AHOY! Sailing Australia & The South Pacific - April 2022

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"IT'S FREE TO ENJOY AHOY!"

AHOY Sailing News APRIL 2022

SPECIAL OFFERS FROM PREDICTWIND FOR DOWN UNDER RALLY MEMBERS! BEST PRICING ON THE WEB FOR NEW IRIDIUM GO MARINE PACKAGES.

20% REBATE ON PREDICTWIND STANDARD OR PROFESSIONAL 1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION

FREE PREDICTWIND IRIDIUM GO ADVANCED WARRANTY (PAW) Valued at $99.00USD!

MORE INFO AT: downunderrally.com/weather-forecasting-passage-planning

Inside Ahoy

APRIL 2022

SW Pacific & Australia Maritime Borders Update.

2022 Down Under Rally Updates.

March Prize Draw Announcements.

Marina Del Ray Indonesia - OZ to Indo Rally Why Sail To Australia to Sell Observations From The Helm - Insurance Tips Cruising The Queensland Coast - Moreton Bay to Great Sandy Straits.

The Storm - An Incredible Account Of Survival.

Shake Down Sailing - Ocean Voyage Initiation.

Sailing No Regrets - Cape York To Darwin.

Members Market Place & More...

AHOY is published by: Down Under Rally Pty Ltd

Cover Image: Catamaran PNEUMA

Contact John Hembrow - Director Website: downunderrally.com Email: admin@downunderrally.com

Saumarez Reef Coral Sea Marine Park 2021 Beyond The Barrier Rally

©Copyright 2022 Down Under Rally Pty Ltd Ahoy Newsletter is published monthly and distributed electronically via the world wide web. Original editorial content & advertisements in this newsletter are copyright and the exclusive property of Down Under Rally Pty Ltd. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the Down Under Rally Pty Ltd. The comments and views in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the Down Under Rally Pty Ltd.

THANKS FOR SHARING! Robert & Reanne SV Shilo Robert & Reanne have shared a story about their recent shakedown voyage which we have published in the April AHOY as a MEMBERS PROFILE ARTILE. To show our appreciation, we are sending Robert & Reanne a $50.00 voucher to spend at Captains Chandlery, Bundaberg Port Marina when they head north later in the year!

SHARE YOUR STORY & WIN! WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR STORIES ABOUT YOUR CRUISING ADVENTURES! They can be long or short, They can be funny or scary, They can be informative, entertaining or maybe even a little of both!

If you write it - We will read it!

SHARING YOUR STORY IS EASY. Simply type your story up in a word document and email it to: admin@downunderrally.com along with some photos that help to tell your story. Please use the subject line 'My Cruising Story' in the email.

SUBSCRIBE & COMMENT TO WIN WITH...

CONGRATULATIONS TO MARK H. We have replied to your comment on Sailing No Regrets EP 45 with info about how to claim your FREE copy of the Cruising The Queensland Coast Guide Valued at $89.99!

To enter the April prize draw see page 64 of this month's AHOY!

MEMBERS PRIZE DRAW

CONGRATULATIONS JOHN & RAEWYN MEMBER #34 You have won a Handmade Cheese/ Chopping Board These cutting boards were created as Christmas gifts for our families & now are available to all at Australian Boating Supplies www.austboating.com.au Available with either sailboat or lighthouse design, well priced at only $49.95.

APRIL MEMBERS PRIZE DRAW ONE LUCKY DOWN UNDER RALLY MEMBER WILL WIN ONE OF THESE CHOPPING BOARDS THE PRIZE DRAWN WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE 3OTH APRIL 2022.

THE DOWN UNDER RALLY WILL NOTIFY THE WINNER WILL BY EMAIL.

BECOME A DOWN UNDER RALLY MEMBER

1 YEAR MEMBERSHIP - JUST $125.00 downunderrally.com/membership

Shop 7, Gold Coast City Marina 58 Waterways Drive Coomera 4209 Queensland (07) 5573 7265 info@ribforce.com ribforceinflatables.com.au

Maritime Borders

SW Pacific & Australia As at APRIL1st 2022

Australia.

Despite the information on the Let Us Know You Are Coming page of the Australian Border Force website internationally flagged vessels with foreign nationals aboard have been permitted to arrive in Australia over the past few weeks. Information and instructions regarding the process for arriving in Australia by sea can be found HERE New Zealand.

On the 16th March 2022 the NZ Government announced that from 11.59 pm Tuesday 12 April, Australians can travel to New Zealand isolation-free, and then two and a half weeks later from 11.59 pm Sunday 1 May, vaccinated travellers from visa-waiver countries and those with valid visitor visas, will be able to arrive. More Info HERE

New Caledonia.

As of the 14th of March 2022, Fishing ships, special ships and pleasure ships are now also welcome in New Caledonia.

For accurate and up to date info about arriving in New Caledonia by sea contact Noumea Yacht Services

Vanuatu.

Travel to Vanuatu is currently restricted.

As of the 1st of April 2022, there is no definite information available as to when Vanuatu's maritime borders will open. More Info: HERE

Fiji.

The procedures for pleasure yachts have been further streamlined.

All yachts, crew and passengers who wish to enter Fiji must declare their interest directly with the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) More Info: HERE

Rally News On the 1st of March 2022, New Caledonia Maritime Borders were not yet open. With no definite information being available at that time as to when New Caledonia would open its maritime borders to visiting yachts, the Down Under Rally decided to cancel the 2022 Go East Rally.

This was not an easy decision to make. However, The Down Under Rally felt that there was insufficient time to do all that needed to be done to ensure the 2022 Go East Rally could deliver the experience that past participants had enjoyed. Some exciting plans for the 2023 Go East Rally to New Caledonia & Vanuatu are being made. To stay informed about the 2023 East Rally submit an expression of interest HERE.

The NC2V Rally is a flow-on from the Go East Rally. As the 2022 Go East Rally rally has been cancelled, The Down Under Rally will not be offering the NC2V Rally in 2022.

More information about the NC2V Rally can be found HERE.

The 2022 Beyond The Barrier Rally is OPEN FOR REGISTRATIONS. Participants of the 2022 Beyond The Barrier Rally will depart Bundaberg in May for a three-week adventure of discovery to the seldom-visited reefs, cays & islets of the Coral Sea Marine Park. Due to its remote location, very few people have ever experienced the natural beauty of this very special part of the world. More information about the Beyond The Barrier Rally can be found HERE.

The Down Under Rally is awaiting information from the Australian Border Force before opening the 2022 Go West Rally for registrations.

The Down Under Rally expects to be in a position to open the Go West Rally for registrations later this month. Information about visiting Australia by yacht & why it makes sense to Go West with the Down Under Rally can be found HERE.

Priority Rally Registrations & Rally Entry Fee Discounts For Down Under Rally downunderrally.com/preparation-training Members downunderrally.com/membership

Rally News Vessels who join the Mystery Island Rally have the opportunity to obtain full clearance into Vanuatu at the island of Aneityum which is otherwise not an official port of entry. The rally can only proceed when Vanuatu opens their maritime borders and permission is granted for the rally participants to enter Vanuatu at this location. MORE INFORMATION HERE

By joining the Loyalty Islands Rally in Fiji participants are able to experience more of New Caledonia's magnificent cruising grounds, especially those in the east and to the south that are often difficult if not impossible to return to from Noumea in the limited time available. MORE INFORMATION HERE

The Down Under Rally has partnered with Island Cruising NZ to offer cruisers in New Caledonia who are considering or planning on making the voyage to New Zealand the opportunity to do so in company.

MORE INFORMATION HERE

The Down Under Rally in association with Island Cruising New Zealand (ICNZ) intends to offer the OZ to NZ Rally in 2023.

If voyaging to New Zealand with the option of continuing onward to Tahiti, Tonga or Fiji in company is of interest to you MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND HERE

Priority Rally Registrations & Rally Entry Fee Discounts For Down Under Rally Members downunderrally.com/membership

New Caledonia's maritime borders reopened to foreign yachts on the 14th of March 2022. Start planning your New Caledonia cruise to maximize the time spent enjoying the perfect adventures in the world's largest coral reef lagoon.

DOWNLOAD THE ROCKET CRUISING GUIDE TO NEW CALEDONIA TODAY!

DOWN UNDER RALLY MEMBERS SAVE 20% WHEN YOU PURCHASE THE ROCKET CRUISING GUIDES!

GO TO: DOWNUNDERRALLY.COM/ROCKET-CRUISING-GUIDES

DOWN UNDER RALLY MEMBERS

LOCATED AT BUNDABERG PORT MARINA.

