A
NE
W S
S
I
NG I L
A U S T R A L I A & T H E S O U T H P A C I F I C
"IT'S FREE TO ENJOY AHOY!"
OCTOBER 2023
Fuluga, Eastern Lau Group, Fiji Image @mintaus23
SAILING TO AUSTRALIA
FREE INFORMATION SESSION In Noumea New Caledonia WHERE & WHEN? 11TH OCTOBER 2023 | PORT MOSELLE | NEW CALEDONIA | 15:00-17:00
WHO IS INVITED? The captain and first mate of all vessels that are interested in visiting Australia
WHAT INFO WILL BE SHARED? Ports of Entry | Passage Planning | Pre & Post Arrival Formalities Customs and Biosecurity Inspections | Cyclone Season & Vessel Storage options East Coast Cruising info | Question and Answer Session
JOIN US AFTERWARDS FOR A SUNDOWNER COMPLIMENTS OF SCARBOROUGH MARINA!*
NUMBERS LIMITED- RSVP REQUIRED RSVP AT:
www.downunderrally.com/sailing-to-australia-info
SW PACIFIC TO AUSTRALIA
OR SCAN THE QR CODE.
IN THE OCTOBER AHOY Members Prize Draw Winner.
4
Australia Has It All!
5-8
A Desirable Outcome.
9
Answering The Call Of Adventure - Mint In Fiji. 17-18 The Land That Time Forgot Part 2.
23-32
One Step At A Time - Pazzo Down Under.
41-56
Countdown To Welcome Week
63-67
Tender Moments - Under Pressure
69
Australian Marine Liability Insurance
70-71
Musket Cove Fiji Regatta Week Wrap Up
75-79
Members Marketplace
83
Marine Business Directory UPDATE
84-94
Published by Down Under Rally Pty Ltd To submit an article or to enquire about advertising, contact John Hembrow Email: admin@downunderrally.com
ING NE W IL
S
S
A
Website: downunderrally.com
A U S T R A L I A & T H E S O U T H P A C I F I C
©Copyright 2023 Down Under Rally Pty Ltd AHOY Sailing News is published and distributed electronically via the World Wide Web. Original editorial content and advertisements in this newsletter are copyrighted 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 Down Under Rally Pty Ltd. The comments and views in this newsletter are not necessarily those of Down Under Rally Pty Ltd.
Members Prize Draw Congratulations... Alan B - Member Number 45. You are this month's winner of the PredictWind Down Under Rally Members Prize Draw. Each month the Down Under Rally draws the name of one of our members as the winner of the member's prize draw. The winner chooses any item from the woman's or men's range of PredictWind Clothing plus a PredictWind Cap. predictwind.com/clothing-shop
BECOME A MEMBER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN downunderrally.com/membership
AU
R T S
I L A
A
S A H
IT
A
! L L
Tranquil rivers, inland waterways, the iconic Sydney Harbour, the remote and seldom visited pristine atolls and reefs of Queenslands Coral Sea Marine Park, the world heritage listed Great Barrier Reef, the 100 magic miles of the Whitsunday Islands, the spectacular wilderness areas of Tasmania, and the Kimberley region of Western Australia exploring Australia’s vast coastline by yachts offers incredible diversity.
A U S T R A L I A
Moreton Island, Queensland
Lady Musgrave Island, Queensland
Great Keppel Island, Queensland
Lizard Island, Queensland
H A S
I T
A L L !
A U S T R A L I A
Iluka ,New South Wales
Shoal Bay, Port Stephens, New South Wales
Hawkesbury River, New South Wales
Sydney Harbour, New South Wales
H A S
I T
A L L !
A U S T R A L I A
H A S
I T
A L L !
Wineglass Bay, Tasmania
Port Arthur, Tasmania
Royal Cruising Yacht Club Hobart Tasmania
A ‘Desirable’ Outcome After a wonderful week at Port Resolution, Tanna, the Down Under Rally Fleet prepared to leave for Erromango at 5 am.(See page 23, ‘The Land That Time Forgot Part 2’) Whilst carrying out our routine engine check aboard Desire, as we always do before setting sail, we made a distressing discovery: two engine legs had broken and needed welding. The heart of the yacht, its engine, was compromised, threatening to shatter the dreams of continuing with the rally.
Buddy & Helen s.v Desire
The nearest major port, Port Vila, a hundred and fifty nautical miles away, held the promise of skilled welders who could weld the broken legs. With a plan to tow the yacht out of the anchorage and embark on a journey under sail, the crew relayed their plight over the VHF radio.
The call for help echoed across the bay. In a twist of fate, it was answered not by a single yacht but by a fleet of fellow seafarers who shared in the unspoken bond of the ocean. Three yachts answered the call, each bringing with them a unique skill and tools that would prove invaluable. The first yacht, Boreal, carried a welder along with its captain, Tim, who happened to be a master of heat and metal. The second was Pneuma, with captain Rod, a knowledgeable character with a wealth of wisdom and a fast tender, and Dave, the captain of the third vessel, Breeze II, a skilled mechanic who understands the intricacies of engine repair.
Broken engine mount bracket
A makeshift shipyard emerged amidst the tranquillity of the anchorage. Hands worked to remove the broken parts, while minds collaborated to devise a plan of action. The welder's torch danced with the flame of determination; the mechanic's tools sang a symphony of restoration as a jack, and various tools were sourced to lift the engine. In a mere four hours, what seemed like an insurmountable challenge had been overcome! As we set sail, we realised that this was more than a journey—it was a reminder that even in the most remote corners of the world, help could come swiftly, and a fleet could transform into a family bound by the spirit of seafarers. The fleet's voyage became a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, the bonds forged in times of challenge, and the unwavering beauty of the spirit of the Down Under Rally. "Thank You, Fleet," Desire whispered to the wind as she departed the anchorage, knowing that these words carried a depth of gratitude that could never truly be expressed or repaid, but one bottle of rum, one bottle of red and two bags of flour were a start!
Tim, the ‘master of heat & metal’ with the repaired engine mount bracket
Successful Cruisers are Resourceful Cruisers! Knowing what to do, when to do it, how to do it and when to do it are important attributes for a cruising sailor to possess. So, how do you go about gaining this knowledge?
As a Down Under Rally Member, you have access to the Cruising Resources section of the members portal, which is a great place to start and just one of the many benefits our members enjoy.
Learn More Here www.downunderrallymembers.com
LINK LINK LINK
LINK LINK LINK LINK LINK LINK LINK LINK LINK
LINK LINK LINK LINK LINK
Why Two Apps? Between the PredictWind and Offshore Apps, we have you covered with worldleading forecasts and marine tools no matter where you are in the world. But why the need for two apps? In a nutshell, the PredictWind App is for coastal applications with access to mobile data coverage and the Offshore App is optimised for satellite connections. Watch the video below to learn more about each app so that you can decide which one is the right fit for you.
Sailing To Australia? Whitsunday Island, Queensland, Australia
Our two comprehensive guides (11 pages each guide) provide you with everything you need to know about sailing to and arriving in Australia in easy-to-understand plain English
The guides are included in the 2023 Go West Rally entry fee.
Learn more about the benefits of joining the Go West Rally downunderrally.com/westrally-fee-benefits
SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND CRUISING YACHT HAVEN Located ON Brisbane's Moreton Bay, Scarborough Marina provides visiting yachts with easy access to the many anchorages and the islands of Moreton Bay, including Moreton Island and the Tangalooma Wrecks. The City of Brisbane and the Brisbane international airport are only 40mins away, with Public Transport right at our door. The suburb of Scarborough is home to families and retirees who form part of the safe & friendly community. With the convenience of waterfront Cafes, Clubs & Restaurants plus major shopping centres and medical services nearby and our popular weekend farmers & craft markets, Scarborough really is a home away from home!
Recognised by the international cruising community as the preferred destination when visiting the Brisbane Region. Safe Enclosed Harbour Protected from swell & unaffected by flooding. Clean, Modern & Well Maintained Facilities Modern Cruisers Lounge with TV and free WIFI Electronic gated Access, with 24 Hour CCTV Monitoring 24 Hour Fuel Wharf Full-Service Boatyard with 35 Tonne Travelift On-Site Chandlery
DISCOUNTS FOR DOWN UNDER RALLY MEMBERS
Tangalooma Wrecks Moreton Island
PH: +61 7 3880 0300
SCARBMARINA.COM.AU info@scarbmarina.com.au
BRISBANE PORT OF ENTRY INFORMATION
Tangalooma Anchorage Moreton Island
Time To Up grade Your ground tackle? DISCOUNTS ON NEW ROCNA ANCHORS AND ATTACHMENTS FOR DOWN UNDER RALLY MEMBERS.
ENQUIRE NOW! www.downunderrally.com/anchors-chain-winches
Answering The Call of Adventure
By John Hembrow - Down Under Rally
In 2019, Mint & Kalani 1 departed the Gold Coast Seaway with the Go East Rally from Australia to New Caledonia on their first ocean passage. As often is the case with our rally participants, a friendship formed, and a plan was hatched to venture back into the Pacific together, with Fiji being the destination. The border closures during 2020-2022 resulted in that plan being put on the back burner. Keen for an adventure, Mint & Kalani 1 joined the Beyond The Barrier Rally in 2021, which saw them spend almost three weeks discovering the remote reefs and atolls of the Coral Sea that lay well beyond the protection of the Great Barrier Reef. In 2022, they opted to spend another cruising season in Central Queensland, with Swains Reef being the highlight. In May this year, Mint & Kalani 1 departed the Gold Coast on what was a non-stop voyage directly to Fiji, covering approximately 1,500nm in 192 hours (8 days), which equates to an impressive average SOG of 7.8 knots. As can be expected on a passage of this type, a variety of conditions were experienced, from rough seas with breaking waves to periods of motoring in glass-out calm conditions.
