Darwin

10th September to 11th October 2010

When we set off for Darwin I was a bit apprehensive as it was my longest haul so far, 240 nautical miles and would take three days two nights.  As it was we motor-sailed through flat waters, the nights were lovely so it was an easy journey.  During our night watches I  only saw one other vessel the whole trip. We do not have set watchers, we find the system that works the best for us is when I sleep 1 -2 hours after dinner, I don’t seem to manage much more than that. Then Mark sleeps as long as I can let him, knowing that I can wake him if I am not sure of something. I then go back just after sunrise for a few more hours.

We arrived in Darwin mid morning and dropped anchor in Fanny Bay, we needed to wait for the tide to rise so we could make our way up the Sandgrove River.  Tipperary Marina was the cheapest so that is where we were heading, Keith the Lockmaster made our entrance in a strong current as easy as he possibly could.

Darwin turned out to be a very social place we met many local yachties, some by pure chance and others in the local watering holes.


We met Cheryl from the Darwin Yacht Club while looking through Burnett House, one of Darwin’s original properties.  

John and Cheryl kindly introduced us to the “Stress Buster’s” and took us on a local sail.

Cathy with Admiral Emma of the Stress Busters

We also met John and Therese who have sailed through Indonesia and Timor Leste, they had a car that we were able to hire at a very reasonable rate.

Mike and Helen from Fremanle Sailing Club arrived on “Proteus II” and where in the pen next to us. They had been just behind us all the way through the Kimberley. Keith ( the Lockmaster) and Lea from “Tientos” gave us lots of helpful advice for the next part of our journey through Indonesia.

The Darwin Crocodile Farm also provided almost a full days entertainment. Like many other Cruiser's, if we had known all of what we learnt at the Farm before we had cruised The Kimberley we would have had a very different attitude to our ancient friends.

We had a arrived with a long with of things we needed to get for the yacht before we could set off again. Luckily Bias Marine had just opened, so the credit card copped another hiding.

We had a day trip out to Litchfield National Park, a great spot  to visit and have a swim in the natural rock pools.

The Ant build these hills and face them so that they catch the breeze, to keep their home cool.....  Cool hey!!!

Markets

The local Parap and Mindle food markets on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday evenings are another great place to eat and socialize. The museums and swimming pools and the library were also popular retreats when it was really hot and wet.  

We enjoyed lunches on Mondays at the Casino over “50’s” for about $12.00, all you can eat. Our stay in Darwin turned into a great social occasion, along with the Thursday nights at Darwin Sailing club with the “Stress Busters” and any night at Dinah Beach Sailling Club Jill and Paul off “Elevation organized a weekly BBQ night at Tipperary Marina.

For our last social get together Mike and Helen ( Proteus II), Anki and Deiter ( Anki II), Jill and Paul (Elevation), Penny and Peter (Persian Sands), 

Robbie and Tes

FSC at the "Stess Busters" Darwin Sailing Club

(Nightmoves), Liz and Derek ( Nebula) and then Lyn and Ralph along with Kim on Yandanooka turned up. It was beginning to feel like FSC.

Penny & Peter "Persian Sands"

The social/cruising section of Darwin Sailing Club (called “Stress Busters”) are a wonderful group of people and thanks to Cheryl and John we were made to feel very welcome.








In so many ways it was hard to leave Darwin and we both look forward to returning one day.