Our well-stocked family-owned, and operated ships chandlery has been helping cruising yachties for almost 20 years!

WE CAN DELIVER YOUR CHAIN/ANCHOR TO KENCO GALVANISING PH: (07) 4159 4399 E: info@captainschandlery.com W: captainschandlery.com

WHY SAIL TO AUSTRALIA AND SELL?

by Rod Waterhouse

Hi, my name is Rod Waterhouse & before I get into why sailing to and selling in Australia makes good sense, I would like to share some background with you...

In 1985 I built our 32 foot Crowther Catamaran 'Gone Troppo' in Sydney. We sailed her to the USA and sold her successfully in San Francisco, which was an awesome adventure back when crossing oceans in small catamarans was considered by many to be a foolhardy undertaking.

We faced our fair share of challenges, but we made it & what an adventure we had! We were also fortunate that we made a fantastic profit when we sold her as, unbeknown to us, the AUD had crashed to its lowest value in history, plus we had a boat that was unique and in high demand in the USA. After that experience, we repeated the exercise several times, purchasing boats in Europe, Asia and the USA, all with the object of having a great time but also with the aim to make a profit. It’s all about the exchange rates and where is the most demand for your type of boat.

Northern Hemisphere Bucket List Moment Sailing 'Gone Troppo' in Sydney's Sister City, San Fransisco with the Golden Gate Bridge as a backdrop after a successful voyage from Australia in 1985

In 2004, after another successful adventure sailing a new Beneteau 473 “Bridget” from France to Sydney, I realised there was a business in running a yacht brokerage in Sydney that focused on international cruisers who share similar dreams and results.

Southern Hemisphere Bucket List Moment Sailing your own boat on Sydney Harbour with the world-famous Sydney Harbour Bridge or 'The Coathanger' as some like to call it, as a backdrop.

WHY SAIL TO AUSTRALIA AND SELL?

by Rod Waterhouse

This focus has become the core of our business here at DBY. We reach out to both locals and international clients who are either starting their planning or are already on the way but desire a golden result at the end.

We offer guidance on which boat to buy, where to purchase and, importantly best option for the exit strategy once at the selling stage.

For those who already own a boat, particularly those already crossing the Pacific from East to West, DBY is the authority on the subject of importing and selling in Australia and as such a valuable first contact.

WHERE SHOULD I SELL? The answer is Australia and guess what?

It is downwind all the way!

WILL MY PARTICULAR TYPE OF BOAT SELL IN AUSTRALIA? The answer is YES! Mono, multi, fibreglass, steel or alloy. Everything that floats is selling.

WHAT ABOUT ALL THE TAXES AND DUTIES IN AUSTRALIA?

WHERE IN AUSTRALIA SHOULD I SELL MY BOAT?

The facts are … Yes, you will pay taxes and sometimes duty.

The process is super simple and a lot less expensive than you have probably heard.

Sydney is the capital of NSW, where most of Australia’s population live.

But most importantly, this outlay comes back within the resale prices, which net you a stronger return than any other viable destination option.

The DBY Team Rod Waterhouse on the far RHS

Sydney has the most beautiful waterways to explore and a huge boating community. One of those waterways is Pittwater, which sits off the coast at the entrance to the Hawkesbury River.

Home of the DBY Team Pittwater 22nm North of Sydney Harbour

CONTACT US - BOATING IS OUR LANGUAGE AUSTRALIA and INTERNATIONAL The team at DBY Boat Sales treat all our customers as family and at our office at Princes St Marina you can feel

P: +61 2 9999 3311 E: sales@dbyboatsales.com.au WWW.DBYBOATSALES.COM.AU

10 REASONS TO CHOOSE BUNDABERG AND BUNDABERG PORT MARINA AS YOUR AUSTRALIAN PORT OF ENTRY 1. The Port of Bundaberg is the closest Australian Port of Entry from New Caledonia, thus reducing passage time and the risk of encountering adverse weather conditions on route.

2. The Port of Bundaberg offers all-weather, deep-water access, with much less likelihood of encountering concentrated shipping traffic on approach to the port than many other Queensland & NSW Port of Entry.

3. Professional and friendly Customs and Quarantine Officers that specialise in small craft arrival.

4. Inward clearance takes place at Bundaberg Port Marina, which is located only one nautical mile from the entrance to the river.

5. Bundaberg is the gateway to the Southern Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage-listed Fraser Island, meaning there is some spectacular cruising on offer right on your doorstep.

6. Largest dry storage facility on the East Coast of Australia with a modern sealed hardstand area, professional staff and competitive rates.

7. Relaxed marina with quality berths, clean amenities, WIFI and a courtesy bus into the city of Bundaberg.

8. Walking distance to the township of Burnett Heads shopping village, Hotel/Motel, Sports Club & quiet, uncrowded beaches and parklands 9. Affordable Direct Access to Brisbane International Airport via public transport or air.

10. Great base for "Land Cruising" to discover the inland beauty that Australia has to offer.

"The most popular port of entry into Australia, Bundaberg Port Marina has been welcoming visitors from across the globe for decades"

TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR

Bundaberg Port Marina 15-17 Marina Drive Port Bundaberg QLD 4670 AUSTRALIA P: (+61) 7 4159 5066 E: info@bundabergportmarina.com.au W: bundabergportmarina.com.au

WELCOME BACK WELCOME WEEK

The Down Under Rally & Bundaberg Port Marina are looking forward to hosting the 2022 Go West Rally Welcome Week!

As the name suggests Welcome Week is all about welcoming the owners and crew of visiting international yachts to our Land Down Under. All Welcome Week events, including our informative Cruising The East Coast of Australia seminars, are FREE to attend for Go West Rally participants.

downunderrally.com/welcome-week

https://yachtsharemariner.com

https://yachtsharemariner.com

JOIN US ON A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY...

BEYOND THE BARRIER © Down Under Rally 2022

VENTURING...

BEYOND THE BARRIER THE CORAL SEA MARINE PARK IS TRULY ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S AND THE WORLD’S MOST SPECTACULAR MARINE TREASURES. Reef, from just north of Lying off the Queensland Coast and beyond the Great Barrier Reef, Fraser Island to just south of the Torres Straits in the far north, the Coral Sea Marine Park comprises 34 reefs & 56 islets & cays and covers an area of 989,836 square kilometres is one of the world’s largest marine parks. reefs, sandy cays, This seldom visited, pristine wilderness is home to a labyrinth of coral reefs, islets, shipwrecks and an abundance of wildlife.

There are several reasons the cruising yachty seldom visits the reefs, cays & islets of the Coral Sea Marine Park. The primary reason, in our opinion, is that the majority if not all of the reefs, islets & cays are located well offshore (between 200 & 400 nautical miles), and very few offer what most would consider secure anchorages.

The destinations we have chosen for the ‘Beyond The Barrier’ Rally offer tenable anchorages and provide a reasonable degree of comfort for most vessels in mild conditions. However, those who visit by yacht (sail or motor) must understand that the voyage to these destinations will be made in the open ocean. In addition, the various anchorages that can be visited will often be prone to ocean swell inundation. This is unavoidable when cruising in such a location. The voyage duration, including the various stopovers planned along the route, will see the fleet offshore for 18-21 days. The weather encountered will contribute significantly to the overall experience.

A WORD OF CAUTION Like any ocean passage or cruising undertaken in remote locations, the need to be selfsufficient and prepared for the worst is paramount. The remote reefs, cays & islets of the Coral Sea are no exception. Passages to these destinations are made in the open ocean, and as such, this voyage should not be considered a pleasure cruise nor undertaken by the inexperienced. This is an extended adventure into the blue, and as such, like the rewards, the risks of such an undertaking are significant.

© Down Under Rally 2022

THE DESTINATIONS SAUMAREZ REEF CAY Suamarez Reefs are a narrow band of reefs that extend for 19nm in an N.E - S.W. direction.

ANCHORAGE: Whilst the reef is narrow, it provides an excellent barrier and plenty of room to anchor; however, a little roll in the anchorage can be expected.

ATTRACTIONS: Divers & snorkelers will find no end of coral bommies to entertain themselves.

Shipwrecks x 3

MARION REEF CAYS

Photo Credit Peter Sayre

Marion Reef is a partially submerged atoll consisting of 6 main reefs with a string of cays sandbanks.

ANCHORAGES: The SE line of the long reef provides excellent shelter with minimal roll.