The Mint Crew at Southport
Kalani 1 on passage to Fiji
Mint on passage to Fiji
Kalani 1 on passage to Fiji Glass out conditions aboard Mint on passage to Fiji
Tyson hand steering Mint on passage to Fiji
As you can see on Mint’s PredictWind tracking page and the photos below, they have made the most of their time in Fiji, logging almost 2,000nm since arriving and visiting the Yasawa Islands, Savuasavu, The Lau Group, Astrolabe Reef, Kadavu and finally, the Mamanauca Islands, where they participated in the Musket Cove Regatta Week. (Read about Regatta Week on page 75) Mint ‘s Fiji Track
Mint & Kalani 1 - Lau Group Fiji
Fuluga, Eastern Lau Group, Fiji
Well Done, guys & gals, we look foward to hearing about the next adventure!
The Mint Crew Enjoying Fiji Time
Is adventure calling you? The Down Under Rally can help you answer the call. Over the past 9 years, The Down Under Rally has assisted hundreds of cruising sailors to achieve their offshore cruising goals. Adventure Begins at www.downunderrally.com
ARE YOU ADVENTURE READY?
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.
EXCLUSIVE ACCESS FOR DOWN UNDER RALLY MEMBERS 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
VENTURE FURTHER STAY LONGER
Rainman Watermakers are a compact system designed to generate a fresh potable water supply from seawater. They can be installed in a minimum footprint configuration or kept portable for maximum flexibility. We use only top-quality components in the build process from the best manufacturers: Honda, General Pump, Filmtec, and Noshok. Our filters, membranes and replacement parts are non-proprietary for ease of service worldwide.
DOWN UNDER RALLY MEMBERS $400 OFF THE RETAIL PRICE OF NEW RAINMAN WATERMAKER SYSTEMS. Contact The Watermaker Man.
P: +61 41 44 77 602 | Email: banddswann@thewatermakerman.com W: thewatermakerman.com.au
PORT RESOLUTION YACHT CLUB
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATIONS SEE WHO HAS DONATED SO FAR LEARN ABOUT THE PROJECT MAKE YOUR CONTRIBUTION www.portresolutionyachtclub.com
LINK
The Land That Time Forgot… PART 2 - ERROMANGO & EFATE
In the September issue of AHOY Sailing, we shared the highlights of our time at Tanna Vanuatu in Part One Of ‘The Land That Time Forgot’. In this article (Part Two), we continue the adventure departing Tanna and head north to Erromango and Efate.
“They say when you leave somewhere, you shouldn`t look back, but I confess to looking back as we departed Port Resolution with a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. The time we spent there was very special indeed...” John Hembrow ERROMANGO, HERE WE COME. As mentioned in part one of this article, we chose to delay our departure from New Caledonia as the weather was not consistent with either a comfortable passage or having settled conditions for the time we planned to visit the Southern Vanuatu islands. Our patience was rewarded with a reasonably comfortable passage and perfect weather during our time in Tanna. The forecast for the coming few days suggested we would also continue to be rewarded with more of the same for the next few days. Erromango is located to the north of Tanna, and at just over 5O nm away, the passage is easily made in daylight hours. However, it is still an ocean, so the weather and the sea state dictate both boat speed and the comfort level of the crew.
Dillon’s Bay, Erromango Port Resolution, Tanna
We had perfect downwind conditions with a 1-1.5m following sea and around 15 knots of breeze from the aft quarter.
s.v Pneuma departing Tanna Mt Yasur Volcano in the background
However, not all had a good start. s.v. Desire discovered they had two broken engine mounts when they went to depart the anchorage at Tanna. See the article on page 9, ‘A Desirable Outcome.’ Incredibly, the engine mount was removed, welded, and refitted, and the engine was realigned in just four hours thanks to the resourcefulness and skills of David from Breeze II, Rod from Pnuema, Tim from Boreal, who had a welder on board. Boreal was not an NC2V Rally participant, but we had befriended them during our time in Tanna and welcomed them to join our events, for which they were grateful and, as such, delayed their departure to assist Desire. We are incredibly grateful to Tim and the crew of Boreal for their help.
Dillon’s Bay Erromango Image Credit Nautilus II
By mid-afternoon, the majority of the fleet had arrived at Erromago and were resting comfortably at anchor in Dillon’s Bay
NC2V Rally Fleet Image Credit Aquacadabra (Pictured Front Centre)
Sundowners aboard s.v. Bijoux
Steve & and Deb hosted sundowners aboard s.v. Bijoux, along with many of the fleet who were joined by David from Dillon’s Bay Yacht Club, who paddled out in his canoe. I caught up with David afterwards aboard Cavillino III. It had been a few years since we had last seen David and after catching up we went over our plans for the next couple of days.
We awoke to another sunny day and headed ashore, where we were met by many willing helpers who proceeded to carry our tenders over the rocky foreshore before we gathered and were led to the village where we would be officially welcomed by the cheif & the community.
After the welcome ceremony, we took a walk through the village before enjoying an unexpected and very welcome freshwater swim in a crystal clear waterhole that is fed by a very picturesque permanent spring-fed creek.
SAILING TO ERROMANGO & DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS
The next stop, as we made our way back towards the anchorage, was the Dillon’s Bay Yacht Club, which fortunately did not suffer the same fate as the Port Resolution Yacht Club. In part one of this article, we shared the very sad story of how the Port Resolution was totally destroyed by the two cyclones that made landfall on Tanna earlier in the year. To contribute to the fund that has been established to rebuild the Port Resolution Yacht Club, visit www.portresolutionyachtclub.com
During the welcome ceremony, we learned that Erromango contains numerous caves. Apparently, human use of these caves has been dated to 2,800-2,400 years before the present. Some of the caves contain rock art and petroglyphs that have been identified with clan motifs and traditional stories. So on day 2, our last day at Erromango, under the guidance of the chief and some guides that had been chosen by the chief to escort us, a flotilla of tenders departed the anchorage at close to high tide for an excursion along the coast to a coral reef-fringed bay where we would navigate a narrow, windy channel to a sandy beach that could only be accessed for a couple of hours either side of high tide.
On arrival, we learned that this entire area was a sacred site and that behind the beach and well hidden by the dense forest were numerous caves that provided refuge from tribal warfare and cyclones and contained the remains of some of what were believed to be the chief's ancestors.
Learning about the history of the island and its people was a very interesting experience and an adventure, as the trek to the caves and the entry into the caves themselves was a little more challenging than most of us expected. The short video below provides highlights from days one and two, including our visit to the caves.
ONWARD TO EFATE. The last leg of the NC2V Rally would see us departing Erromango for the 81nm passage to Port Vila, Efate where the team at Yachting World Vanuatu were eagerly awaiting our arrival. For most of the fleet, this meant an early start in order to arrive at Yachting World before 4:00 pm and secure their berth on the sea wall marina or one of Yachting World's mooring balls, which are located in the sheltered harbour between Efate and Irikki Island. For those who had decided on a berth at the seawall marina, this would be the first time berthing in this manner.
Port Vila,Efate
Dillon’s Bay, Erromango
Conditions for the short passage from Erromango to Efate were ideal, with a steady 10-15 knots from behind and a slight sea providing the perfect opportunity to break out the downwind sails. Nautilus II looked a treat and revelled in the conditions flying their Parasail. With the fleet having arrived and secured in their respective berths or moorings and after a visit to the Yachting Worlds Office, the iconic Waterfront Bar & Grill on the edge of the marina was the next stop for a cold brew or two before the final event of the 2023 NC2V Rally, the ‘Over N Out Party’
Tina, Andrew, Roslyn and the entire team at Yachting World Vanuatu and The Waterfront Bar & Grill went above and beyond to make sure our arrival and our stay at Yachting World was memorable for all the right reasons. Thanks guys, for all your efforts and your support in the lead-up to our arrival.
The short video above provides highlights from the passage from Erromango to Efate, the arrival of the fleet at Yachting World Marina, the Over N Out Party at The Waterfront Bar & Grill, and a poem John Hembrow shared with the NC2V Rally participants about the time they had spent together since departing Australia in May 2023.
For the participants, it was now time to decide what the plan would be for the next 2 months... Would they make their way slowly north and visit the Malapa, Penama and Sama Islands before departing from Luganville in Santo for the 1100 nm passage to Bundaberg, Australia, with the Go West ‘Bundy’ Rally? Or would they make their way south to New Caledonia and depart Noumea on the 770nm passage to Brisbane or Southport with the Go West ‘Southen Ports Rally? TO SEE WHERE THEY ARE NOW AND WHICH ROUTE THEY CHOOSE, CHECK OUT THE PREDICTWIND GO EAST RALLY TRACKING PAGE. WWW.DOWNUNDERRALLY.COM/GO-EAST-TRACKING
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST ARE OPEN FOR THE 2024...
www.downunderrally.com/go-east-rally
AND THE 2024....
www.downunderrally.com/nc2v-rally
THE CRUISING SAILOR'S HOME IN PORT VILA, VANUATU.
FUEL DOCK & MOORINGS
SEA WALL MARINA
WATERFRONT BAR & GRILL
DOWN UNDER RALLY MEMBERS RECEIVE *10% OFF MARINA & MOORING FEES AT YACHTING WORLD VANUATU. The friendly staff at Yachting World Vanuatu provides a complete service for visiting yachts, including Sea-wall marina, lots of swing moorings, laundry, serviced apartments, fuel, dinghy wharf, WiFi Internet, and a restaurant. They are also happy to assist with your yacht mail and air freight, trash disposal, and friendly advice on cruising in Vanuatu. Down Under Rally Members Discount Offer Conditions: 10% discount is for all sea wall berths and deep water moorings only. (The discount is not applicable to fuel purchases or any other services or goods provided by Yachting World Vanuatu.) Offer available to current Down Under Rally Members. Members must show their current membership card when booking a mooring. (via the DUR Members Portal app or an image/screenshot of membership card)
https://waterfrontquays.com
T H A N K
Richard Chesher, author of the Rocket Cruising Guides to New Caledonia & Vanuatu, has been an active and valuable contributor to the 2023 Go East/NC2V WhatsApp participant group and provided our participants with invaluable input and support.
