ready to be hauled out, Rob, Alison and I removed the mainsail, sail bag and headsail this would reduce windage now that we are entering the cyclone season as the boat will be out of the water for a while. Once all this was done it was time to run around and get necessary items like pick up the slings so that we could rig them before we got to Dinah Beach, get a pressure washer to clean the hull when we had her out. The slings were huge and we had a bit of fun handling them into place.

('Babe' with the slings in place at the dock at Alison and Rob's house)

At 1600 hours we went through the lock at the marina and it is a lot easier with a narrow boat. We motored to the club and Rob showed me the skills of 'Babe' with two propellers turning around in a narrow waterway just like a catamaran. 'Babe' originally had one outboard motor, Rob bought a diesel that drives a hydraulic pump and the props are driven by two hydraulic motors very effective.

(Just out of the lock gates, they still look very narrow)

(Going down Sadgroves Creek between the moored boats)

 

(Dinghy dock and sea entrance to Dinah Beach Club)

 

('Babe' going up)

('Babe' on the blocks)

The crane arrived just as we arrived then the trial and error started with finding how the crane could lift us without causing damage to the mast or stays, once that was sorted out 'Babe' was lifted out onto the blocks and then we cleaned her down with the pressure wash. It was a big and long hard day and I think we were both a bit done in at the end of the day I know I slept very well.

(This was the eclipse that we saw this morning, 14/11/2012)

Well that's the week that was.

Cheers.

 

 

 

Darwin, NT

These are a few scribbles of my experiences of Darwin over the years.

I have fond memories of Darwin with my first visit being the 31 December 1967, New Years Eve, we arrived on HMAS Attack one of the first Attack class Patrol Boats to be commissioned. We were the first warship to be stationed in Darwin since the second world war, so it was a big event in Darwin and for us crew.

(HMAS Attack underway on show before heading to Darwin)

The population of Darwin those days would have been somewhere between 10,000 to 15,000 at most, there were no major supermarket outlets in fact the married men that had their wives in Darwin used to join syndicates to bring fresh vegetables in sharing the cost of freight as it was cheaper than getting it from suppliers in Darwin. There was a good number of the population to see us arrive in Darwin. The problem was that I think we arrived on a record low tide and we probably looked so small to those looking down from the wharf that they probably thought we were the escort.

New Years Eve and I copped first night duty, but it was not all that bad other ships (non-naval) at Stokes Hill Wharf had parties going on and some young ladies attending would wonder over with a drink or two and keep me company a few New Years kisses here and there, I was enjoying myself so much I did not wake my mate to take over the watch at 0200 hours in the morning I went right through to 0600 hours, my mate cursed me the next morning.

These earlier days in Darwin were a lot of fun of course socialising was centred around pubs, BBQ's, or smokies (parties), basically it all had to do with drinking. Hotels had the normal opening hours of 1000 to 2200 hours Monday through Saturday not open Sundays. A number of Hotels had a late night which was shared, Darwin Hotel Wednesday, Fannie Bay Hotel on Thursday, Parap and Dolphin Hotels  Friday and the Sea Breeze Hotel on Saturday. Late night meant they stayed open until midnight and they had a band to dance to those nights and naturally everyone would converge on that late night hotel. Those days the general population were government workers and essential services and many worker lived in hostel type accommodation. The Bank of NSW (now Westpac) staff lived in the upper floor of the bank. The main shopping area was in and around the main streets of Darwin, Nightcliff was just starting to grow with the opening of the Dolphin Hotel out there

I left the Attack later in 1968 with a medical problem with my left ear I was crash drafted, the first day I saw the new doctor he flew me out to HMAS Penguin  the Naval Hospital in Sydney. I had to do the milk run flying Darwin, Adelaide, Melbourne then Sydney arriving in Sydney at 2330 hours where a WRAN Driver was there to pick me up to my surprise and the drivers at the time, it was not normal for a lowly sailor to get such transport. The driver was a little displeasured on this our first meeting but we have stayed long life friends since our meetings later.

I had a return visit to Darwin in 1970 and 1971 when on a survey ship HMAS Moresby and naturally went ashore for an ale or two, we went to the Green Room at Hotel Darwin and I can remember this bloke coming up to me and asking if I remembered him, Chris Powell, we went to school together when I was 11 years of age in England. Darwin had changed in 1971, they had television and that buggered the place people had stopped socialising and stayed home to watch the box the place became civilised.