ATTRACTIONS: With three main cays: Brodie Cay, Paget Cay & Carola Cay, there is much to discover and enjoy, including sea birds, a weather station & a shipwreck. Snorkelling & Diving opportunities are plentiful & rewarding.

© Down Under Rally 2022

THE DESTINATIONS LIHOU REEF & CAYS LIHOU REEF measures approx. 60nm x 20nm and includes several cays, the number and size vary due to seasonal change & weather conditions. Five of these cays have permanent vegetation and are therefore considered more permanent.

ANCHORAGE: There are many anchorages around the various cays.

ATTRACTIONS: The 120nm rim of islands and reefs that make up Lihou Reef provides endless opportunities to explore and discover above and below the surface.

Photo Credit Peter Sayre

Image from the Book Australia's Coral Sea Islands © Down Under Rally 2022

THE DESTINATIONS DIAMOND ISLETS Diamond Islets consist of 4 primary islets, 3 of which have substantial vegetation.

East Diamond Islet is pictured left and is considered the jewel in the crown.

ANCHORAGE: The Anchorage at East Diamond Islet is well protected and rarely suffers any roll.

ATTRACTIONS: A nature lovers' paradise, hosting a variety of flora & fauna, including nesting sea birds & soaring frigates. The many bommies within the sheltered lagoon offer fantastic diving, snorkelling & fishing.

FLINDERS REEF

Flinders Reefs, named after Matthew Flinders, is broken into six sections. The Main Cay features in the adjacent image.

ANCHORAGES: A choice of anchorages exists, with the Main Cay being the preferred option.

ATTRACTIONS: Again there is much to discover and enjoy, including sea birds, a weather station, and a shipwreck. Fishing, Snorkelling & Diving opportunities are plentiful and rewarding.

© Down Under Rally 2022

BEYOND THE BARRIER RALLY ROUTE

MAY-JUNE 2022

© Down Under Rally 2022

BEYOND THE BARRIER RALLY ITINERARY MAY 23RD Bon voyage party - Bundaberg Port Marina MAY 24TH Voyage Briefing - Lighthouse Hotel Burnett Heads MAY 25TH Fleet to depart Bundaberg Port Marina for Lady Musgrave Island (approx. 60nm–10hrs) MAY 26TH Depart Lady Musgrave for Saumarez Reef. (approx. 125nm–21hrs) MAY 27TH - 28TH Saumarez Reef MAY 29TH Depart Saumarez Reef - Marion Reef. (approx. 170nm – 28hrs) MAY 30TH - 31ST Marion Reef JUNE 1ST Depart Marion Reef for Lihou Reef (approx. 125nm – 21hrs) JUNE 2RD – 4TH Lihou Reef JUNE 5TH Depart Lihou Reef for East Diamond Islet (approx. 150nm – 25hrs) JUNE 6TH - 9TH East Diamond Islet JUNE 10TH Depart East Diamond for Flinders Reef (approx 150nm - 25hrs) JUNE 11TH Flinders Reef JUNE 12TH Depart Flinders Reefs for Magnetic Island –Townsville. (approx. 150nm 25hrs) JUNE 13TH Arrive Magnetic Island JUNE 14TH End of Rally Celebrations Magnetic Island

THE DOWN UNDER RALLY DOES NOT SAIL TO A SCHEDULE. Departure/arrival dates may change subject to weather conditions.

Visitation & or period of stay at each destination may vary subject to weather conditions. © Down Under Rally 2022

REGISTRATION INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THE RALLY ENTRY FEE OF AUD $2480.00 The opportunity to voyage in company and discover the pristine, seldom-visited remote reefs, cays & islets of Australia’s Coral Sea. Beyond The Barrier Rally specific printed documentation/guides including: Destination arrival/entry waypoints & recommended anchorage waypoints Known hazard to navigation information on the route and or at the destinations.

Information on destination points of interest includes descriptions and waypoints of recommended diving & snorkelling locations & more.

Vessel & Crew preparation checklists & recommendations.

Daily VHF radio sked at destinations.

On passage 24hr position reporting and weather updates via email.

Informative departure & destination briefing by the Down Under Rally.

Social events before rally departure, at rally destinations and final rally destination.

PLUS, ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WITH A COMBINED VALUE OF OVER $200.00!

1 x Exploration Beyond The Great Barrier Reef Guide Book (RRP $49.95 plus postage) 2 x ‘Beyond The Barrier’ Rally T-shirts. (RRP $39.95 each) 2 x Down Under Rally Caps. (RRP $20.00 each) 1 x ‘Beyond the Barrier’ Limited edition flag (RRP $45.00) *extras for souvenirs available by order.

1 x Participant Trophy for each vessel.

FOR MORE INFORMATION & TO REGISTER VISIT downunderrally.com/beyond-the-barrier-rally © Down Under Rally 2022

First Response Ready When cruising, we often find ourselves in remote locations, which is part of the appeal; however, it is essential to remember that this also means that getting help will likely take time. In a medical emergency, time may not be something we have the luxury of, so it is equally important to understand that you will likely be the first responder.

With the above in mind, a group of 2022 Beyond The Barrier Rally participants gathered on a lovely Autumn morning to participate in First Aid and CPR training with Heart Training – The Marine Medical specialists as part of their preparations for the upcoming Beyond The Barrier Rally.

During this interactive, hands-on course, participants practised applying their first aid skills through Adult, Child and infant CPR and using a Defibrillator.

The training also included techniques to help participants recognise and provide immediate and effective first aid treatment to any person suffering a sudden illness or injury.

The well ventilated, shady and cool bbq area at The Boat Works Gold Coast made the perfect venue for the course, with The Galley Cafè open for all to enjoy a meal during the lunch break.

Further courses are planned in the coming weeks, and you don't have to be a Beyond The Barrier Rally participant to attend.

Visit the following page of the Down Under Rally website for more course information and to contact Wendy from Heart Training about course dates and locations. downunderrally.com/marine-first-aid

do wn un de vis rra io lly ni .co ng m /p ro

greenskinwine.com

A

ALONG CAME A SPIDER...

By Leanne Hembrow

bout seven years ago I was bitten by something whilst cleaning our newly purchased catamaran.

I thought it was a spider as the boat had been on the hardstand for a couple of years, and I spied a lot of small ones inside & out. I became concerned and went for the medical kit - taking some out of date antibiotics. My doctor applauded this response, saying that regardless of the medication being out of date, taking them was better than ignoring the bite or taking nothing.

I ended up in hospital for a few nights after it became quite red, swollen and sore. They circled the redness to monitor if the infection spread. It healed to their satisfaction after intravenous medication over a few days. They said it was more than likely a white tip spider bite & I was discharged with this unsure diagnosis.

In the past couple of years, friends and family have been noticing it being red and irritated at times, and I’d say, “oh, it’s just a spider bite”, and I would palm it off, saying, "it seems to be my private warning signal I’ve eaten something which is causing allergies". Well, a recent skincare check diagnosed it as a NON-MELANOMA SCC...

Photo by Janet Cannon of my first Ukelele lesson 🎵

SCC accounts for about 30% of non-melanoma skin cancers.

It begins in the upper layer of the epidermis and usually appears where the skin has had the most exposure to the sun (head, neck, hands, forearms and lower legs). SCC generally grows quickly over weeks or months.

I was also told that "keeping wounds out of the sun for the first six months is REALLY important to help prevent skin cancer down the road."

Prevention is always better than the cure, but FOR MANY OF US, the prevention ship has sailed (with us aboard soaking up the sun), sO we all need to have our skin checked by a skin specialist as part of our annual...

"personal preventative maintenance."

Announcing the all-new…

SAIL INDONESIA MARINA DEL RAY - OZ TO INDO YACHT RALLY Departs Darwin, Australia – July 2022

PLEASE NOTE: This Rally is being organised by Marina Del Ray. The Down Under Rally is in no way involved.

Avoid the fishing nets of the Northern Arafura Sea while making the best use of the best Southeast Trade winds sailing downwind and enjoy some of the safest, most pristine anchorages in all of Indonesia.

The Marina Del Ray team of experienced Indonesian crew members will organize your (3) year boat import, (6) month renewable visa’s, Indonesian Sailing permit and Clearance in and out of Indonesia including your Social Sponsorship. We will make arriving & cruising in Indonesia a hassle-free experience!

SUGGESTED VOYAGE ROUTE Depart the port of Darwin Australia July 2022, the specific date to be confirmed. Then make the 430 NM passage to Indonesia to the amazing island of Roti Timor or 25 NM north to Kupung, to be confirmed.