Y O U R I C H A R D www.rocketcruisingguides.com
https://www.do wnunderrally.co m/aabboating
https://www.do wnunderrally.co m/aabboating
https://www.do wnunderrally.co m/aabboating
https://www.do wnunderrally.co m/aabboating
www.downunderrally.com/aabboati ng
REMEMBER GOOD OLD-FASHIONED SERVICE? That is what you will find at our chandlery, Australian Boating Supplies. Dave and Helen brought Australian Boating Supplies (ABS) about 15 years ago when it was located at the front of Gold Coast City Marina, part of the Gold Coast Marine Precinct. Since then they expanded to shed F31, and again into shed C17 which is right next to the boom gates and has substantially increased the range of boating and marine products. Having raised their family in Canberra, they moved to Queensland, purchased the chandlery and Tropical Sunset a Seawind 1160 and boating became a large part of the family's lives. For many years Dave, Helen, Danielle, Michael and Emma holidayed and sailed between the Gold Coast and far north Queensland on Tropical Sunset. During this time they tried and tested many of the products currently stocked in the shop and can provide advice and knowledge based on their own experience.
The Hutcheson family and the staff at ABS have extensive boating experience and really do enjoy helping you with your chandlery needs. We look forward to welcoming you IN-STORE Monday to Friday 8 AM – 4:30 PM Saturday 8:30 AM -12:00 PM, OR by phone or online when it suits you
PHONE: 07 5502 8484 AUSTBOATING.COM.AU
C17 Gold Coast City Marina, 76-84 Waterway Drive, Coomera Qld. 4209
DOWN UNDER RALLY MEMBERS RECEIVE GENUINE DISCOUNTS OFF ALL ITEMS IN-STORE, EXCLUDING ITEMS ALREADY ON SALE AND AS SUCH ALREADY DISCOUNTED.
BOATERS WORLD IS AN ONLINE DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER MARINE PARTS SUPPLIER Boaters World stocks a wide range of genuine and aftermarket parts such as service kits, oil filters, fuel filters, air filters, impellers, seawater pumps, spark plugs, drive belts, anodes, starter motors, alternators, heat exchangers, propellers and much more. As a stockist of Volvo Penta, SPX Johnson, Sherwood and Racor filters, and NGK Sparkplugs, you can be sure to find the parts to satisfy your needs as a cruiser. In addition to these genuine parts, we offer a large range of aftermarket brands such as Martyr anodes, Fleetguard filters, Sierra marine parts, Albin seawater pumps and impellers, Solas propellers, and many more
These premium quality aftermarket parts will fill the more price-sensitive cruisers with confidence as they sail off into the sunset.
DOWN UNDER RALLY MEMBERS RECEIVE A 10% DISCOUNT* ON PURCHASES MADE VIA THE BOATERS WORLD ONLINE STORE. *Discount code is to be applied at the checkout. The discount code is available exclusively to Down Under Rally Members via the members portal.
LEARN MORE HERE: www.downunderrally.com/repairs
SAILMAKING EVOLVED Evolution Sails Australia has been the local sail loft of choice supporting local sailors and cruisers visiting the Gold Coast for more than 30 years. Located centrally on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Evolution Sails provide a full design, manufacture and service loft for the East Coast of Queensland. Our experienced sailmakers specialise in cruising and racing sails for yachts, catamarans, sports boats and dinghies. Evolution Sails Gold Coast are fully qualified sailmakers with over 100 combined years of sailing and racing experience making and repairing your high-tech racing or cruising sails, boom bags and covers. Repairs and re-cuts are done promptly and efficiently with a fast turnaround time. Complimenting our full range of services are Boombag stack-packs, boom covers, trampolines, rope and chandlery.
ASK US ABOUT DOWN UNDER RALLY MEMBER DISCOUNTS
PH: 07 5537 7433 | EMAIL: INFO@EVOLUTIONAUST.COM.AU | W:DOWNUNDERRALLY.COM/SAILS/RIGGING
https://www.aab https://www.aa boating.com/po bboating.com/p dcasts/ odcasts/
One Step At A Time... Pazzo’s Adventures Down Under.
During the COVID years, we replaced plans with hopes. Post-COVID, we’ve reverted to planning, and so it was, en route from New Caledonia to Bundaberg, that we forged rough plans to find a dry storage yard somewhere on the Sunshine or Gold coasts to park Pazzo while we explored Australia by land and air. While attending the Down Under Rally super informative Cruising Australia’s East Coast Seminars during the Go West Rally Welcome Week in Bundaberg, we decided a leisurely sail south to Sydney for New Year’s Eve was appealing. And then Tasmania was “only” 500 miles away. Maybe we could make a trip to Tasmania or ‘Tassie’ as the Aussies say, before our March 1 (2023) haul-out date at The Boat Works on the Gold Coast? Hmmm, one step at a time.
Our unofficial welcoming committee in Bundaberg
Our official Welcome To Country
Before I continue, I'd like to introduce ourselves. Pazzo is a 1990 Lightwave 48 monohull. Cindy and I (William) left Seattle in 2016, circled South America, spent most of COVID in Hawaii, then a refit in New Zealand, and sailed to Bundaberg from New Caledonia with Go West Rally in early November 2022. You can read our blog here: stiggsafloat.com
One Step At A Time... Pazzo’s Adventures Down Under
At the close of the Go West Rally events late in November, we grabbed an ideal weather pattern to ride the end of a southerly from the Bundaberg Port Marina at Burnett Heads out and around Sandy Cape at the north tip of K-Gari Island (formally known as Fraser Island), just in time to hook into a new fresh northerly that would carry us south and into the Brisbane Shipping Channel at Caloundra. The other option was to go via the Sandy Straits inside K'Gari Island, which entails motoring and sailing through single-digit depths and crossing the Wide Bay Bar. Whilst that route promised to be very scenic, we prefer to be at sea with a favourable current and plenty of water below us. The offshore route, however, does involve weaving through the brightly-lit fishing fleet and dark hulks of ships awaiting entry into the Port of Brisbane, north of Moreton Island. Navigating the many tortured channels through Moreton Bay was straightforward but demanded careful attention as the red and green navigation aids of the intersecting channels can be confusing by day or night. We headed for Manly Boat Harbour, which is just south of Brisbane and provides a choice of marinas, including East Coast Marina & RQYS, which we found most accommodating. Just a short walk from the marina is a nice selection of local eateries, an excellent chandlery, and handy train access into Brisbane City, all of which contributed to a pleasant stay and made for a great place to complete a few mission-critical sail and rig projects.
Manly Boat Harbour Manly Brisbane
A highlight in Brisbane was an afternoon at the Southbank Parklands, complete with sand imported from Moreton Island.
Southbank Parklands Brisbane City
One Step At A Time... Pazzo’s Adventures Down Under
Rather than back-tracking 30 miles to return to the open ocean north of Moreton Island, we decided to brave the shallows of The Broadwater inside Moreton and Stradbroke Islands. On this leg of our journey, we came to appreciate our Cruising The Queensland Coast Cruising Guide we won during the Go West Rally Welcome Week. Written by local Greg Luck, the guide comes with detailed downloadable routes through some of the tricky channels and shoal areas.
Willy & Cindy Go West Rally Welcome Week 2022
Escaping to the sea from Southport requires passage through the Gold Coast Seaway, a wellmaintained channel between two formidable rock jetties. Consultation with VRM at the Seaway Tower bolstered our confidence in crossing our first Australian bar.
While conventional wisdom says to cross the bar during the last two hours of an incoming tide, the Seaway Tower advised that moderate to large yachts with a draft of 2 meters can transit the Seaway under most conditions. They further advised staying on the leading line until reaching deep water. We found this advice to be faulty when, just shy of deep water, a shallow patch right on the leading line kicks up a single steep and oversized wave. It wasn’t breaking, but it could have been avoided by diverting north or south just before this shoal area. While the Seaway is widely regarded as a relatively forgiving bar, outgoing current, low tide, and sizeable easterly swell can combine to create dangerous conditions... Perhaps conventional wisdom should be followed after all. Note to self regarding bars: Favour drinking bars over river bars! Once free of the Broadwater on December 5, we pointed Pazzo south for a 20-hour run to the Clarence River and the twin river mouth towns of Iluka and Yamba. If river cruising suits you, it's possible to travel 42 miles up the river to the picturesque town of Clarence. It doesn't suit Pazzo. Motoring against the current, gazing at similar scenery for hours on end, isn't very appealing to us, but each to their own. Poking around the seaside towns, swimming in the surf off lovely beaches, and finding local eateries is much more appealing. The quaint Yamba Marina is also a Thrifty Car Rental agent. With friends Tom and Susan on the yacht Nomad, we rented a car for a day to explore the Clarence River region by land.
Iluka-Yamba View from the South
One Step At A Time... Pazzo’s Adventures Down Under
After a few quiet days exploring Yamba and Iluka while waiting on the return of the northerly winds, we resumed our southerly trek – this time to the protection of Coffs Harbour. We had been advised that the holding in the outer harbour isn’t very good. Further, if there’s a fair bit of east in the swell direction, the harbour can be quite rolly. For these reasons, we secured a quiet berth in the Coffs Harbour Marina – home of the world’s best ice cream. We kid you not! For the past 35 years, the same family has operated the shop, making all the delicious flavours onsite. For the next several days, brisk north winds delivered several of our rally friends into Coffs. December 12 dawned bright with a light but suitable NE breeze to push us onward to Port Stevens, about 160 miles south, which is one of the best bar-free harbours on the NSW coast.
Fellow Go West Rally particpants Seattle Based "Julia" Approaching Coffs Harbour
Port Stephens (also known as Nelson Bay) offers several marinas along with a dozen anchorages suitable for various wind directions as well as a couple of all-weather havens. The harbour is sprinkled liberally with shoals to break up the incoming swells at low tides. These shoals can snare careless navigators. Fame Cove, with several public moorings, is on the north shore, due north of Soldier Point is lovely, quiet and well-protected from all but westerly winds. Unfortunately, it is also isolated from cell signals (at least from Telstra). The Soldier Point area offers premier koala spotting. During the week we spent in Port Stephens, we spotted six different adorable fur-balls (Koala Bears) snoozing in the gum trees along the roads between Soldier Point and the Ibis Hotel at Salamander Bay. Oddly, we hiked many kilometres through parks and reserves, including the Tiligerry Habitat (prime koala neighbourhoods, it seemed) but have yet to find anything. All the grey cuties were within sight of the main roads. We found the best hiking in the heads east of Shoal Bay and the best snorkelling far away, as bull sharks are said to be plentiful in Port Stephens.