The place grew over the years and by 1974 there was a population of around the 43,000. 1974 saw me back for a visit as I had just left the Navy and had near three months leave before I could start work at Alice Springs where my wife then Sandy and I had decided to give a try. I had friends off the Attack in Darwin that had paid off before me and we thought it would be good to catch up. They tried to talk us into staying, I even had a job offer on the spot if I stayed. It was a blessing that we did not as in that 1974 Christmas Day cyclone Tracy hit and destroyed more than 70% of Darwin. HMAS Attack was driven ashore still chained to a hurricane buoy weighing some 75 tons and cracked the hull but another patrol boat HMAS Arrow was sunk after the storm had ripped the anchor winch and chain from the deck that was secured to one of the other hurricane buoys she hit the wharf and two good crew were lost.

(Cyclone Tray damage around Darwin 1974)

 

(HMAS Attack was dragged ashore still attached to the hurricane 75 ton mooring)

(The damaged HMAS Arrow after it was salvaged from near Stokes Hill Wharf and dragged to Francis Bay)

I was in Alice Springs and the first I had heard of the cyclone was at 2300 hours Christmas Eve, my wife then Sandy wanted to go to late church, not that either of us were religious so I agreed to go, we had been working hard helping a friend get a new shop up and running and for some days I left my normal job to go and work on the friends shop so we had not heard any news. It was not until the Padre said lets us pray for our friends in Darwin and hope the cyclone passes them without damage.

I don't know why I did not sleep that well that night and I remember turning the radio on early in the morning and heard that all communications to Darwin had ceased no one knew what was going on no contact could be made. I don't recall why but I got my portable radio that had shortwave frequencies and connected it to the whip antenna on my old Toyota 4x4 and started going through the frequencies and actually picked up the first communications out of Darwin which was transmitted from a merchant vessel, after this broadcast they stated that they would transmit the same broadcast in 15 minutes if anyone was listening and had a tape recorder to record it and play it to others that may have friends and relatives in Darwin which we did . I sold the reel to reel tape recorder to a friend in 1987 when I left the Alice and not thinking that recording went with it.

I volunteered to return to Darwin if I could help but it was not to be, I worked with a volunteer group escorting the Darwin refugees from the outskirts of the Alice to the registry office and made sure they were looked after. My wife then and I would finish work have some dinner and go out and work as a volunteer till early hours in the morning then go to work the next day. One afternoon just as we started the escort duty a car pulled up and a familiar head yelled out to me, it was Danny the charge engineer off HMAS Arrow that sank in the cyclone he had some of the crew with him. I made sure they were OK and asked to be excused for the night from volunteer duties, I found out where they were billeted and went and got two cases of beer and we sat drank and talked, they had been through an horrific ordeal not just the sinking and having to abandon ship but when all settled they went home to see the house was no longer there and did not know what had happened to their families. They did find that some sailor had been driving around during the cyclone saving families and taking them to a safe place. I believe the same sailor lost his own wife during this storm.

I finally got to Darwin in 1975 and it was eerie with all the trees that were now without branches but had new growth which made for skinny trees. Whilst I lived in the Alice I was to return to Darwin socially and for work and after the cyclone Darwin just kept growing. My last visit was 1996 and there is some incredible changes since that visit and now. The Vic Hotel is still there although modified a little but still has the same stone walls. Hotel Darwin is a new hotel, the original Darwin Hotel bought by Paspaley  that had a heritage listing suddenly disappeared over night, obviously had an accident with a dozer. The Paspaley family was the rich people when I first came to Darwin and I would imagine that the original Paspaley then is probably no longer with us but the family business has grown, Paspaley Pearls is a big thing here now with a number of Pearl Farms the family own let alone the real-estate they have done very well over the years.

(The Victoria Hotel Darwin, known as the Vic Hotel, I met some characters in this place in the old days, Johnny the Ringer comes to mind, he used to get barred from different hotels from time to time but was a harmless bloke worked on a station to earn money then come to town a blow it)

Darwin is still a lovely place and it is still laid back probably not as much as in the 60' and 70's no place is, but it is still a relaxed place. I guess I classed myself as a Territorian once when I lived in the NT and I don't really think that ever left me because I always felt more at home in the NT not saying I would return for good but after the years I lived hereit had a great impact in my life.

 

Darwin City skyline ahs change over the past few years with multi story buildings and they appear to be growing in numbers. We are still finding our way around but I am amazed how the place has grown down towards Humpty Doo areas. Helping Rob yesterday setting up to haul his yacht out at the Dinah Beach Yachting Association Club and also having diner there on out first night ashore I have to agree with what Rob said, this club is the old Darwin, very laid back nothing really flash but good to be there. The yachties would suffer badly if it weren't for this club.

