Monthly Archives: July 2013
Another 48 hours at Sea
Our position at 10.00 Tuesday 30th July
10 degrees 42.1 south
124 degrees 40.3 East
Day 2 122 miles in 24 hours
Day 3 129 miles in 24 hours
So far we are having a wonderfully boring but SAFE passage out here, long may it last. Sunday we had a light south easterly wind blowing so we managed to get the twizzle up and either sail or motor sail most of the day. At about 18.30 the wind veered to the south so we put the twizzle away and hoisted the main and a single genny and sailed most of Monday. Last night was a bit concerning because the boats ahead of us (this is when it pays not to be in the lead) were reporting groups of fishing nets with strobes on them. We have been warned about Indonesian fishing nets but we weren’t expecting them yet. I think it was because we passed the Dillon shoals last night where the sea bed goes from 500 meters to 13 meters, at it’s shallowest point, and it’s probably good fishing ground. The wind died over night and we’re motoring again.
I’ve got about 50 yachts reporting into my SSB radio net in the morning and all is well although this morning one boat reported loss of power in their engine and will have to sail the rest of the way, which will be difficult without any wind. When they get nearer one of us can take them in tow.
So we’ll motor on today unless the wind picks up and should be in Kupang first thing in the morning. Soooooooooooooo excited at the thought of arriving in Indonesia. Take care
Sue x
PS STILL no fish! Now have 2 lines out 24 hours.
Australia to Indonesia – Day 1
Our position at 10.00 28th July (look it up on Google earth)
11 degrees 48.8 south
128 degrees 43.5 east
127 miles in 24 hours
Our first day at sea has been mostly motoring without any wind. Last night the wind came up for about 4 hours then died but this morning it’s back again and we are sailing with the twizzle out. The wind is still very light so I don’t know how long it will last.
We weren’t sad to leave Australia, it was very expensive with a high cost of living and a bad exchange rate for our , but we were sad to leave our Aussie friends. We were made to feel welcome by our past cruising friends and cousin John and Helen. Also we said goodbye to Kennedy on Far Star, a single hander from Alabama, USA. Kennedy is always very friendly and would help any one but he wants to get back home to see his grand children so he leaves for South Africa in a few days. So long Buddy.
It’s strange traveling with so many boats around us. 50 yachts crossed the start line yesterday with another dozen or so following on in the next week or so after they’ve sorted out various problems. There’s another 20 or so who have gone north to Saumlaki and we join together half way through the rally. We are roughly in the middle of the field according to my net that I’m running in the mornings. It’s quite difficult taking the positions of that many boats but we don’t do weather and I’m very strict with everyone!! The weather is the same right across the Timor sea. Our first stop is Kupang in West Timor (and in case you thing there’s fighting going on there, the fighting stopped 10 years or so ago). It should take us 3 1/2 to 4 days to cross; a bit like a Biscay crossing so it’s not too far. Sleep is always difficult the first couple of days with the watch system but eventually I’m so tired I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow at the end of my watch.
We saw a pod of Pilot whales yesterday but nothing else since. The fishing line is out optimistically but we aren’t good at catching fish. Love to everyone, Bill and Sue
Camomile leaves Australia
We leave Australia in an hour for Kupang in Indonesia, really really excited! Should take 3 or 4 days although at the moment there isn’t any wind. We have a start time of 11.00 but with over 70 boats starting together we may hang back.
Not sure what the internet facilities will be like when we get there but you can always reach us on the mdqf6 sailmail address. To all the friends we made in Australia goodbye and if you make it to the UK come and see us. Lots of love to all. Sue and Bill
Camomile shows a leg
Darwin doesn’t have the same environmental issues that Queensland had and many of the rally boats have been landing on the beach to have their hull scrubbed. We decided to get Camomile’s ‘legs’ out and join them. We landed on the beach at 9am this morning and by 10.30 most of the hull was exposed so Bill and Norman could start scrubbing.
I made a quick exit to the town to pick up my passport with it’s Indonesian visa stamped in it. Luckily when I returned it was all finished!