After the arrival formalities have been completed continue west to explore Flores and Komodo before sailing the north coast of Sumbawa’s to Moyo island and then slow down and explore the pristine islands of Panjang and Saringi on the Northwest Coast of Sumbawa.

The next leg of the voyage will be a transit of the Alice Straight (between Sumbawa and Lombok) before cruising south and along Lombok’s amazing southern coast which offers an abundance of sheltered anchorages to enjoy on route to Marina Del Ray for our FREE Welcome Event and the opportunity to enjoy our first-class marina & all the marina resort facilities including our Yacht Squadron Bar and Restaurant and our beautiful beach side bar and Pool.

Announcing the all-new…

SAIL INDONESIA MARINA DEL RAY - OZ TO INDO YACHT RALLY Departs Darwin, Australia – July 2022

PLEASE NOTE: This Rally is being organised by Marina Del Ray. The Down Under Rally is in no way involved.

Participants in the 2022 OZ TO INDO RALLY will enjoy discounted Marina Rates while staying at Marina Del Ray where all the Welcome Event social activities will be held over (3) three weeks.

There is also the option to make use of our ferry service to visit Bali or just kick back at Marina Del Ray and enjoy our piece of paradise.

Both Lombok and Bali have International Airports for Crew changes, our Ferry Service can provide all your provisioning needs too, we have a dockyard for repairs, and you can send spares to the Marina for your arrival. Our Ferry is a 90-minute ride to and from Bali.

Located almost on the doorstep of Marina Del are the 16 beautiful islands of the Gili Gede archipelago which are the perfect place do some relaxing cruising, in fact, many who have visited have found it difficult to leave. So why not slow down USING Marina Del Ray as your base as you discover more of Indonesia’s 17400 islands by making full use of the (3) three-year boat import and (6) six-month renewable visa options for your Captain and Crews.

If an onward voyage is on the agenda participants can voyage WEST to Bunyuwangi Marina on the east coast of Jawa then make a choice to sail to West Sumatra via either the South Jawa coast or via the north coast before sailing south down the Sunda Straight past Krakatoa. A turn to starboard at this point will see you voyage the WEST Coast of Sumatra visiting the Mentawai islands, and the Banyak group, Siberut Islands, Batu Islands, Paula Nias, before clearing out of Sabang island opposite Banda Aceh and sailing to either Phuket Thailand or Langkawi Malaysia or maybe continuing WEST to Shri Lanka, India, Gulf of Aden, or sail south to Cape Town South Africa via Madagascar.

The experienced friendly team of locals from Marina Del Ray are here to assist you from the time you arrive in Indonesia until you depart our beautiful country.

For more information, including all costs associated with arriving in Indonesia by yacht please Email: operations@marinadelray.co Albert (pictured below) and the team are looking forward to receiving your enquiry and helping to make your entry & stay in Indonesia memorable for all the right reasons.

You can also call the office on +62 85961467709 (better using WhatsApp) or feel free to send a WhatsApp message to Raymond +628123632266 and he will happily call you back.

WWW.MARINADELRAY.CO

By Greg Luck

PART 2 ROM MORETON BAY TO THE GREAT SANDY STRAITS (INCLUDING THE WIDE BAY BAR) WELCOME TO PART 2 of the AHOY magazine series of articles based on information in Cruising the Queensland Coast, the eBook by Greg Luck. In the March edition of AHOY, we passaged from the Gold Coast to Manly Boat Harbour following the Inside Passage. In this article, we passage from Manly Boat Harbour to King Fisher Bay Resort, North White Cliffs, in the Sandy Straits. For more detail and anchorage and marina information, see the Cruising the Queensland Coast book.

MORETON BAY TO MOOLOOLABA Shipping Channel Passage The Main Shipping Channel is the easiest way out of Moreton Bay. It is shown on the map to the right.

This route from Manly Boat Harbour to Mooloolaba is 54nm long. Allow about 9 hours for this passage.

If you want to break this up into more bite-sized passages, the Main Shipping Channel goes right past Lucinda Bay and Tangalooma. If you have westerly or northerly winds, you can stop at Pumicestone Passage, in between Bribie Island and the mainland. If stopping there, it is easier to sail along the mainland.

The shipping channel is busy. You should stay just outside the channel, monitoring your depth and the chart. The East Channel, which runs up along the Moreton Island, is an alternative. It shortens the time spent in the shipping channel by half. The channel is marked.

It is narrow, however, with shallow sandbanks on each side and waves breaking on them.

ROM MORETON BAY TO THE GREAT SANDY STRAITS (INCLUDING THE WIDE BAY BAR) I usually go this way then regret it when I am surrounded by breaking waves.

Click ⎈ to import/open the Main Shipping Channel illustrative route. (Warning: The Navionics route is illustrative only, and the author takes no responsibility for its accuracy and suitability for your vessel).

ENTERING MOOLOOLABA The Mooloolah River Bar is notorious due to its constant shoaling. It goes through periods of being impassable to then quite good.

It is imperative to find out where it is in its cycle by checking: •the Brisbane Notices to Mariners for information on the Mooloolah River bar.

•bar conditions with Coast Guard Mooloolaba on (07) 5444 3222 or VHF73. They have in the past provided advice on how to manoeuvre past encroaching shoals.

At the time of writing, the most recent advice is Notice to Mariners 108T of 2022. It shows shoals extending right across the entrance with LAT depths of 2m. Breakers were noted, and they were not able to fully complete their survey because of them.

PEL Arc Bearings

The bar has a PEL light with white, red and green sectors, as shown below to help you orient yourself to the middle of the channel.

The notices reference depths on these sectors.

Even when in a good state the LAT depth is usually no better than 3m. It is therefore always important to assess the significant wave height at the bar. © The State of Queensland Creative Commons 4 Source

Fortunately, there is a Wave Rider Buoy at Mooloolaba that shows these.

By Greg Luck

ROM MORETON BAY TO THE GREAT SANDY STRAITS (INCLUDING THE WIDE BAY BAR)

By Greg Luck

All of this planning should be done before you go. It is a long way back to Pumicestone Passage or Double Island Point if you cannot get in.

Needless to say, it is best to enter and exit Mooloolaba at high tide.

Once inside, you can try to find an anchorage in the Duck Pond, south of the Wharf Marina; otherwise, stay at one of the three marinas. Living on board here is complicated and heavily regulated (see the book for details).

Mooloolah River Marinas - Mooloolaba

MOOLOOLABA TO DOUBLE ISLAND POINT This passage is 49nm long and is a straight shot up the coast. The main hazards to look out for are Mudjimba Island, Gneering Shoals, Arkright Shoal, Hancock Shoal, and Wolf Rock, to the north of Double Island Point. Also, watch out for trawlers with their AIS transmission disabled and FADs - Fish Attracting Devices.

Click ⎈ to import/open this illustrative route (Warning: The Navionics route is illustrative only, and the author takes no responsibility for its accuracy and suitability for your vessel).

If you have easterly through to westerly winds with a southerly component, you can anchor in Wide Bay. A lagoon formed in 2020 at the southern end, so check for posts on the Cruising Queensland Facebook Group to see its latest status. Catamarans have been having a great time in there with monohulls sitting outside, and there are frequent posts on it. Outside of the lagoon, you get a non-stop swell coming around the point, making sleeping difficult.

CROSSING THE WIDE BAY BAR Whether you stop at Wide Bay or come straight up from Mooloolaba, it is critical to have planned your bar crossing, including a weather assessment, before you cross.

PLANNING THE CROSSING The crossing should only be attempted at high tide. It is 5nm through the hazardous areas, which will take most yachts almost an hour—so entering the bar 30 minutes before the high tide is optimal.

Due to the changeable nature of the bar, paper charts, Beacon to Beacon and markers on electronic charts will be out of date. More current information is required.

ROM MORETON BAY TO THE GREAT SANDY STRAITS (INCLUDING THE WIDE BAY BAR)

By Greg Luck

At the time of writing (November 2021), the crossing is defined by 4 waypoints derived by Coast Guard members from recent bathymetric data and local knowledge. Use of the Coast Guard recommendations regarding tracks and turn points is, and remains, a decision for the vessel master along with the decision to cross the Wide Bay Bar at all.

The waypoints are updated usually twice per year, based on hydrographic surveys (See Maryborough Pilotage Area notices to mariners) plus their own testing. The sand in the bar keeps moving, so it is very important to get the latest waypoints. There was a large change to the route from past practice in the 2021 update. The indicative crossings for 2020 and 2021 are shown in the chartlets below.