(Dinah Beach Cruising Yacht Club)

(A sign on the gate to the dock at the club)

 Cheers

 

 

 

Darwin and Bayview Marina

Saturday - 03/11/2012

After talking to Rob and Alison last night on the phone we made the plan that I ring Jo the lockmaster at the marina at 0600 hours and organise the lock opening at 0800 hours then pick Alison and Rob up near the sailing club to assist us with local knowledge and to get through the lock. This plan failed because to have the lock opened prior to 0900 hours you have to phone before 1800 hours the day before. Rob suggested we head off before 0800 hours and contact Jo at 0800 hours when she is available to answer the phone and book for 0900 hours this we did but there was still a hold up as I was not expected to arrive until tomorrow and they had to move a boat out of the berth so it was a little later that we got in.

I picked Alison and Rob up in the dinghy from the boat ramp near the yacht club at Fannie Bay, this was our first time meeting them and it was a pleasure, very nice people. When we arrived on board Nancy had engines going and we were ready to head off after the introductions. We did not have to rush as we had plenty of time after contacting Jo and finding that we could not get in until 1000 hours. This gave us time to chat and get to know each other, the incredible part is that Rob and I had possibly met before in 1986 when we both worked in Alice Springs not that we could remember but highly possible.

Going along the waterfront we could see the enormous changes to Darwin with a lot of new high-rise buildings. The waterfront itself has also changed with the industrial and fuel installations moved away from the city waterfront and new wharfs also in the industrial area. The last time we visited Darwin in 1996 the only marina was Cullen Bay now they have Tipperary marina, Bayview marina and one they call the Duck Pond which is mainly used by the fishing boats. We actually chose Bayview through default as it was the only marina that could take us and secondly we could fit through the lock gates. Cullen Bay we could fit but they do not have permanent live a boards. However, this marina appears to be the better marina for protection in case of cyclone and they also have cleaner water in the marina through the flush through water system. As an added bonus the marina is very clean and has great views of beautiful homes and gardens all around it.

(Stoke Hill Wharf)

(Stokes Hill Wharf used to be a working wharf in the days before the 1975 Darwin disasterrous cyclone Tracey on the other side we used to have the pontoons where we used to dock the Patrol Boats now it is a place of eateries and coffee shops)

 

(As we passed the Fishermans wharf and Paspaley Shipyard with the high-rise buildings of Darwin in the background and there are more being built)

(Going up Sadgroves Creek between the moored and anchored boats)

(Bayview Marina showing the track in)

 

 

Bayview Marina is located up Sadgroves Creek at Francis Bay, after passing Stokes Hill Wharf and along passed the other marinas we came to the mouth of Sadgroves  Creek and Rob suggested we pick up his mates mooring and wait the time out there which we did and had a cup of tea and a chat.

At around 15 minutes before we were due in we slipped the mooring and motored up the creek, this creek all but dries out at low tides so we needed to go now or we would miss our chance as it was we were later than we wanted to be because now the tide had started to rush out and we were hoping for the entry to be at the top of the tide when it is still. The creek is full of moored boats and is a little bit like an obstacle course to weave through them, they say it will be worse at the end of the month when the yachts anchored at Fannie Bay head to the creek for the cyclone season.

As we neared the lock gates we had to wait for a boat to come out, the lock gate looked so small and I must admit I was a little nervous as we approached. The lock will take boats up to 7.25 metres wide and we are 6.93 metres wide. Normal fenders are to wide to fit between the gate and the boats sides, we had purchased some flat lengths of rubber to act as fenders. We neared the gate and I lined up the boat to go in and just as we started to enter the tidal flow swung the stern  putting us on an angle, I could not go astern and retry because of rocks to the side and the danger of the tide pushing the stern towards them and damaging the rudder so I had to try and correct it by using the engines and still go forward. Rob, Alison and Nancy worked hard fending the boat away from the gate but we did make contact and put a few scratches on the port side which I will have to repair. After getting through the gate and in the lock proper we secured to the wall and Jo closed the gate and filled the lock lifting us about one metre. I had to sign paperwork whilst we were there and I think my signature may have been a little rough. Once to the right level the inside lock gate opened and we had to go through that but there is no tidal influence so it was not too bad.

 (Bayview Marina lock gates, yes thos narrow grey doors, they are a little scewed from the track in which can cause problems, the tide going out pulls to the left.)