Panoramic of Port Stephens with Shoal Bay in the foreground
One Step At A Time... Pazzo’s Adventures Down Under
We harnessed a light NE breeze as Christmas approached, gybing 80 miles with an asymmetrical spinnaker south to Sydney. Pittwater and Broken Bay (download a FREE Insiders Guide To Cruising Broken Bay HERE) would have been a logical stop, but with a fair wind and the prospect of a southerly shift, we opted to continue to Sydney. The southbound East Australia Current offers a welcome boost down the coast, but it’s well worth visiting Windy.com or PredictWind’s professional service to note the “rivers” of south-flowing ocean water. Regular visits to these sites reveal patterns that prove very helpful on the return trip northward. Rounding North Head into Sydney Harbour is much like passing under the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco Bay. It’s a feeling of arrival. San Francisco Bay is busy with marine traffic, but it doesn’t compare with Sydney. Yachts and skiffs of all types, along with all manner of other watercraft ranging from tinnies to super yachts, high-speed and low-speed ferries, jet skis, and seaplanes, contribute to organized chaos throughout the harbour. We spent a couple of days anchored in Manly Cove, where access to groceries was easy, then moved to tiny Whiting Beach near the Taronga Zoo. Here we made a feeble attempt at counting boats passing between the zoo and Clarke Island. In a 15-minute mid-day period, a hundred floating craft crossed the line. That translates to 400 an hour or several thousand passers-by a day. Yikes! Most bays are crammed with permanent moorings, with very few of them being pink and, therefore, public. Fortunately, the harbour is rather shallow, so there are always plenty of options for anchoring in 15 – 20 meters of water. Well-established public walkways ring much of the harbour, so walking opportunities abound, with wonderful views to enjoy along the way. A visit to Farm Cove with the requisite photo of the Sydney Opera House came next, then a trip through the opening Spit Bridge into Middle Harbour for a spate of inclement weather. Visits to Circular Quay and the city centre via inexpensive, fast ferry are readily accessible from many ports in the harbour. From Circular Quay, buses carry visitors all over Sydney. Payment is easy with a touchless credit card.
s.v Pazzo of Seattle USA 'a bucket list moment.' Sydney Harbour 2022
One Step At A Time... Pazzo’s Adventures Down Under
So, what about New Year’s Eve on Sydney Harbour? OK, here’s the straight scoop. Viewed from the front row of Athol Bay, it’s a spectacular show with fireworks launched from several platforms around the inner harbour. The percussive force is something you can’t get on YouTube or even from a more distant venue. It’s a (reportedly) A$20 million extravaganza… that lasts 12 minutes. For this, you pay a stressful afternoon, evening, and night anchored in a throng of boats ranging from runabouts to superyachts while others mill about under power. You’ll stand ready with fenders and avoid alcohol to maintain your vigil. When the show is over, you’ll continue defending your boat as the fleet disperses in all directions, some under inebriated command. You may hit the rack by 0130. The bottom line... As The Down Under Rally suggested during the Welcome Week seminars, choose a more tame viewpoint like Rose Bay or Shark Island unless you have a bumper boat or crave thumping booms of bombs bursting in the air. New Years Eve - Sydney Harbour
For Team Pazzo, 2023 started (ignoring the NYE mess) with anchor up at 0600, with our destination being Eden. We consult several weather models in our travels, but we favour the European (ECWMF) and BOM (Australian Bureau of Metrology) models for Australia. Both showed a suitable window for the 200-mile trip to Two-Fold Bay and the town of Eden.
Eden New South Wales
One Step At A Time... Pazzo’s Adventures Down Under
Two-Fold Bay is named for its two lobes, one offering good protection from south-vector winds and the other from northslanting winds. The port of Eden, in the northern fold, is a quaint and friendly town sporting a terrific Killer Whale Museum. In the Pacific Northwest of North America, Pazzo’s home waters, we’ve abandoned the label ‘Killer’ for these magnificent dolphins, calling them by their indigenous name, Orca. We visited a few historical whaling sites from the south fold of the bay, including Boyd’s Tower. Ben Boyd commissioned the tower in 1847 as a lighthouse but re-purposed it as a whale spotting tower after the Australian Government rejected the idea of a private lighthouse.
Eden Killer Whale Museum
Cindy found several new birds to photograph while waiting for a good window to continue south to explore the historic Van Diemen’s Land...
The weather on Australia’s eastern seaboard is generally relatively fast-moving. Translation: Fair and foul weather periods tend to be on the short side – a few days. So, a few days of waiting is usually rewarded by a few days of progress.
One Step At A Time... Pazzo’s Adventures Down Under
As we set out from Eden on January 6 to cross the infamous Bass Strait, the forecast was calling for northeasterly winds shifting easterly and then southeasterly by the time we reached Wineglass Bay, about ½ way down Tasmania’s east coast.
Wineglass Bay Tasmania Out intended destination
Despite a history of abysmal results, we usually tow a couple of rubber squids behind Pazzo hoping to catch dinner. About halfway across Bass Strait, A 6-7 foot (2m) Mako Shark was (apparently) also chasing dinner.
Unhappy Mako in Bass Strait
Neither of us (Shark or Pazzo) were the least bit happy with the situation. First of all, we were streaking along under an asymmetrical spinnaker which needed furling before we could slow the boat to haul in the catch. Second, the fish had our favourite lure well set in his/her jaw. Third, that jaw had 2 or 3 rows of teeth. What to do? I didn’t want to lose my lure, but I also didn’t want to kill such a magnificent beast. While contemplating our options, we short-roped our very angry problem alongside. The very short scope solved our problem. With mighty thrashing fury, the fish broke the leader and quickly retreated to the deep with our lure and a shore jaw. With some luck, the hook will rust away, and the fish will live happily ever after.
One Step At A Time... Pazzo’s Adventures Down Under
With fair winds, fair current, and good fortune, we passed Wineglass Bay a few hours ahead of schedule and reached Fortesque Bay, near Tasman Island, with only a few hours working to windward. We’re told that the Flinders group of islands is a beautiful and wild part of the country whose navigational hazards and currents deserve respect. We’d have loved to stop if our schedule allowed, but John Hembrow’s words of advice during the seminars echoed in our ears: “If you have fair weather, keep going.” Holding and protection from south-vector winds are excellent in the southern crescent of Fortesque Bay. From this anchorage, a public launch ramp and pontoon are available to leave the tender when enjoying a fantastic hike to Cape Hauy and The Lanterns. Warning: Avoid this wellguard-railed hike if you’re afraid of heights! It’s extraordinary.
Heading for The Cut North of Tasman Island
After a second night in Fortesque, we fired up our trusty Perkins for a calm morning motorboat ride past Cathedral Rock, Cape Pillar, and thru the narrow pass between Tasman Island and the Tasman Peninsula. Tasmanian friend Michael Vaughn called this corner of Tasmania “Absolutely Speccy.” (Speccy = Spectacular...the Aussies love shortening words) Absolutley 'Speccy' View from Cape Hauy
Cindy captured this incredible geography on digital film with the eastern sun illuminating the organ pipes.
When the town of Hobart is 2 degrees cooler than the centre of the island, a sea breeze develops about midday and delivers fine southerlies entirely across Storm Bay. The day’s fine weather soon delivered on the promise as Pazzo ran wing-on-wing across the Bay and into the Derwent River. We found the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania most accommodating as the Sydney To Hobart racing yachts had recently vacated for their return to the mainland. The Club proved a delightful home base for our Tasmanian urban adventures. It’s an easy walk to local eateries, the marine chandlery, auto parts, groceries, and Constitution Wharf, where there’s an extensive crafts market once a week. We took a bus to the vulgar but interesting MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) museum. There’s no way to describe collector David Walsh’s taste in art, but everyone agrees that the architecture and setting of the museum on the Derwent River are incredible.
One Step At A Time... Pazzo’s Adventures Down Under
Once we’d looked after a few important boat projects, we made our way south through the D’Entrecasteaux Channel, stopping at a few of the many anchorages found in the guidebooks. Cindy was thrilled to find more new birds in tiny Barnes Bay, including a couple of Scarlett Robins. We were lining up for a run around Southeast Cape to Port Davey. Southeast Cape is one of the 5 (or arguably 6) great southern capes bounding the Southern Ocean. Pazzo has now doubled three of these great capes: Cape Horn (South America), Southwest Cape (New Zealand), and now Southeast Cape. We’ll skip Cape Leeuwin (Western Australia) but expect to pass the Cape of Good Hope in a couple of years. Recherche Bay, at the south end of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel, is a favourite waiting spot for the run around the south corner of Tasmania. Recherche has several pockets suitable for hiding from various winds, and several nice hikes can be found in Rocky Bay, the southern bight. The weather gods smiled on us, bringing light then moderate easterlies on January 17 for the 60-mile trip to the Breaksea Islands and Port Davey. While the label “Port” conjures up images of marine commerce, Port Davey is an exception to the image.
Sunset from Wombat Cove, Port Davey
Pazzo roped into Casilda Cove & ready to weather a big blow
One Step At A Time... Pazzo’s Adventures Down Under
The extensive Southwest National Park engulfs all of Port Davey. There is a small landing strip to serve the backpacker community and a park maintenance team, but there are no roads. Until the 1970s, Deny King and a few related miners worked the land for tin. Whalers found refuge from stormy weather and took on wood and water in the port. We encountered a half dozen other cruising yachts during the 4 or 5 days we spent in Port Davey. A small cruise ship spent a night in Bramble Cove, but for the most part, we felt quite isolated. The port, including Bathurst Channel leading to shallow Bathurst Harbour, has several suitable anchorages for either North or South winds. Ian Johnston’s ‘The Shank’ is an excellent picture book/cruising guide with detailed photographic descriptions of various anchorages. We enjoyed a dinghy ride up Melaleuca Inlet to Melaleuca Lagoon, where we found the airstrip, orange-bellied parrots, and a lesson in the history of Bathurst Harbour. The most recent mining operations are still intact and preserved (somewhat) by the park service. It’s a genuine throwback in time. But nothing can beat the ‘speccy’ views from peaks studding Port Davey. 360-degree panoramas can be found both atop modest hills and which, for the most part, are challenging climbs. PORT DAVEY IS A MUST-SEE WHEN VISITING TASMANIA!