Coast Guard Tin Can Bay performs an invaluable service helping mariners through the bar an and providing rescue. They are happy to email or text the waypoints or read them out to you over the radio.

It is a very good idea to add the waypoints to your chart plotter and also have at least one backup device such as Navionics on your phone or tablet.

2020 indicative crossing showing waypoints

2021 indicative crossing showing waypoints

Double Island Point 'lagoon' circa May 2021 4

ROM MORETON BAY TO THE GREAT SANDY STRAITS (INCLUDING THE WIDE BAY BAR)

By Greg Luck

ASSESSING CONDITIONS FOR CROSSING Coast Guard Tin Can Bay will give you their assessment of conditions. If they recommend against crossing, do not cross. There are many examples of incidents where their advice was ignored.

Timing the Tide You need to get to the start of the bar about 30 minutes before high tide. Maximum wave activity occurs on an outgoing tide with the usual southeasterly swell acting against it to produce steep waves, which can break depending on wave size, ocean depth and ocean floor topology.

Wave Height Coast Guard Tin Can Bay recommend crossing when the swell forecast is below 1.5m.

Check the BOM Fraser Coast Waters Forecast. For example, on Monday 16 August 2021, the forecast was for swell below 1m and seas below 1m. Also, check the Wide Bay Bar Wave Rider Buoy for actual wave heights.

Wave Rider Buoy Wide Bay Bar August 2021. Image: ©The State of Queensland 2021

CROSSING THE BAR Though not legally required, it is strongly recommended to check with and log on, and off with Coast Guard Tin Can Bay when crossing the bar. The procedure is described in the sidebar on the next page.

Do not use autopilot in the bar—hand steer so that you can respond to breaking waves.

Vehicle Ferry transits between Inskip Point & Fraser Island. (K'gari)

ROM MORETON BAY TO THE GREAT SANDY STRAITS (INCLUDING THE WIDE BAY BAR) Because crossing is at high tide and in good conditions, yachts will be waiting on either side to do the crossing, so there are usually multiple yachts crossing.

Maintain your position in the line and keep a clear distance between yachts at the front and back. The last thing you want is to be dodging yachts and waves at the same time.

The Coast Guard may notify you of a problem area with shoaling. Keep a watch for breaking waves on that shoaled area.

You should allow plenty of time to wait for the right conditions. Yachts often wait days and days for the right conditions.

Most issues happen when yachts rush, attempting the bar in unsafe conditions, or even worse, at mid-tide.

WIDE BAY HARBOUR TO BOONLYE POINT Once through the bar, which you would have passed at high tide, it is then 20nm to the shoals of Boonlye Point.

These shoals are known as Sheridan Flats.

By Greg Luck

Coast Guard Tin Can Bay Log On Log on with Tin Can Bay before crossing the bar and log off when clearing it.

VHF Channel: 80 1.Contact CG Tin Can Bay 5 nm south of Double Island Point. VHF reception is interrupted right at the point and 1nm on either side.

2. Confirm the reference points with them. Check the conditions with them.

CG may recommend not crossing.

3. Before reaching reference point one, log on.

4. At reference point 4, log off or notify the successful crossing of the bar to be transferred to Sandy Straits.

Because it is not possible to pass both the bar and the flats at high tide, you have to wait a minimum of 12 hours before crossing the flats, and possibly 24 hours.

There are not many good places to stop as a monohull. We have some in the book, such as Pelican Bay, Elbow Point and Stewart Island. Cats find it easy to get into Pelican Bay and Garry’s Anchorage on the eastern side of Stewart Island. We have had some miserable times waiting to cross the shoals with a vigorous southerly against an ebb tide.

You can also head into Tin Can Bay Marina if you want a break, although the channel is narrow and shallow and should only be attempted in a monohull on a rising tide.

CROSSING THE SHOALS The shoals need to be passed at high tide and for monohulls, usually the highest high tide of the day.

MSQ regularly shift markers in response to the movement of the channels, so do not assume your chart has them in the current positions.

ROM MORETON BAY TO THE GREAT SANDY STRAITS (INCLUDING THE WIDE BAY BAR)

By Greg Luck

Check Maryborough Notices to Mariners. Also, check the tide at Boonlye Point.

You want to arrive before high tide.

There are also shallow and narrow sections at Stewart Island and Cyprass Creek.

Observe the track of other vessels of similar draught traversing Boonlye Point. In the chartlet to the right, I plotted other vessels going through and followed their path pretty closely. Note the bright red 1m LAT sections.

Click ⎈ to import/open this illustrative route. (Warning: The Navionics route is illustrative only, and the author takes no responsibility for its accuracy and suitability for your vessel). The direction of buoyage is towards Wide Bay Harbour. The flood tide flows up to 3 knots.

SonarCharts Live scan of Sheridan Flats 2019

BOONLYE POINT TO NORTH WHITE CLIFFS After the stress of Wide Bay Bar and then Sheridan Flats, it is nice to get back to some more regular passaging. It is 11nm to North White Cliffs. You will have the outgoing tide, so it is quick. The tide drains from Boonlye Point. The direction of buoyage is towards Wide Bay Harbour.

Click ⎈ to import/open this illustrative route (Warning: The Navionics route is illustrative only and the author takes no responsibility for its accuracy and suitability for your vessel).

North White Cliffs is a good anchorage for easterlies. If you have westerlies consider anchoring at Turkey Island, just north of Boonlye Point.

Low Tide Great Sandy Straits

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OBSERVATIONS FROM THE HELM Damian Pugh from Helm Insurance Services shares some insights into what you should do if faced with an event that is likely to result in an insurance claim.

THE RELATIONSHIP Essentially your insurer is in a partnership with you. They have certain requirements and obligations to meet under the contract of Insurance to you as their client, and likewise, you too have responsibilities and obligations to them as your insurer.

Like any partnership, the more open and honest the partnership is, the less chance there is of conflict and dispute.

Insurer’s obligation An insurance policy is effectively a promise by the insurer to compensate the policyholder in the event of any covered losses. In discussions with many boat owners, it would be a fair statement that many boat owners have been fortunate enough not to sustain loss or damage or even personal injury that has led to an insurance claim.

OBSERVATIONS FROM THE HELM Damian Pugh from Helm Insurance Services shares some insights into what you should do if faced with an event that is likely to result in an insurance claim.

WHEN LOSS OR DAMAGE OCCURS, WHAT IS THE PROCESS?

You may have heard Insurers make the statement that "in the event of a claim, you must act as a Prudent Uninsured", which generally gets taken out of context, as quite often comments are made, along the lines of; What have I paid insurance for?

"POLICYHOLDER'S OBLIGATION TO ACT AS A PRUDENT UNINSURED" WHAT DOES THIS REALLY MEAN? In simple terms, Prudent Uninsured means that the policyholder should act as though they have no insurance in place and take reasonable measures to safeguard their vessel from further loss.

In the case of personal injury to an insured or Third Party, take care to protect the injured party from further injury illness and not expose the injured to any additional harm.

OBSERVATIONS FROM THE HELM Damian Pugh from Helm Insurance Services shares some insights into what you should do if faced with an event that is likely to result in an insurance claim.

AN EXAMPLE OF ACTING AS A PRUDENT UNINSURED While cruising, a client of Helm Insurance Services had most of their electrical and mechanical systems affected by a lightning event. At the time of the event, they were located well offshore. The damage sustained affected the vessel’s capability to operate normally.

I remember the event very clearly as I received a call from an unusual number, which initially I thought was a bloody telemarketer; however, it happened to be the insured calling from their Satellite Phone.

The insured advised the circumstances of the loss that they had ascertained the extent of damage sustained, checked what equipment was operational, jury-rigged the vessel in preparation for safe passage back to the mainland. Additionally, they had made several enquiries with the electronics and engine suppliers of the onboard equipment to arrange for replacement parts and electronics to be shipped to their next port so they could retrofit to enable the vessel to be returned safely to her normal homeport for a complete assessment of the loss.

From my perspective as the broker for the insured, being advised of the circumstances of loss as soon as practically possible enables us to begin the process of managing the claim for the insured. These actions minimised the potential for further loss being sustained and contributed to the claim costs being reduced.

I would caution to add that there may be circumstances where it may be difficult to act as a Prudent Uninsured due to the nature of the incident. The concept of acting as a Prudent Uninsured extends beyond this example, but should you be unfortunate enough to be involved with an incident with your boat, it is worth bearing in mind. If you act as a reasonable person in the circumstances and take steps to reduce the prospect of further loss occurring, this shows good faith.