(Some hours after we arrived in the marina Sadgroves Creek and the marina entrance at low tide)

(This is when we were in and up against the lock wall, I called this phot 'bloody narrow')

(The gates closed behind us)

(After securing to the lock wall we start going up as the water is pumped in)

(Rob who helped us greatly, thanks mate.)

 

(Sorting out the paperwork with Jo the Lockmaster)

(The lovely lady Alison what a great couple Alison and Rob are, thanks Alison for your kindness)

(Inside the marina, the heart rate has slowed and the hands have nearly stopped shaking)

Now that we are in we have had some tips on the way others bring wide boats in, many get a few crew on the side of the lock with ropes and they walk the boat in, they also use timber planks over the side of the boat so if anything hits it's the planks that take the damage.

Jo the Lockmaster she was very helpful and a nice person with it, she helped us get this berth when we made the enquiries.

Once inside the marina it was quite nice and we went on a tour around the waterways whilst we waited for the other person to vacate the berth, once he had left we went and settled into our berth, met a few locals and Rob and Alison walked home as they have a house on the waterfront in the marina. Later they picked us up and we went to the Dinah Beach Club for dinner and a few drinks. Our new found friends are very nice people and very helpful, Rob is doing some work on his yacht soon so I can return the favour by giving him help where I can after all that's what this yachting/boating community is all about is helping one another.

Well we are now at the end of the first leg of our circumnavigation and will be here in Darwin for 5 - 6 months for the cyclone season, I will endeavour to keep the site alive with some information about Darwin what we see and what we do, I may also do a summary of the voyage so far and include a little more about anchorages.

Cheers

 

 

Port Essington to Darwin

Thursday - 01/11/2012

There was no rush to leave Seven Spirit Bay this morning as the plan was to sail out on the last hour of the ebb tide this would assist us out of the port and by the time we cleared the headland the flood tide flowing west would assist us on our way to Cape Don.

So we sailed out at 1030 hours and I am pleased to say we sailed we had the winds with us but I don't know how long. Our plan was to anchor near Cape Don in Alcaro Bay being a short run of around 30NMS which we should get there quite early in the afternoon.

In leaving Port Essington it is best to clear the headland by about 3.5NMS as there are some rough patches closer to the coast and some shoals. As we left the port there was another Sealink Barge heading our way and an Army barge heading towards Darwin that passed us. Soon after we changed course we lost most of the driving wind and eventually had to motor sail. As we passed Lingi Point you could feel the boat pick up speed with the tide flow into Dundas Strait, we changed course to enter Alcaro Bay soon after. We entered Alcaro Bay and dropped the anchor and was pleased with the day our calculations worked well with the tides working for us.

This anchorage is good holding and would be good in the trades, at the moment we have northerlies and the anchorage sets up a little roll but not uncomfortable.

It is early to bed we have to sail at 0300 hours in the morning to catch the flood tide. Leaving hear 4 hours before Darwin high tide should see us go right through with the different tidal flows through Dundas Strait, Clarence Strait, Howard Channel, Beagle Gulf and Port of Darwin to do this we need to average around 7 knots.

There is a cruising guide the NT Coast by John M Knight that has some good information and tide tables showing charts of the tidal flows. I have tried to simplify this on the charts attached. The key factor in sailing from Cape Don to Darwin is to leave the Cape Don area 4 hours before Darwin's high tide time, take the suggested route shown on the charts which saves around 4NMS  from the suggested track on charts and chart plotters. I have listed four waypoints on the charts for this short cut after those just follow the recommended rout through Howard Channel.

(Chart showing track we took to save time waypoints below. Arrows show the tidal flow through the times of 4 hours through to 1 hour before Darwin High Tide, plan to enter Dundas Strait 4 hours before Darwin's High Tide)

(Chart showing the track through Howards Channel and Beagle Gulf with the 4th waypoint, this shows the tidal flow at 4 to 6 hours after Darwin's High Tide you need to be close to waypoint D4 around 4 hours before Darwin high tide time)

(D1 - 11⁰ 23.783 S 131⁰41.241 E)

(D2 - 11⁰ 32.482 S 131⁰32.629 E)

(D3 - 11⁰ 49.951 S 131⁰23.372 E)

(D4 - 12⁰ 04.503 S 131⁰11.526 E)

( Follow the recommended track after waypoint D4)

(Chart showing tidal flows in Beagle Gulf at 4 to 6 hours after Darwin's High Tide time and Darwin harbour 6 to 2 hours Before Darwins High Tide times)