View from Mt. Beattie, Port Davey
Curious Pademelon in Tasmania
Learn More About 'The Shank Cruising Guide HERE
One Step At A Time... Pazzo’s Adventures Down Under
RETURNING NORTH The weather around Tasmania in January and February is often unsettled and rapidly changing. Weather windows tend to be short, and the forecast models frequently disagree. For this reason, cruisers need to be well-prepared for heavy weather in the event that foul conditions arrive before the forecast time. The opposite is also true. Favourable weather windows may elongate, allowing more progress than expected. Such was our experience. We departed Bramble Cove with a 12-hour window that promised calm conditions for our return to the protection of Recherche Bay. But, by late afternoon, we were motoring past Recherche and continued up D’entrecasteaux Channel to Port Esperance. Unfortunately, for the last couple of hours, we encountered the headwinds that had been predicted for a few hours earlier. The following morning, we made our way to the fuel dock at Kettering. We love the 24/7 fuel jetties where a VISA card will fill a fuel tank anytime, day or night. Kettering boasts a lovely marina with a nearby bar and bottle shop to top up the libation supply. The nearest groceries, however, are a few kilometres distant. Our stock of freshies was thinning quickly, and as we were considering our options for a grocery run, a nearby fisherman and a yacht owner both dropped by to welcome us to Kettering. The yachtie offered us his car while the fisherman offered a chauffeured ride to the nearest shop. The “Aloha Spirit” is alive and well in Tasmania! On January 28, after topping off fuel and freshies, we set out across Storm Bay toward Tasman Island and the east coast of Tasmania. The forecast showed a depression east of Sydney and moving SE that should give us a couple of days of good SE wind to carry us to Eden before the southerlies from a high near Uluru (Ayres Rock) would move in. We also expected fresh SE pressure to carry us across Storm Bay. Alas, the Storm Bay wind never materialized, so we motored across the Bay and around Tasman Island in leftover slop before the SE breeze filled, pushing Pazzo north under a fine moon. The SE wind held up well, and on January 30, east of Eden (John Steinbeck was nowhere to be found), our favourite models (ECMWF and BOM) all showed the low off Sydney stalled and blocking the oncoming high. So, under the kite and full main, we decided to continue on to the protection of Jervis Bay, about 80 miles south of Sydney. Cindy isn’t a fan of the night shifts - especially the very dark ones. While I measure passages in days and broken boat bits, Cindy counts nights remaining at sea. She wasn’t thrilled about extending this passage, but these ideal northing conditions seem rare at this time of year - too good to pass up. She’s a good sport and fine, mate! We’d love to relate stories of grand adventure in Jervis Bay, but when we arrived at latitude 35* south (Entrance to Jervis Bay), the low off Sydney continued to hold position, and the SE breeze held steady. So, with reefed main and genoa on the pole, Team Pazzo pushed onward, north and through the Sydney Heads where we returned to Manly.
Entering Sydney Heads
One Step At A Time... Pazzo’s Adventures Down Under
The passage to Sydney went very well, with about 12 hours of motoring and the rest reaching and running - except for one major error. With a favourable current off Eden, we continued out to sea until we found ourselves about 13 miles off Jervis Bay and bucking 2 - 2.5 knots of foul current. The sea state was somewhat uncomfortable with a squall to our east pushing the wind up to 30 knots and the nasty opposing current. Usually, we'd be excited to be flying downwind, wing-on-wing, but peeling 2.5 knots of progress off our 10 knots of speed thru water was frustrating. It took a midnight gybe and several hours to crab our way westward, into shallower water and out of the current. Manly brought a wonderful and unexpected surprise. John and Katsie, a couple of our favourite skiing buddies from Seattle, were holidaying in Manly. They follow Pazzo on Marine Traffic and, casting eyes across the cove, spied the boat laying to the gentle north wind.
Back at Manly we realised we were no longer alone....
The following day, John & Katsie joined us aboard Pazzo, and we departed Sydney on a lovely easterly breeze which to carried the new, expanded Team Pazzo about 15 miles north to Broken Bay where for a week, we enjoyed hiking, fine (box) wine, swimming, and tales from home.
Pittwater vista from Barrenjoey Headland
One Step At A Time... Pazzo’s Adventures Down Under
The charts of Broken Bay show many excellent anchorages, but we quickly discovered that, like Sydney, the best spots are packed with private, club, and few public moorings. It took a couple of days to learn the rules: Faded red (club) moorings are the same colour as pink (public) ones. Yellow moorings might be private or public, depending on the shape. Moorings exposed to the afternoon thermal breeze are always vacant and available. The 24-hour limit on public moorings can be ignored. And finally... Just grab and enjoy any mooring where your boat will fit, and be prepared to move if someone asks you to. Note that these are our rules of engagement. Feel free to make up your own! The western arm of Broken Bay is loaded with beautiful but crowded anchorages, while Pittwater is a hub of yachting activity. Sailboat racing seems to commence every afternoon with the retired or unemployed sect, sans flying sails. Round and round, the buoys go all manner of sail-powered watercraft. At 18:00, more serious racing gets underway with flying sails and the requisite yelling and screaming. Treharne Cove, near Longnose Point, is a fine place to watch the mayhem while enjoying a cold one. Further south is a maze of mooring fields, private docks and expansive marinas. We enjoyed a lovely evening with Michael (Zappa) and Marie Bell, swinging on their mooring off Scotland Island.
Pittwater from Bernie Lookout
One Step At A Time... Pazzo’s Adventures Down Under
We started early on February 12 for the 65-mile NE trip to Port Stevens. The forecast called for S SE winds in the 20s. Sporting conditions for about 9 hours against a 1-knot southbound current saw us through to Shoal Bay inside Port Stevens. Pazzo enjoyed frolicking along with a reefed main and the staysail on the pole, but Cindy and I were glad to take cover and rest before continuing northward. We spent an extra day anchored with good friends and fellow Go West Rally participants Fred and Chris on the Catamaran Sea Jay off the Nelson Marina, where we found an excellent Thai restaurant. On Valentine’s Day, we motored out the narrow entrance to Port Stephens against a backdrop of dark and squally clouds. The forecast for this 150-mile leg to Coffs Harbour called for continued SW wind, but the squall-gods had something else in mind :( At about 0900, a loud bang announced the arrival of a nasty squall, seemingly from nowhere. The spectra lashing at the clew of our first reef had chafed through, setting the main a-luffing. Cindy immediately set to tucking the 2nd reef as I assisted in the blinding, driving rain. The squalls continued with wind from all points of the compass as we bounced our way north with staysail, 1 or 2 reefs, and the motor from time to time. By nightfall, we’d reached Crowdy Head - the start of 100 miles of the most intense south-flowing current. Sailing through the night on a broad reach, we hugged the beach, standing out about a mile or so and trimming this to 1/2 mile at times. We saw adverse flow between 2 and 3 knots much of the time but were able to find welcome-back eddies behind prominent points and shallow patches. My experience on many-a-Swiftsure race proved handy. By early morning, we’d rounded Smokey Cape and tucked in by Trial Bay to escape the raging current to our east. At 0900, we called Ol Perky into service for the last few hours into the protection of Coffs Harbour and yet another ice cream! While setting out for a late afternoon hike to the top of nearby Mutton Bird Island, we stopped to tease a friendly-looking couple on the large power yacht, Andiamo II. After a bit of good-humoured banter, it became clear that our neighbours were none other than Legendary NZ Sailor Murray Ross and his lovely bride Sharon. Sharon is a delightful bundle of energy, and Murray represented New Zealand in the Flying Dutchman Class in three Olympic Games, Sailed around the world in 4 Whitbred (predecessor to the Volvo Ocean Race) races, and designed a number of successful racing yachts, cruising yachts and launches, and a few of New Zealand’s most popular one-design keelers. They are lovely folks with great stories! Under sunny skies, calm seas, and a light off-shore breeze, we set out to revisit the dual towns of Iluka-Yamba. We motored about 1/3 of the way and enjoyed delightful sailing right up to the river mouth of the Clarence River. The current gods smiled on us with a gentle south-flowing stream largely under a 1/2 knot. By 17:30, we tucked into the Yamba Marina, cheating death again.
Yamba Marina
One Step At A Time... Pazzo’s Adventures Down Under
Unfortunately, getting in and out of the Clarence River, indeed most rivers, entails crossing a shoal known as a river bar which I previously mentioned. For those in our wake or those who are not familiar with river bars, I feel it is worth providing some more information. River bars are an accumulation of sand and silt deposited where the river empties into the sea, creating a shoal. When onshore swells and/or wind-driven waves encounter this shoal water, the bottom of the wave drags on the shoal, mounding up and, in the right conditions, tips over. This is the same effect that puts smiles on a surfer's face. When a 2-meter ocean swell meets the shallows of the shore, the wave builds to 3 meters, drags on the bottom and breaks. Some river bars maintain themselves at a depth that allows safe transit under many conditions. Others need periodic dredging. When the tide is coming in, the incoming tidal current offsets or overcomes the outgoing river flow. At these times, flow over the bar is in the same direction as the incoming waves, and the mounding and breaking of waves subside. With an ebbing tide, the outgoing water is added to the normal river discharge and opposes the incoming waves creating standing waves that continually break over the bars. The bar condition, of course, is highly dependent on the height of the incoming waves. The general rule we follow is to transit bars (both directions) in the last two hours of a flooding current with incoming swells under 2 meters. This maximizes the depth and lines up the flow with the incoming waves. These guidelines, however, create challenges. First, it's not uncommon to be trapped inside a river, unable to leave because the conditions are dangerous. Second, when travelling from one river to another, timing departure and arrival for the tail end of incoming tides can be difficult. We faced this second challenge on the last 100-mile leg of our northbound trip up Australia's East Coast. The 100-mile distance was too long to make the trip in 12 hours (time between successive high tides) against the current and too short for a 25-hour run (time between two high tides). So, we crossed the Iluka/Yamba bar at 0900 on Feb 21 and lolly-gagged our way north to arrive at the Gold Coast Seaway (Southport) 24 hours later. For the first time, we appreciated the 3/4 knot adverse current. Experienced sailors will appreciate the difficulty of slow ocean sailing. The waves knock a slow-moving, under-powered boat around more than a powered-up one. It would have been great to put the kite on to settle things down a bit, but darkness and the threat of squalls kept Mr Spinny in the bag. We arrived in the wee hours of the 22nd, finding blinding rain and wind gusting into the 30s. With the genoa furled and a reefed mainsail, we were still flying northward at 8-9 knots at times. All this resulted in a premature arrival at the Southport Seaway. So, in squally conditions, we sailed slowly back and forth across the entrance to the seaway until the conditions were to our liking. At 0900, we flew into the seaway at 10+ knots, riding the incoming current and motoring at high RPMs to get across the swells mounding to 3 meters but not breaking. The story ends with a final motorboat run through the Broadwater to The Boat Works, where we left Pazzo on the hard while returning to Seattle to spend a few months with friends and family.