Also, if you do suffer a loss, taking reasonable actions on the most economical basis to minimise the claim will be appreciated by your insurer and ensure you don’t prejudice your position when the time comes to claim any costs you may have incurred.

The information in this article is to be regarded as general advice. Your personal objectives, needs and financial circumstances were not taken into account when preparing this content. We recommend that you consider the suitability of this general advice, in respect of your objectives, financial situation and needs before acting on it. You should obtain and consider the relevant product disclosure statement and Financial Services Guide from Helm Insurance Services before making any decision to purchase a financial product.

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THE PRIDE & THE PASSION A passion for boats and the marine industry is evident everywhere you look when you visit The Boat Works at Coomera. As a regular visitor, I have often thought about how proud owner Tony Longhurst must be of what has been achieved there over the past 20 years.

In March this year, I learned that this passion for boats & the marine industry has been in the Longhurst family for decades. I was aware that Tony's father, John Longhurst, who passed away in January this year, had founded Dreamworld, but I was not aware that he also founded Pride Boats back in the '60s. It would seem that combining Passion with Pride has long been in the Longhurt's DNA.

In a recent press release, The Boat Works general manager Shane Subichin is quoted as saying:

“John (Longhurst) was way ahead of his time. The Pride brochures capture the family fun and enjoyment of the on-water lifestyle. The slogan was ‘Turn Leisure into Pleasure with a Pride’ and showed people water skiing, fishing, enjoying time with family".

Left of frame John Longhurst - Founder

THE PRIDE & THE PASSION Born from a desire to show respect for John and the Longhurst family Shane and a team of The Boat Works on-site professionals undertook to restore an original Pride 65 Starfire GT to its 1960s glory.

Now in all her ruby-red glory at The Boat Works’ motor museum Garage 25, the finishing touch will be installing the genuine 1965 115hp Mercury engine, which is on its way from the US.

“This little boat will never go back in the water,” says Tony Longhurst, “Even though it would still cut it up and turn heads, she’s going to live on a pedestal in Garage 25 where she can be admired by everybody.”

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Member Profile Robert and Reanne - SV Shilo

We purchased our first sailing catamaran just over 12mths ago after owning motorboats all our lives.

We had tested the waters, "so to speak," by hiring a catamaran in the Whitsundays to make sure we wanted to move into sailing, and from that moment on, we were hooked, absolutely love it.

So in 2020, the hunt began, but we knew what we wanted and had a checklist. After a year of looking from time to time, going to boat shows, we had found a brand we liked and almost purchased a brand new model. Then there was the build time, and covid was closing in, so we just waited a bit to see what would happen.

In late 2020 it looked like the house prices were on the rise, so we decided to go for it & sell the house.

That happened within a week, the house was sold, and during the house settlement, I had another look at the catamaran market and found a 2013 Lipari 41; this was on our wish list, although it was not new, we could have it straight away, and it ticked all the extras we wanted. Then the following week, we purchased a Townhouse, so we were set to go. We picked up Shilo, and the fun began. We have been sailing around the Broadwater and up to Moreton Bay, just learning and getting to know the boat.

Member Profile Robert and Reanne - SV Shilo We had watched a few of the Down Under Rally Webinars and decided to join as a member (the discounts have already covered the membership price) They also have a great video series about Offshore Preparation, and after watching the videos, we decided we needed to get a few miles under our keels 'out in the blue'.

So we decided to hire "Captain Murray". He was terrific and has been sailing and delivering yachts all over the world. His experience and training were priceless. We headed out of the Gold Coast seaway with a moderate swell, and from that moment, it was on.

I wanted to push ourselves outside our comfort zone, SE 14 to 18 knots with a few gusts of 22 knots and a 1.5 to 2.0 metre swell. For us, this was the biggest we had been in, and we dipped the chairs on the bows in the water a few times crossing the bar, but all was good as I had Murray by my side giving me some guidance.

After crossing the bar, we set the 1st reef in the main and full headsail, then settled into a northern run to the top end of Moreton Island; we even managed to catch a few fish along the way.

Later that evening, we rounded the headland just on dusk, surfing down a few big swells on the way in. The next part is finding somewhere in the dark to drop the hook for the night; with Murray’s guidance, he explains how to navigate through the darkness to Bulwer for the night.

Member Profile Robert and Reanne - SV Shilo The next day, we learned how to read the water and finetune the sails; he also explained why and how the wind works. Then it was just a Jibe and Tack for most of the day, It was very interesting and great learning for both of us, especially the part on Tide and Current, coming from a motorboat, we were never too worried, but once it was explained, wow what a difference.

On our last day heading south, the wind had changed around to the N /NE, and it was very light, 7 to 8 Knots, so we concentrated on light wind sailing. Once again, it was very good to learn both types of sailing.

"The most important part for us was following the advice from John Hembrow of the Down Under Rally to get out in the water and test yourself out, try a shakedown cruise and spend time in the blue water."

"As mentioned before, the other great source of info was the Down Under Rally Online Offshore Cruising Course.

When we did the course we found there was a lot we knew, but also there was a lot we didn’t. Which is probably why John asks...

Do You Know What You Don`t Know?

Our next adventure is Heading north in early April. If you are heading that way we are happy to buddy boat up to Hervey Bay & then the Kepple's or if you see Shilo in an anchorage, drop in and say hi! You can email us at eventshd@icloud.com. Regards, Robert & Reanne SV Shilo.

P.S. If you would like to contact Murray send an email to John from the Down Under Rally at: admin@downunderrally.com.

Thanks for sharing your story & the pictures of your adventure with AHOY Robert & Reanne. To show our appreciation, we will be sending you a $50.00 voucher to spend at Captains Chandlery at Bundaberg Port Marina when you head north later in the year!

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By Chris Rose

CAPE YORK TO DARWIN After reaching the most northern point of Australia, Cape York and celebrating, it was time to start heading west towards Darwin across the Gulf of Carpentaria towards the beckoning Kimberly.

Being so far north, we decided to make the short 20 nautical mile trip and go around and explore Thursday Island. After a very easy sail with the established southeast trade winds, it was better to anchor in behind the northwestern side of Horn Island in sheltered flat water.

We were travelling with two other yachts, and we had decided to conserve dinghy fuel, so we were picked up, and all six of us squeezed into the inflatable tender and headed over to the Horn Island jetty as we usually do. Climbing up, the local children fishing on the jetty were rather excited about our arrival and quickly talked about crocodiles.

I took this a bit of a joke and a tease of the new arriving tourists, especially as we hadn’t really seen too much to worry about so far on this trip.

With a local fisherman arriving just behind us, I had a friendly chat and spoke about the kids trying to scare us. He laughed and pulled out his phone to show me a video of a 5-meter crocodile that calls this spot home, showing the giant reptile on the muddy bank and sliding back into the water. He added that the video was taken only a few days before, right where we were anchored!

Sailing SV No Regrets CAPE YORK TO DARWIN The point was clearly taken, and after a drink at the local hotel, we split into two groups, sat more inside the tender and not on the inflatable pontoons, and travelled much faster on the plane back to our boats.

We zipped across to Thursday Island and had lunch at the Top Pub (now the Torres Hotel), where we again found the locals extremely friendly, welcoming and helpful.

With the winds more SSE, we decided to head deeper into the Gulf of Carpentaria to Port Musgrave, where we would achieve a more favourable wind angle. When a weather window appeared, we left early in the morning towards Gove, 315 nautical miles away. It wasn’t our worst passage, but it lived up to the reputation of being a challenging passage with waves coming from three directions that baffled us.

Some waves were even coming from the southwest, where no wind had been blowing in the week prior.

Sailing SV No Regrets CAPE YORK TO DARWIN We thought flying the drone as No Regrets ghosted under spinnaker in the middle of the beautiful blue sea with no land in sight would look really cool.

Unfortunately, just after takeoff, I messed up the screen display, thus losing control of the expensive toy resulting in me screaming out to Jo to “quick snuff the spinnaker” while I reset everything.

With Jo running around dropping the spinnaker single-handed, I managed at this same time to regain control, so I now yell new commands to “get the spinnaker back up again”. With control recovered and great shots achieved, it was time to return to the boat with the low battery warning. Then our next dilemma began.

With us still moving under sail and chasing the boat, the anti-collision system did not want to be too close and engaged as the drone came in. Unable to get online for help at such a time and location, panic sets in again, and more commands are yelled to “get the spinnaker back down again”!