(Chart showing tidal flows in Dundas Strait for 6 & 5 hours before Darwin's High Tide time and 5 & 6 hours after Darwin's High Tide times)

I was surprised at the run we had and the distance covered, when leaving Cape Don area we had one engine going and the sails up, the seas were flat and the only wind was the apparent wind that we made the tidal flow was strong and we were travelling at 8.2 knots across the ground this slowed to 6 knots after around one hour. The concern is if we lost too much speed we would miss the tidal flow further south so the idea was to keep an eye on the time matched with the tide charts and where we needed to be.  We needed to be passing Cape Hotham at 4 hours after Darwin's high tide to pick up the tidal flow through Howard's Channel, to do this I had to start another engine to pick up a bit of time being that we had no wind. We passed Cape Hotham 30 minutes late but it did not matter as we entered Howard's Passage we picked up speed through some turbulent water reaching speeds of 12.4 knots across the ground at this point we shut one engine down and had some apparent wind in the sails, after getting through that channel we changed course for Darwin via Beagle Gulf and the tidal flow was still with us and we continued at a speed of around 6 knots, we then reached the Port of Darwin and headed for Fanny Bay and anchored near the sailing club. We had travelled 108 nautical miles in 12 hours and 10 minutes this gave us an average speed of 9 knots for the whole distance.

This whole passage probably would not worry power boats like it does yachts because they have the power to get through the water against the tidal flows where yachts top speeds are around the 7 to 8 knots. However, if we had a power boat I would make sure I had the tidal flow with me at Howards Channel. The best thing a yacht can do if you miss the tidal flow is go and anchor and wait for the right time.

After anchoring and getting the covers on we enjoyed a well deserved coldie. We made contact with Alison and Rob who we know through Bluewater Sailing FB website that live here in Darwin and they are going to assist us in the morning to go into the marina through the lock which will be interesting the only lock I have been in is the Panama Canal and that is a lot wider than this lock.

Cheers

Seven Spirit Bay Resort - Port Essington

Tuesday - 30/10/2012

(Seven Spirit Bay Resort with Nancy enjoying a swim)

When we got to Seven Spirit Bay and called the resort they answered us alright so we were getting out so it must have been the Customs vessel that had the problem. They did not come after us anyway.

(The view from sittin in the swimming pool)

(Nancy with Graham at the bar)

 

When Nancy talked to Vicki at the resort she was very friendly and invited us to come ashore for a swim in their pool. So after a nanna nap we ventured ashore and as soon as we arrived Kim was there to welcome us and she had brought the golf buggy to pick us up and take us to the resort. Kim explained that the resort is in close down mode for the wet season and they did not have any guests with the last leaving yesterday although they do have one more late arrival tomorrow. Kim explained that it was the chef's day off but she could ask him to cook us dinner if we wanted or we could have dinner with the staff as Vicki was doing the cooking and they were having a BBQ. We said we would love to join the staff and have dinner with them if she did not mind. We got to the resort and Kim introduced us to her husband Graham and some of the other staff, Chad the chef, Vicki who we had spoken to on the radio and her husband Ian , Petite a young French lady, Franci and Lukas who are a young German couple. Petite, Franci and Lukas actually leave tomorrow as their term of employment has come to an end as part of the wet season close down.

Kim explained that if people still wanted to come here in the wet season they would still take the bookings as there will still be some staff here, but it is very unlikely people would come in the wet.

The resort is a get away from it all resort no TV no mobile phone service or internet with the exception of the office that has internet and phone. The resort is very nice with a great swimming pool with gardens all around it and the occasional visit from the wallabies that hop around the lawns with some night a banteng visits.

(Wallabies hoping around the lawns)

(Some of the flowers in the garden around the swimming pool)

We had a couple of drinks at the bar and a chat with Kim and Graham before we went for a swim, it was good to have a swim we have not been able to do that since Lizard Island due to some big lizards in the water named crocodiles, there are also the box jelly fish.

After a swim it was time for dinner it was good to sit down with these people they are a great bunch with good sense of humour. The BBQ tonight was also a send off for the three staff that were leaving so we were privileged to be able to join them. Dinner was great with steak, prawns and salads with pepper sauce and Franci had made an authentic German apple strudel. Naturally as we are guests we were paying customers but Kim just charged us staff prices, Kim has run a tab there for us so we just pay for what we have before we leave. After dinner and a bit more of a chat Kim drove us back to the dinghy and we have organised to go back in the morning and Kim is going to take us on a 2 hour tour.