AUSTRALIA'S GREATEST BOATYARD The cleanest & greenest Australian-owned premium Boatyard & Shipyard facility. We welcome you to experience service like no other within a dynamic and comprehensive marine community. We have a bustling marina facility where you will find a welcoming and friendly boat and superyacht yard with up to 2000 people on site any given day. Some call it the pit stop destination, or as our cruising community calls it... UPDATE
"THE RESORT FOR YOU & YOUR BOAT"! Servicing commercial & charter operators along with local Gold Coast BOATIES. We are centrally located between Brisbane City and Coolangatta Airport with only a 20 minute drive to the famous green and gold of the gold Coast i.e. rainforests and pristine beaches.
SIMPLY THE BEST (07) 55 000 000
theboatworks.com.au
admin@theboatworks.com.au
Coomera, Gold Coast
Where you can choose to work on your own boat, engage specialist marine trades, or appoint a project manager to coordinate everything on your behalf.
GO WEST RALLY 2023 REGISTRATION UPDATE
The green dots on the map are the locations of the vessels that will be sailing to Australia during October and November as participants in the 2023 Go West Rally.
45 YACHTS FROM 12 COUNTRIES & COUNTING...
FIND OUT MORE AT WWW. DOWNUNDE RRAL L Y. COM/ GO-WE ST-RAL L Y
FEE FREE ENTRY INTO AUSTRALIA
*
PLUS DISCOUNTS ON MARINA FEES, BOATYARDS & MORE
REGISTER NOW downunderrally.com/go-west-rally SCAN THE QR CODE.
*conditions apply - see website for details
LINK
LINK LINK L I NK
LINK LINK LINK LINK
LINK LINK LINK LINK LINK LINK LINK LINK LINK
Southern Seas Marine provides solutions for recreational, commercial and super yachts. We offer supplies for sailboat and powerboat deck hardware and fittings to both wholesalers and the general public via our online store or directly through our retail outlet. We can set up your marine electronics, navigation system, depth sounders, VHF radios & sound systems. Located in the Gold Coast Marine Precinct at Coomera, we are your one-stop shop.
As Us About Offers For Down Under Rally Members!
southernseasmarine.com.au
07 55 029 666
WELCOME WEEK DOWN UNDER The Down Under Rally & Bundaberg Port Marina are looking forward to hosting the 2023 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.
2022 Go West Rally Participants
downunderrally.com/welcome-week
2023 WELCOME WEEK EVENT CALENDAR RSVP is required for all events. Events are subject to change at the discretion of the Down Under Rally organisers.
MONDAY, 30TH OCTOBER 8.00 AM - 9.00 AM - YOGA4YACHTIES: WHERE: Bundaberg Port Marina - Cruisers Cove
All Welcome - Beginners through to Experienced Yogi’s - FREE to attend for the captain and first mate of each vessel that is a registered rally participant. $10.00pp for everyone else. 11.00 AM - 1.00 PM - EVENT REGISTRATION: WHERE: Bundaberg Port Marina Cruisers Cove Confirm your registration to attend Welcome Week Events & Collect your Welcome Packs.
6.00 PM - 10.00 PM - WELCOME COCKTAIL PARTY *MAJOR PRIZE GIVEAWAY EVENT WHERE: Baltimore Restaurant Bundaberg Port Marina 6:00 pm: Welcome to Country Ceremony 6:30 pm - 10:00 pm: Live Music. Complimentary Canapes are served throughout the evening. *The Welcome Down Under Cocktail Party is FREE to attend for the Captain & First Mate of each vessel that is a registered rally participant. *Crew members & all others are welcome to attend however The ticket price is $40.00 pp
TUESDAY, 31ST OCTOBER 12.30 PM - 2.30 PM - SURVIVING DOWN UNDER/VHF & WEATHER *MAJOR PRIZE GIVEAWAY EVENT WHERE: Lighthouse Hotel
Surviving Down Under. A light-hearted presentation about the Aussie culture & way of life to help you understand us Aussies & make your time Down Under more enjoyable. VHF Channels & Weather Down Under. What VHF Channel to monitor and use. Understanding the forecast areas, how, where and when to get forecasts. East Coast weather - what to watch out for! East Coast Cruising Intro. A brief introduction to cruising the East Coast of Australia 3.00 PM - 5.00 PM - EAST COAST CRUISING - BUNDABERG TO SOUTHPORT A detailed presentation on sailing route options and stopovers for the passage from Bundaberg to Southport. 5.00 PM - 8.00 PM - SUNDOWNERS & PUB GRUB! WHERE: Lighthouse Hotel
5.00 pm - 6.00 pm: Sundowners at the Lighthouse Bar. 6.00 pm - 8.00 pm: Take your pick from the menu at the pub. *Drinks & ,meals are at your own expense. *MAJOR PRIZE GIVEAWAY EVENTS: Rally Participants who attend any nominated major prize giveaway event will go into the draw to win a major prize. Limit of one major prize per registration. Participants must be present at the event to claim the prize.
2023 WELCOME WEEK EVENT CALENDAR RSVP is required for all events. Events are subject to change at the discretion of the Down Under Rally organisers.
WEDNESDAY 1ST NOVEMBER 8.00 AM - 9.00 AM -YOGA4YACHTIES WHERE: Bundaberg Port Marina - Cruisers Cove
All Welcome - Beginners through to Experienced Yogi’s - FREE to attend for the captain and first mate of each vessel that is a registered rally participant. $10.00pp for everyone else. 10.30 AM - 12.30 PM - EAST COAST CRUISING: TWEED HEADS TO SYDNEY *MAJOR PRIZE GIVEAWAY EVENT WHERE: Lighthouse Hotel Join us for an informative and detailed presentation on sailing route options and stopovers for the passage from Tweed Heads to Sydney.
1:30 PM -3:30 PM - EAST COAST CRUISING - BUNDABERG TO CAIRNS & BEYOND WHERE:Lighthouse Hotel Join us for an informative and detailed presentation on the sailing route options and stopovers for the passage from Bundaberg to far north Queensland.
6:30 PM - 9:30 PM - OUTDOOR MOVIE & PIZZA NIGHT (Weather Permitting) WHERE: Bundaberg Port Marina - Cruisers Cove 6.30 pm - 7:00 pm - Pizza Party Place your Pizza Order at Baltimore Restaurant before 10:00 am Wednesday, 1st November. Pick up your Pizza between 6:00 & 6:30 pm and head over to cruisers cove. Bring a salad or dessert to share. BYO plates/cutlery etc. *Pizzas are at your own expense. 7:30pm - 9:30pm 'The Castle’ The Castle is one of the all-time favourite classic Aussie movies. During your time in Australia, sooner or later, someone will ask, "Have you seen The Castle." BYO, comfy chair, popcorn and beverages!
THURSDAY 2ND NOVEMBER 11:00 AM - 12.30 PM EAST COAST CRUISING: SYDNEY TO TASMANIA WHERE: Lighthouse Hotel Join us for an informative presentation on route options and stopovers for the passage from Sydney to Tasmania. 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM - LAND CRUISING DOWN UNDER *MAJOR PRIZE GIVEAWAY EVENT
If you plan to do some ‘Land Cruising’ during your time in Australia, you will find this presentation interesting. We look at each of the states & territories, the different attractions they offer and what time of the year is best to travel.
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM BEERS, BUBBLES 'N' PRAWNS WHERE? Bundaberg Port Marina - Cruisers Cove
A tub of freshly cooked prawns, a couple of beers or a glass of wine will be waiting for the Captain and First Mate from each boat registered for the rally. (Compliments of the Down Under Rally and Bundaberg Port Marina). Make a meal of it and bring along a salad, side dish or dessert! *Crew members & are welcome to attend - Ticket price is $40.00 pp
6:30 PM - 9:30 PM - "JAMMIN" Bring your instruments and vocal cords to join in for a jam session with your fellow cruisers and maybe a few locals.
EAST COAST CRUISING SEMINARS "full of necessary and otherwise hard-to-find information" s.v Moondance 2022Go West Rally Participant
Free to attend for 2023 Go West Rally Participants
The information & local knowledge we share during these welcome week seminars makes sure that your time cruising in Australia will be memorable for all the right reasons.
LEARN MORE ABOUT WELCOME WEEK 2023 AT: downunderrally.com/welcome-week
JOIN US FOR WELCOME WEEK TO WIN! TOTAL PRIZE POOL VALUED AT OVER $5000.00 Here a just a few of the prizes that you could win when you join the Down Under ‘Go West’ Rally!*
2 x VOUCHERS FREE LIFT + FREE WATERBLAST
valued at $700 EACH • Conditions Apply • Subject to Availability • Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer
FREE LIFT + WATERBLAST + 5 DAYS FREE HARDSTAND valued at $1100 • Conditions Apply • Subject to Availability • Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer
2 x VOUCHERS
PREDICTWIND
HARDSTAND CREDIT
12 MONTHS PRO SUBSCRIPTION
valued at $500 EACH
valued at $499
• Conditions Apply • Subject to Availability • Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer
• Conditions Apply • Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer
WIN ONE OF 5 CRUISING QUEENSLAND GUIDES
TOTAL VALUE $450 • Conditions Apply • Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer
CHANDLERY VOUCHER VALUED AT $250 • Conditions Apply • Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer
PLUS MANY MORE MINOR PRIZES *2003 Go West Rally Participants Only *Participants must be in attendance at the event to be included in the prize draws. *Maximum of One Major Prize per vessel
"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
TENDER MOMENTS
by Rib Force Inflatables.