With sail down and almost no battery remaining, we were still having difficulty getting it close enough to grab before the drone decided to lunge at us. With Jo diving out of its way, it hit our saloon roof and crash-landed into our cockpit, falling onto our rear seat and luckily not overboard. Incredibly the drone sustained no damage, and nobody had their fingers chopped by the fast-spinning blades. 😮‍💨

Sailing SV No Regrets CAPE YORK TO DARWIN Arriving at the Gove Sailing Club after a two-night passage, we, unfortunately, timed it just one day late, missing the club dinner.

Not prepared to wait around for a whole week just to get a drink and meal, we headed off to see the iconic Gugari Rip or “Hole In The Wall”.

Focusing on timing our arrival on the tide change for the slack water enabling our passage through, we did not notice the chart warning around Cape Wilberforce of currents of up to 5 knots.

Compounding our oversight, we had the tide running in the opposite direction to the wind making the waves stand up very tall near 3 meters and actively breaking all around.

After a rather stressful pass around Point William, we stopped and anchored behind Cotton Island to reassess our approach to the Gugari Rip.

"Compounding our oversight, we had the tide running in the opposite direction to the wind making the waves stand up very tall (near 3 meters) and actively breaking all around."

Sailing SV No Regrets CAPE YORK TO DARWIN We noted two differing tides charts available just a few miles apart with significant time differences.

Deciding upon the Hopeful Bay tide station, we waited for slack water before heading through the tiny gap of the Gugari Rip. The tide can flow through this tiny pass at 8 to 10 knots, well beyond our maximum motoring ability.

We casually made the pass in almost slack water through the narrow gap of around 80 meters at its narrowest point with our timing perfect. Riding the strong tide down through Brown Strait and with a lovely breeze behind us, we made record time travelling between 12 to 13 knots speed over ground, passing through Cadell Strait and on towards Darwin, stopping at numerous protected bays along the way.

Sailing SV No Regrets CAPE YORK TO DARWIN We arrived at the Cobourg Peninsula, cutting through Bowen Strait and visiting the abandoned pearl farm on Croker Island. After visiting the Black Point Ranger station, we explored several picturesque bays and visited the historic Victoria Settlement.

Established in 1838 and disbanded in 1849, it was brought about by a plan of the British government and the East India Company to set up a military settlement and a re-victualling point for shipping through Torres Strait.

The ruins have been reclaimed from the undergrowth and the various buildings identified. Rounding Cape Don and using the incoming tide assist, we passed into Van Diemen Gulf, using the later outgoing tide to help us through the Clarence Strait before dropping anchor late in the day at Gunn Point.

Sailing SV No Regrets CAPE YORK TO DARWIN With only a day's sail to go, we were excited to arrive at Darwin, our last possible provisioning site.

Darwin is subject to some pretty large tides of a little over 5-meter change. We berthed at the Cullen Bay Marina as it is a locked marina, meaning the water levels are controlled to negate the significant tidal changes. Before being allowed to enter, we had to provide the standard insurance certificate and a Northern Territory Covid Declaration, our Vessel Marine Pest’s Certificate, and our Lock Opening Certificate. It was undoubtedly the most paperwork we had ever provided for a vessel berth in Australia!.

Located along the marina are several lovely restaurants and a very short walk over to Cullen Beach to watch the magical sunsets. With walking distance to the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets, Botanic gardens and Museum, it is very centrally located. Just a short Uber ride to Stokes Hill Wharf, Darwin Waterfront Precinct and Military Museum, there were many things to see and do.

After a couple of weeks of sightseeing, we began to fully provision No Regrets, in preparation for the next leg of our adventure to...The Kimberly!

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youtu.be/TMvr4ERim4I The winner will be announced in the May Ahoy Newsletter One entry per new subscriber to Sailing No Regrets YouTube channel Must be a new subscriber that subscribes between 01/04/2022 - 30/04/2022.

https://youtu.be/TMvr4ERim4I Cruising the Queensland Coast is a cruising guide for yachts cruising the Queensland coast.

Each of the 13 coasts, from the Gold Coast to the Cooktown Coast, are covered in detail, including marinas, anchorages, passages, wind and wave averages, public pontoons and quick reference information and links for vital weather, search and rescue, notices to mariners and other vital information.

It features hundreds of chartlets and high-resolution aerial photos of anchorages to take the guesswork out of anchoring. Each anchorage has information on depth, bottom, mobile reception, marine park zone and recommended wind directions and strengths. The book is also integrated with Navionics. Anchorages and passages can be imported into Navionics simply by clicking on the ⎈ icons throughout the book. For those without Navionics, they will open in a web page chart. Learn More HERE

Congratulations to: Mark H. Winner of the March No Regrets Prize Draw

https://stellamarine.com.au

When Down Under Rally Member, Mark P, sent me the email below, I can honestly say that I was not expecting to read anything like the story of 'THE STORM' that follows on the next page!

"Hi John, Regarding your invitation in AHOY for cruising stories, please find attached my brother in law’s story of his fun at sea."

BEFORE READING 'THE STORM', LET'S LEARN A LITTLE MORE ABOUT MARK & DAVID. David Armstrong is the co-owner of Whisp, an Elite 11 cruising catamaran.

He, his brother-in-law Mark and sister Cath purchased Whisp in October 2020 with a view to participating in the Go East Rally to New Caledonia in 2024. Whisp knows the way as she already has one Go East Rally under her keels with her previous owner.

Currently, Whisp resides in Port Stephens, where David and Cath’s father, Bill, lives. Unfortunately, David lives in Darwin, and Cath and Mark in Bendigo (a bit closer), although frequent visits to the Port keep Whisp out and about.

David is a distance education teacher in the NT and clocks up many outback hours in 4x4s and small planes visiting remote communities.

He, Mark and Bill have competed in the Darwin to Dili Rally twice, winning the event on handicap in 2015 in David’s trusty Catalina 30.

He is also an amateur historian and researches World War 2 history elements, which he writes on in relation to the NT. David and Bill spent their early sailing years in a Mirror Dingy and summers at Rosebud on the Mornington Peninsula in the mid-seventies, and this was the start of a lifelong love of sailing.

David has lived in the NT since 1997 and owned and sailed a Hartley TS18, a Farrier 25 folding tri, a 28-foot homemade skiff, a Magnum 28 and more recently, a 1982 Catalina 30.

David considers himself a part-time sailor, and well and truly still on the learning curve.

THE STORM IS THE CENTREPIECE OF A LARGER NON-FICTION ADVENTURE NOVEL THAT INCLUDES ELEMENTS OF DAVID’S TIME SPENT IN THE RAN AND THE DISASTROUS RETURN VOYAGE FROM DILI IN 2015.

THE STORM AS PUBLISHED (IN SPECIAL DRAFT FORM) IS FREE TO READ FOR DOWN UNDER RALLY MEMBERS AND READERS OF AHOY AND IS UNDER COPYRIGHT AND NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OVER AND ABOVE THIS PUBLICATION.

Above & Beyond Boating exists to help the boating community learn about boat handling, safety and teach the broader skills needed to confidently and safely skipper their boats. They deliver the leading courses to skipper a boat. Their learning is perfect for people who are open to learning and developing their skills, passionate about being on the water, and excited to become safer and more talented skippers.

Down Under Rally Members Offer!

10% Off All Above & Beyond Boating Courses that feature on our website at: downunderrally.com/preparation-training

Neil Driscoll is the founder and lead trainer of Above & Beyond Boating. Neil will be contributing to Ahoy in 2022 to give you some practical tips and ideas for practising your safety and seamanship on the water.

Neil has qualified as a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Yachtmaster Ocean Instructor for power and sail, Office of Maritime Communications (OMC) Remote Assessor for radio licencing, and Australian Sailing (AS) Sea Survival Instructor and safety equipment auditor.

Neil has extensive teaching and skippering experience including ocean crossings, Category 1 Yacht Races, and has managed vessels around the world.

Improve your skills, be prepared and response ready!

Safety and Seamanship is a huge topic, these editions of AHOY will concentrate on one aspect at a time.

This month's topic is...

WATCH SYSTEMS Watch systems are a learnt skill and you will find that many skippers have firm views on the “perfect system”. These are some of the things that I have found critical to a successful watch system:

1. Have a clear plan and stick to it 2. Include meal times in the plan 3. On longer trips, always build in boat tidying, head cleaning etc. into the plan 4. Build routine maintenance, such as deck checks into the timing 5. For watches of more than one person, establish who is the watch leader 6. Ensure there are “standing orders” e.g. wake the skipper for these reasons, plot a position on the chart this often, do not enter this area, do not leave the cockpit on your own etc.