This resort is quite isolated you can only get here by plane or by boat and it can be difficult for the staff if a lot of people drop in unexpectedly in the preparation of food. In normal places a lot of things can be pre-prepared, most restaurants and resorts in major cities can get away with it because they have a large turnover of people. At a resort like this one they may have a number of guests for a few days or weeks then nothing for a few days so you cannot keep pre-prepared food ingredients everything has to be made at the time of need so if a few yachts turn up and state they want to stay for dinner it puts a lot of work on the chef plus the other side is the amount of stock that they have at the time. Kim told us that they were running low on stock and was awaiting the supplies that are arriving tomorrow.

So yachties and boaties out there I do recommend that you call in and meet these friendly people but it may be of benefit to these people if when you enter Port Essington to give them a call on Ch16 VHF radio and give them a bit of notice. The first night in the port you will probably anchor at the rangers station because you have to report into them to let them know your intentions so it is possible to give them at least one days notice, two days if you are going down to Victoria settlement ruins. Port Essington has a number of nice anchorages, there are a couple of no go zones where there are Aboriginal living areas and sacred sites. Some anchorages this time of year can get a little rollie with the northerly winds but not uncomfortable.

Wednesday - 31/10/2012

 This morning we headed ashore at 0800 hours to meet with Kim at the resort as she was taking us on a tour, a 2 hour tour at very reasonable price we set off on the bush tracks to the beach at Kennedy's Bay  and then over to the micro bat cave that had a number of the micro bats up huddled on the roof of the cave. Apparently there used to be more caves and many more of these bats but cyclone Inga that hit in 2005 washed away the caves and it has taken a long time for the bats to come back. These bats are an endangered species. From there we went to Gunners Quoin which is a high lookout over the sea and at low tide it had exposed the sand bars and rock formations. Kim had looked after us all the way with drinking water fruit and nuts to eat.

(Kim and Nancy at Kennedy Bay)

(Kim getting us some refreshments after our walk along the beach)

(The beach where the micro bat cave is, this clif face had quite a few caves with bats prior to the cyclone in 2005 where the caves were washed away. A small amount of micro Bats have now returned.)

(The varied rock and formations along the cliff face) 

 

(The only remaining micro bat cave)

(The Micro Bats in the roof of the cave)

(The view from Gunner's Quoin) 

We returned back to the resort and had a cold beer before returning on board for lunch and a rest, Kim said that we could stay ashore and hang around the swimming pool if we wished. But I think a little rest aboard is in order and we will go ashore in the afternoon for a swim and dinner.

After our rest and clean we went ashore at around 1600 hours we met the manager Leith who had returned from a trip to Darwin, a nice young man in his late 20's they say he is a bit of a dare devil spear fishing in these waters  and removing death adders from around the place when they get too close to the resort, they have a young croc in an enclosure at the resort that is due for releasing and they say that's a job for Leith after having a talk with Leith we then  had a swim the water was like having a warm bath after a long soak in the pool we went and had a drink then we joined the staff out the back for dinner. We could have gone in the restaurant and had dinner a'lacarte but the staff are great people to be with, this is probably not the normal situation but I think we were allowed to do this because they were in the wet season closing down mode.  We had a fine meal and a few laughs and a good chat before returning on board after fixing up our tab for the tour, drinks and meals.

(The young 2 metre crocodile that is due for release, make a nice handbag)

(Making short work of a good size piece of barramundi)

The resort is a five star resort and if staying at the resort you will have top service and very fine meals with a very good chef, the price to stay per night might sound a little expensive but five star resorts are a little that way it is no different to any other five star resort prices. This resort however, has the added cost to running in an isolated area all stores have to be shipped by one of the barge companies from Darwin, they have to run their own power station and pump their water so there is a lot of expense in running such a place. In talking of water here they pump water from a natural spring the water is that clear and high quality out of the ground that they have a license to bottle the water if they wished to but at this stage they do not.

We have enjoyed our time with these people and we have made some new friends to keep in contact with, it has been a very enjoyable few days. (Craig and Kerry you should have called in).

To our new friends at Seven Spirit Bay Resort, thank you for a most enjoyable time.

(Chart showing anchorages in Coral Bay and Seven Spirit Bay being the southern anchorages, electronic charts are acurate when passing through the shallow sections)

Tomorrow we sail or motor as there is hardly any wind for the next week. We will catch the end of the ebb tide to get out of Port Essington and then pick the flood tide going west when we get out to sea.