I was listening to the song UNDER PRESSURE, performed by Queen and David Bowie, on my drive home the other day and was inspired to write this article, which I hope points out the dangers that pressure in the tubes of inflatables can pose, if not properly maintained... INFLATABLES REQUIRE A GOOD PRESSURE LEVEL TO MAINTAIN THE RIGIDNESS OF THE TUBES TO PROVIDE SHAPE FOR THE BOAT TO MAKE PASSAGE THROUGH THE WATER. Too little pressure and the movement of the tubes accelerate the wear and deterioration of the tubes, leading to a shorter life expectancy. Too much pressure can lead to a big bang and the total loss of the tubes with catastrophic results. WHAT PRESSURE CAN THE TUBES TAKE? This all depends on the fabric and method of the tubes. The seams are the most vulnerable area in terms of over-pressurization. Generally, TPU and PVC tubes (good grade and correct manufacturing process) that are fully welded will be able to take higher pressure because the seams are fully welded. CSM (aka Hypalon) have glued seams, so they are more exposed. Cheap CSM (Hypalon) tubes of low quality, especially without internal and external tape, are the most vulnerable. Beware cheap bargain “Hypalon” inflatables. Pressure is subject to internal temperature. In the early morning, the tubes are soft, but by midday, they are hard. Fill the tubes early morning to 3 PSI. With a rise in temperature, the 3 PSI quickly becomes 6 PSI. A lot of seams cannot take pressure above 5 PSI. Over-inflated tubes are very vulnerable to exploding with impact. When purchasing an inflatable, the marine dealer should be asked for directions on the correct inflation of the tubes and pressure. The dealer should be familiar with the product that he is selling and know the best procedures to maintain the inflatable. He will be able to advise as to the maximum pressure that the tubes should be filled to. AS A GENERAL RULE - THE BEST METHOD IS TO INFLATE THE TUBES AT THE HOTTEST TIME OF THE DAY. THE TUBE SHOULD BE HARD, AND YOU SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PUSH YOUR THUMB INTO THE TUBE. WITH THE COOLING OF TEMPERATURE, THE TUBE WILL LOSE PRESSURE, BUT THE PRESSURE SHOULD RETURN WITH THE TEMPERATURE RISE. For safety reasons, the tubes should be regularly checked at least once every 6 months. If the tubes lose more than 5 % pressure in a 24-hour period, that is considered unsafe and not serviceable in terms of regulations. The check should include an over-pressure test on the individual chambers to ensure the baffles are serviceable. For a three-air chamber boat, this would mean letting down the bow chambers, inflating the two rear chambers, checking the air pressure 24 hours later, and then repeating this test with the bow chamber. Website: ribforceinflatables.com.au |Phone +61755737265 | Email info@ribforce.com Down Under Rally Members receive discounts at Rib Force Inflatables. More Information here: downunderrallymembers.com
AUSTRALIAN MARINE LIABILITY INSURANCE
Scarborough Marina - Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Many owners of yachts visiting Australia are surprised to learn they may be refused entry to Australian marinas and or boatyards if they have insufficient liability insurance. The minimum amount of public liability cover most Australian marinas require is AUD$ 10 million, with some requiring AUD$20 million. It is, therefore, important to check with the marina/boatyard prior to arrival. In addition, recreational ships visiting Queensland coastal waters are required to comply with the legislation that requires all ships over 15 meters in length to have insurance sufficient to pay for potential pollution cleanup, salvage, and wreck removal. The insurance policy must meet the following requirements for the type of ship: “A recreational ship more than 15m but less than 35m in length overall must have an insurance policy that provides AUD$250,000 for pollution clean-up and AUD$10 million for salvage and wreck removal”. SOURCE: www.msq.qld.gov.au/Marine-pollution/Ship-insurance While there is no requirement for owners of registered vessels to have compulsory third-party insurance in New South Wales, NSW Roads and Maritime recommends that you take out third-party insurance as part of your comprehensive vessel insurance. SOURCE: www.nsw.gov.au/drivingboating-and-transport/boat-and-vessel-registration
WHY THE NEED FOR THIS LEVAL OF COVER? To help understand the need for this amount of cover, Down Under Rally director John Hembrow spoke with Brett Hensler of Bundaberg Port Marina, who provided the following insight.
“The need for a AUD $10,000,000 third-party liability insurance policy on boats is driven by the increasing value of vessels and the potential for accidents that can lead to significant financial liabilities. Over the years, the value of boats and marina infrastructure has been steadily increasing. Today, boats come in various sizes and types, from personal watercraft to luxury yachts, and they can be worth millions of dollars. With such high-value assets on the water, it's essential to have adequate liability coverage to protect against potential accidents. Adequate third-party liability insurance provides protection not only for your personal assets that could be risked in any liability claim but also for the well-being of others who may be affected by accidents on the water. Many marinas and waterways require boat owners to have a minimum level of liability insurance. Having a minimum of AUD $10,000,000 policy ensures you meet these requirements, allowing you to enjoy your boating activities without worrying about legal compliance. Ultimately, it offers peace of mind, allowing boat owners to enjoy their time on the water with confidence.”
In recent times, the owners of visiting yachts have reported it to be difficult, if not impossible, to obtain this level of cover, with many reporting their current insurer was unwilling to increase the amount of liability cover included in their existing policy and the majority of Australia based have been unwilling to provide liability only cover. The Down Under Rally also confirmed that they have previously approached insurers on behalf of the owners of visiting yachts to see what could be done to accommodate this need without success.
THE BREAKTHROUGH In August of this year, there was a breakthrough with Scarborough Marina introducing the Down Under Rally to Coverforce Insurance Brokers, who indicated they had found a provider that was able to offer the cover required. As a result of that introduction and the subsequent discussions, The Down Under Rally has since informed those who had been in touch with them regarding the matter with details of how to apply for cover via Coverforce Insurance Brokers. The Down Under rally has since confirmed that several applications have since been made. One of those applicants who had no existing insurance coverage (largely due to being a single-hander) successfully applied for the required coverage and has already reported back to The Down Under Rally, saying he was grateful to us for our efforts to find a solution and very happy with the outcome, commenting that he found the premium and the policy terms provided by Coverforce to be acceptable and in his opinion quite reasonable.
THE OUTCOME The Down Under rally has since confirmed that several applications have since been made. One of those applicants who had no existing insurance coverage (largely due to being a single-hander) successfully applied for the required coverage and has already reported back to The Down Under Rally, saying he was grateful to us for our efforts to find a solution and very happy with the outcome, commenting that he found the premium and the policy terms provided by Coverforce to be acceptable and in his opinion quite reasonable.
HOW TO APPLY FOR COVER To make an application for the required public liability cover and salvage/wreck removal cover visit the following page of the Down Under Rally website: www.downunderrally.com/australian-marineliability-insurance
The Down Under Rally wishes to acknowledge and thank Richard Barrett of Scarborough Marina Queensland, Australia, for the considerable time he has invested in relation to this matter and his ongoing advocacy on behalf of the international cruising community in relation to this and many other matters over the past decade.
East Coast Marina, Manly Boat Harbour, Brisbane, Australia offer 330 secure water berths, catering for boats up to 18m.
Located less than 10nm to the south of the Brisbane river mouth Manly Boat Harbour is the perfect base for visiting yachts and East Coast Marina has long been a favourite of the international yachting community.
A variety of public transport options that will take you directly to Brisbane City and the Brisbane International Airport are within walking distance of the marina The Manly Village is only a short walk away, offering a grocery store, post office, news agency, chemist, coffee shops, restaurants and more. Markets are on some Saturdays and every Sunday.
EAST COAST MARINA Phone: +61 7 3393 3811 Email: info@eastcoastmarina.com.au Location: Latitude…27º27.6′ S Longitude…153º11.2′E VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.eastcoastmarina.com.au
DOWN UNDER RALLY MEMBERS OFFER. *15% off casual marina berth rates *subject to availability at time of booking and confirmation of current DUR membership.
www.blog.mailasail.com/walkabout @walkabout_gonesailing Read more customer feedback: www.hydrovane.com/true-stories
Discounts For Down Under Rally Members Learn More
INFORMATION FOR YACHTS ARRIVING IN AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIAN YACHTS RETURNING TO AUSTRALIA If your vessel has departed from Australia, you will be required to re-import your vessel when you return to Australia. If the vessel was tax paid when it left Australia, you should not have to pay import duty or GST again; however, only the ABF can confirm this. If the ABF confirms this is the case, they will likely inform you that you will need to complete some paperwork on arrival to re-import the vessel and that they strongly recommend you employ a customs agent to assist with the completion and lodgement of the associated paperwork. Those who are in doubt as to the accuracy of the above information can contact the Bundaberg Office of The Australian Border Force by emailing: bundaberg@abf.gov.au.
YACHTS VISITING AUSTRALIA A Control Permit will be issued to the Master of the craft if the Australian Border Force is satisfied the craft is transiting Australia for non-commercial purposes. Control Permits may be issued for a period of 12 months or the length of the Master's visa, whichever is less. An extension of the permit may be granted on application, provided that you meet eligibility requirements and have an appropriate visa. A person eligible to apply for a Control Permit must be a tourist or a temporary resident of Australia. Australian citizens are not eligible for a Control Permit unless they have overseas residency. For a Control Permit to be issued, the craft must meet the following criteria: craft must have arrived from overseas and will be scheduled to depart for overseas craft must have arrived under its own power and not as cargo craft must be transiting Australia for non-commercial purposes i.e. is not engaged in the commercial carriage of cargo or passengers craft may be privately or corporately owned (however, a Control Permit is not granted where a craft is owned by a corporation and more than 50% of the owners of the corporation are Australian residents) craft must not be employed for any activities of a commercial nature (e.g. charter, hire or lease) craft, or parts of the craft, are not to be offered for sale, sold or otherwise disposed of. The Down Under Rally has a long-standing relationship with DAZMAC, which is a licenced customs broker. The Down Under Rally recommends contacting DAZMAC to get a quote from them to act as your agent should you be required to export or import a vessel. You can make an obligation-free enquiry with Dazmac via the following page of the Down Under Rally website: www.downunderrally.com/agents. DAZMAC OFFERS DOWN UNDER RALLY MEMBERS SIGNIFICANT DISCOUNTS.