7. Ensure people being woken up for watch are in control of how long they “need” to visit the heads, get dressed and be ready to take over a watch.

8. It is helpful to let people know what clothing they are likely to need and a fresh brew is always well received when you wake someone up at 2 am to go and sit in the rain for 3 hours!

I hope this helps you keep everything running smoothly for longer passages.

Congratulations to Jim Dobbin!

Winner of the Online Skipper Course from the March issue of Ahoy.

"Here's us on an adventure..."

The Rules of ABB...

WIN A $200 ONLINE SKIPPERS COURSE!

Each month we have one course available to a lucky reader. To enter the draw email us a picture of you following one or more of the rules of ABB to admin@downunderrally.com Terms and conditions: One enrolment in the Online Skipper Course is available per edition of Ahoy. The prize is non-transferable and can not be exchanged for a cash equivalent. By sending in the picture you are agreeing for this to be published by Down Under Rally and Above & Beyond Boating.

Members Marketplace Down Under Rally Members are invited to list their *unwanted items for sale in our Ahoy Newsletter.

To list your item or items in the members market place: Email photos/description/price & contact information to admin@downunderrally.com FREE FOR DOWN UNDER RALLY MEMBERS *Items offered must be used equipment / personal items related to sailing & cruising - No boats for sale listings, please. (Tenders ok)

Tender for sale. (PLEASE NOTE MOTOR IS NOT INCLUDED!) 3.1 Metre inflatable fibreglass centre console.

The tender is only 2 years old.

Note there is normal weathering on the tubes and some marks that will polish out. The rub strike is yellowed in places. It has been in the weather so marks are to be expected. Otherwise, the tubes and glass are in good condition.

Selling due to the fact it is just too heavy for me to handle alone anymore. Advertised at 90kg but it is not !! closer to 120 kg. The purchase price was $6500.00 SELLING for $2500.00 Pick Up Only! - Hervey Bay QLD Contact Geoff: PH: 0499 629 915 (please leave a message if not answered) Email: geoff@scottslocks.com.au Please see the following link for the manufacturer details.https://rwmmarine.com.au

Marina Berth - Available Suit Multihull (or two monohulls) SINGLE SHUTE (no neighbours) LOA-13m, Beam-9m, liveaboard/pet friendly with water and power. Available month-bymonth rental starting on May 1st 2022 for approximately 6-months.

Located Brisbane northside.

Inquiries - Email James majekpost@gmail.com.

Members Marketplace Simrad AIS - working order - has an old MMSI number Simrad Radio - working order Simrad Nav Station - working order - screen needs repair (still visible), round toggle button starting to play up, needs repair $600.00 FOR THE LOT! Contact: Mike Anderson Mobile: 0449 778 903

KARVER CONTINUOUS ROLL FURLER ( KF2) Approximately 18 months old, with a spare pin.

Retails for $2200.00

SELL $1200.00 Contact Alex Mobile: 0498961747 Down Under Rally Members are invited to list their *unwanted items for sale in our Ahoy Newsletter.

To list your item or items in the members market place: Email photos/description/price & contact information to admin@downunderrally.com FREE FOR DOWN UNDER RALLY MEMBERS *Items offered must be used equipment / personal items related to sailing & cruising - No boats for sale listings, please. (Tenders ok)

BECOME A DOWN UNDER RALLY MEMBER TO RECEIVE...

Discounts & Special Offers all year round on a wide range of marine-related products & services from participating rally partner businesses & sponsors.

Unlimited Access to our Offshore Cruising Preparation Course. Watch the course content as often as you like for as long as you are a member.

Access to our Members Only Portal. This is where we share articles and stories that we believe to be both of interest and use to anyone that owns a cruising yacht.

Down Under Rally Burgee.

e-Help. Contact us via email, telephone or even via video conferencing as often as you like for advice on anything related to your vessel, your cruising plans and goals. Plus assistance and support when cruising in the South Pacific, New Zealand and Australia.

Priority Rally Registrations.

Our rallies have a maximum number of participants. DUR Members will get advance notification of rally registration opportunities to help avoid disappointment.

Discounts on all Down Under Rally Registration Fees.

Access to our Members Only Facebook Group. Being a member of this group provides you with the opportunity to interact with other Down Under Rally Members, many of whom will have a wealth of knowledge and experiences to share about all things sailing & cruising!

Full Membership $125.00 AUD Per Year downunderrally.com/membership

ONLINE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TESTIMONIALS

Course Content Preparing The Vessel Ship Registration / Category 1 / Vessel Specific Safety Equipment / Sails & Rigging / Anchors & Anchoring Equipment / Watermakers & Water treatment. / Vessel Systems / Electronics / Steering Systems/ Diesel Engines / Navigation Equipment.

Preparing The People: Watchkeeping & safety protocols / Safety Gear: Personal / Seasickness: Remedies, management & avoidance / Log Keeping / Crew Management / Medical Kits / Other Content: Insurance: Vessel & Travel / At Sea & Offshore Communications Methods / Weather Forecasting Coastal & Offshore / Passage Planning & Passage Management / Destination Research & much more.

Advantages Of Online / On-Demand The course content is broken down into easy to digest 1 hr sessions View the course content as often as you wish.

View when it suits you.

Learn at your own pace.

Pause / Rewind at any time.

Contact the course presenters via email or telephone at any time with questions.

Down Under Rally Members Offer!

Become a Down Under Rally Member for just $125.00 AUD for a 1-year membership and receive Unlimited Access to our Offshore Cruising Preparation Course for as long as you are a member.

downunderrally.com/membership

Give the Gift Of Membership!

A Down Under Rally Membership makes a great gift for someone that already has everything!

CLICK HERE TO Purchase a Gift Certificate

downunderrally.com/membership

2022

Partners & Sponsors

For Members Discounts & Offers visit: downunderrally.com/rally-partners-sponsors

2022

Partners & Sponsors

For Members Discounts & Offers visit: downunderrally.com/rally-partners-sponsors

2022

Partners & Sponsors

https://greatcircleliferafts.com.au

DISCOUNTS FOR DOWN UNDER RALLY MEMBERS Please quote your member number when placing an order with us.

For Members Discounts & Offers visit: downunderrally.com/rally-partners-sponsors

2022

Partners & Sponsors

For Members Discounts & Offers visit: downunderrally.com/rally-partners-sponsors

2022

Partners & Sponsors

For Members Discounts & Offers visit: downunderrally.com/rally-partners-sponsors

2022

Partners & Sponsors

It might just save your boat!

Find out more about Prop Protector.

HERE

DOWN UNDER RALLY MEMBERS SAVE 20%

For Members Discounts & Offers visit: downunderrally.com/rally-partners-sponsors

2022

Partners & Sponsors

For Members Discounts & Offers visit: downunderrally.com/rally-partners-sponsors

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Partners & Sponsors ers for b e t m eba ly Me R l 20% er Ra d Un n w Do

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For Members Discounts & Offers visit: downunderrally.com/rally-partners-sponsors

2022

Partners & Sponsors

Founded in 1970 & still, family-owned & run. Nautical giftware, Navigation Charts, & equipment, Cruising Guides, Brass Bells, Compasses, Sextants and much more.

Discounts on charts and cruising guides for Down Under Rally Members. www.downunderrally.com/charts-flags

For Members Discounts & Offers visit: downunderrally.com/rally-partners-sponsors

2022

Partners & Sponsors

YACHTINGWORLD-VANUATU.COM

For Members Discounts & Offers visit: downunderrally.com/rally-partners-sponsors

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Partner With The Down Under Rally FEATURE IN AHOY! Partnering with the Down Under Rally provides businesses that offer marine-related products and services with the opportunity to engage with our audience of sailing and cruising vessel owners in a costeffective and targeted manner. There are a variety of ways our members & our audience are introduced to our rally partner businesses which include the opportunity for your business to feature in AHOY. The Down Under Rally provides the owners of cruising vessels and those who voyage aboard them with tangible benefits, support, education and information. Over the past seven years, we have made it possible for many to expand their horizons, realise their sailing & cruising aspirations and make some memories.

By becoming a Down Under Rally partner business, you also make it possible for the Down Under Rally to do what we do!

Our members are aware that without the support of our rally partner businesses, the Down Under Rally could not provide these opportunities, and they are therefore keen to support our rally partner businesses whenever possible.

For information about partnering with the Down Under Rally and having your business appear in AHOY, contact Down Under Rally Director John Hembrow.

Email: admin@downunderrally.com Phone: 0417 833 337 within Australia or +61 417 833 337

special thanks to our 2022 platinum partner businesses