LEARN MORE HERE
Musket Cove Fiji Regatta 2023 by Birgit and Christian- SY Pitufa
Each year in September, yachties from all over the world flock to the turquoise lagoon of pretty Malolo Lai Lai Island on the western side of Viti Levu, the main island of Fiji, to take part in the annual Musket Cove Regatta Week. Organised by the Musket Cove Marina and Yacht Club team the Regatta Week takes place in September. This year, the events took place between September 6th and 10th.
95 boats and over 300 people attended 3 action-packed regattas with 64 teams racing in the Hobie cat event, dozens of sailors competing in the Fun Run, and 40 plus eco-aware cruisers helping with a beach clean-up. This all took place during 5 eventful days of sailing and five nights full of entertainment in a regatta event that has been going on for 39 years. Impressive numbers, but the Musket Cove Regatta on beautiful Malolo Lai Lai Island in Fiji is more than just the sum of these numbers—it’s the biggest party in the South Pacific! What started out as a warm-up for the Fiji-Vanuatu event back in 1984, the Musket Cove Regatta Week has grown every year and is now the most popular regatta in the South Pacific.” Will Moffat, the owner of Musket Cove Island Resort and Marina, says with a wide grin. “It’s all about the fun really, and everybody’s welcome!” And it’s true: big modern yachts with expensive racing sails compete with tiny racing machines that rely on their next-to-nothing weight alongside classic yachts and modest floating cruiser’s homes complete with jerry cans and kayaks tied to the rails. Many Kiwi and a few Aussie yachties return most every year and join the fleet of westbound international yachts that time their voyage to allow them to participate in this fabulous event.
The first event of the 2023 Reggata Week was the Beach Comber Pirate’s day and the rules for this regatta simply say that “there are no rules for pirates”, so most boats ran their engines, and some didn’t even bother to hoist their sails. It’s all about going harr-harr-harr, dressing up and spending the day out on Beach Comber Island having fun.
The main event is certainly the Round Malolo Classic on the third day. Full sails up, the participating boats were lining up behind the start markers just outside the big mooring field and anchorage of Musket Cove. As they would have to start right into a steady breeze from the Northwest, tactics differed, and soon after the race started, the first boats had to tack into the fleet, leading to close encounters and precarious manoeuvres. Watching them tacking in the narrow channel, we could admire the action up-close from the motor boat Will Moffat had assigned for us: Will’s 33 ft Reynolds cat Burt soon was ahead with a crew of only 3 handling the manoeuvres effortlessly.
Big monohulls like Relapse and the Dehler 46 Wings had much more action going on, with large crews fighting the sails. The big catamarans like Marcato, Mint and Binx were impressive to watch in such tight quarters.
Mint had decided to race with a CodeZero, which meant that everybody had to rush on the foredeck for each tack to roll up the light wind sail and let it out on the other side—certainly the hardestworking crew on this day!
The Mint crew in action The contrast with the crew of Binx couldn’t have been more extreme: there were actually people lounging in beanbags on the foredeck sipping bubbly… Once the boats had made it around the northern point of Malolo Island, they could get up their spinnakers and rush downwind.
Burt won the 15 nm race in the multihull category, followed by Miss Minnie and Mint. Relapse was the first monohull over the finishing line, with Wings in second place and Kailua coming third.
All Shapes & Sizes (Mint & Kaia)
Burt Winner Round Malolo Race (Multihull Category)
Relapse Winer Monohull Category
Wings 2nd place Monohull category
The Mint Crew from Australia
The Burt Crew celebrating their win!
Throughout the week, Hobie cat races are run on a knockout-type format, with two boats and two per boat on the course for each round. Musket Cove Resort provides the Hobie cats, and each vessel that registers as a regatta week particpant is welcome to join in the fun.
In the evenings, The Island Bar is the place to be with live entertainment meals. A beverage or two is also known to be enjoyed by the thirsty sailors.
A fantastic week wrapped up with a fully catered closing ceremony and prize giving at the resort.
So, if you’re heading towards the South Pacific in 2024, make sure to add the Musket Cove Regatta Week to your calendar. Apart from being a ton of fun, it is also great value. This year, 110 FJD p.p. covered not only the entry fee for the regattas but also an opening and closing dinner and some free drinks! Prizes range from free haul-outs at sponsoring marinas to food baskets and are well worth the effort of getting the boat into racing mode. About The Authors: Birgit and Christian have been cruising on their SY Pitufa for 12 years. Check out their blog www.pitufa.at for more pics and info or follow SY Pitufa on Facebook!
READ PAST ISSUES OF AHOY!
SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE
SUBSCRIBE NOW
First aid training can help overcome the anxiety that comes with dealing with problems without immediate expert help on hand. Completing a first aid training course tailored specifically for the marine environment is a great way to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to manage illness and injuries on board. It’s also a valuable skill to carry through life.
UPCOMING COURSE DATES 11th November 2023, 8:30 am – 5 pm at The Boatworks Gold Coast. To book, click here. 9th December 2023, 8:30 am – 5 pm at The Boatworks Gold Coast. To book, click here. 20th January 2024, 8:30 am – 5 pm at The Boatworks Gold Coast. To book, click here. 17th February 2024, 8:30 am – 5 pm at The Boatworks Gold Coast. To book, click here. Course fee: $350.00 per participant. Down Under Rally Members receive a course fee discount. For further course information, please click here www.hearttraining.com.au/marine-first-aid. We are also taking private bookings for Marine First Aid training for groups of 6 or more. 0424 628 456
admin@hearttraining.com.au
www.hearttraining.com.au
DOWN UNDER RALLY MEMBERS The majority of our partner businesses provide Down Under Rally Members with exclusive discounts and offers. For details, offer conditions and partner business contact information, see the Partner Directory pages of the Down Under Rally Member portal: www.downunderrallymembers.com/partners
VIEW/DOWNLOAD THE 2023 DUR PARTNER BUSINESS QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE HERE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MANY OTHER BENEFITS OF DOWN UNDER RALLY MEMBERSHIP HERE
Members Marketplace Down Under Rally Members are invited to list their *unwanted items for sale in AHOY! To list your item or items in the member's marketplace: 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) NAVIONICS + ELECTRONIC CHARTS Pacific Islands SD MSD Card Brand new, still sealed in original packaging.
ISTEC PARASAIL Orange & White One tiny weeny repair Suit Catamaran 14.3 x 7.7 REDUCED NOW $6500
Call Phil on 0439 0616 55
Call Deb on +61 407 330 305 (WhatsApp)
or email: taddp@me.com
Email: steve@ninas.com
AUD $220 (plus postage if applicable)
Delorme (Garmin) InReach Explorer satellite communicator. In very good condition. We used it to stay in touch, crossing both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans with 100% coverage. AUD $350.00 Phone Cathy 0423 388 365 Email: cathybunn@gmail.com
Buisiness Directory
For Down Under Rally Member Discounts Visit: www.downunderrallymembers.com/partners
Buisiness Directory
For Down Under Rally Member Discounts Visit: www.downunderrallymembers.com/partners
Av ai la bl e
in
pr in to re Bo ok
Buisiness Directory
For Down Under Rally Member Discounts Visit: www.downunderrallymembers.com/partners
Buisiness Directory
Manly Boat Harbour, Brisbane. 330 secure water berths, catering for boats up to 18m.
www.eastcoastmarina.com.au
SAILMAKING EVOLVED
ASK US ABOUT DOWN UNDER RALLY MEMBER DISCOUNTS
PH: 07 5537 7433 EMAIL: INFO@EVOLUTIONAUST.COM.AU W: DOWNUNDERRALLY.COM/SAILS/RIGGING
For Down Under Rally Member Discounts Visit: www.downunderrallymembers.com/partners
Buisiness Directory
www.downunderrally.com/marine-first-aid
For Down Under Rally Member Discounts Visit: www.downunderrallymembers.com/partners
Buisiness Directory
For Down Under Rally Member Discounts Visit: www.downunderrallymembers.com/partners
Buisiness Directory
It might just save your boat! Find out more about Prop Protector. HERE
DOWN UNDER RALLY MEMBERS SAVE 20%
For Down Under Rally Member Discounts Visit: www.downunderrallymembers.com/partners
Buisiness BuisinessDirectory Directory
s for ber e t em ba M y Re ll 20% er Ra d Un n w Do
Sail the New Caledonia Lagoon with complete confidence & safety. 220 personally surveyed anchorages, 240 confirmed GPS routes covering all islands plus 1000 high-resolution colour images. GET READY TO GO!
For Down Under Rally Member Discounts Visit: www.downunderrallymembers.com/partners
Buisiness Directory
RYA Sailing Courses | Yachtmaster Training Private Own Boat Training
DISCOUNTS FOR DOWN UNDER RALLY MEMBERS
learn2sail.com.au
For Down Under Rally Member Discounts Visit: www.downunderrallymembers.com/partners
Buisiness Directory
0437 302 917
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 Down Under Rally Member Discounts Visit: www.downunderrallymembers.com/partners
Buisiness Directory
For Down Under Rally Member Discounts Visit: www.downunderrallymembers.com/partners
Buisiness Directory
ADVERTISE IN AHOY! ADVERTISING IN AHOY IS A COST EFFECTIVE WAY TO REACH PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY INTERESTED IN YOUR MARINE RELATED PRODUCTS & SERVICES! CONTACT US TO FIND OUT MORE EMAIL: ADMIN@DOWNUNDERRALLY.COM CALL: +61 417 833 338
For Down Under Rally Member Discounts Visit: www.downunderrallymembers.com/partners
Sailing To Australia
From The SW Pacific
FREE INFORMATION PACK downunderrally.com/sailing-to-australia special thanks to our platinum partners
©Down Under Rally 2023