We approached Cable Bay after sunset and as we had booked a mooring for the night we were on the lookout for the numbered buoy belonging to us. What we hadn’t accounted for was the amount of other moorings that would be around! With a spotlight and a few keen sets of eyes on the bow, we miraculously managed to find out mooring and tie up without running over anything on the way in.

The next morning Matt and Barry volunteered to stay on the boat as there were a few jobs that needed to be done(sorting the ongoing blocked toilet being one of them!) The rest of the crew spent the day ashore and I roped Alan into helping me do some shopping for the morning. I finally managed to convince Matt to let us buy an electric air pump for the dinghy so we were on a mission! I was determined to buy one before he came to his senses and changed his mind. With air pump in hand and the rest of the shopping, Alan and I hurried back to the boat to help with the refuelling which was booked in for midday.

I’ll let Matt take over here to explain the lead up to our refuel and what occurred during this process. Let’s just say there’s never a dull day in the office here!……………

Diesel on the coast of WA is in limited supply. The lack of wind had led to almost continuous motoring and therefore far higher than expected fuel consumption. Our only option for re-fuelling in Broome was to use the Port of Broome commercial wharf. Owned and operated by the Port of Kimberly, we had to coordinate two berths for both boats from them, the bunker operator to pump the diesel from another operator, and a fuel card company to pay for the fuel as there are no credit card or cash facilities available.

As the wharf is for commercial shipping, it sits 13m above low tide. With the high tide it is ‘only’ 3m above the water line. Not designed for small yachts to come alongside it presents a very unfriendly location to tie up. Towering single columns are interspersed between ladders, pipe work and a multitude of unpleasant sticky out bits.

With our berths booked for 1230 to meet the slack water at high tide, both we and Silver Fern dropped our moorings off Cable beach and motored the 7M around the headland to the wharf. The plan was for Salt Lines to refuel and take on water in berth 2, followed by Silver Fern about an hour later. As we motored out of our sheltered bay, the wind started to increase to 15kts off the land. This was not too much of a problem on the way round, but could certainly cause us some issues once we got to the wharf.

Berth 2 was on the inside of the large T shaped wharf meaning we needed to motor around the end of the wharf, past the large tug and slot into a gap between it and a charter boat called Great Escape. The large range of tide (9.5m) drives strong currents around the wharf, which have led to many trawlers and even a Navy vessel getting jammed under the bridge to the shore.

As we rounded the wharf, coming alongside the tug, I eyed the gap we were aiming for. The wind was now gusting 20kts off the land, which combined with the currents, was driving us toward the wharf. As we headed alongside Great Escape, I had to make the turn now or risk being blown onto the them. Turning hard to port, I increased power to push the bow round quicker as the wind and current caught us and pushed us toward them. About halfway through the turn I had a momentary flash of anxiety at the rate of increased sideways movement we were experiencing. Now fully committed to the manoeuvre, I increased the power again to tighten up the turn and the bow swung clear of Great Escape. Now alongside them and facing into the current, I aimed toward the wharf slowly adding to some reverse to slow us down.

Jess, Alan and Barry had prepared our starboard side with almost every fender we owned. The three largest were hung horizontally with the remainder vertically. As we closed in on the wharf, I added more reverse to slow us down and keep the stern off the columns with the prop walk. Stopping the boat about 1/2m from the columns, I waited for the wind to blow us on and expertly missed every fender that the crew had set out… Fortunately, the columns were covered with a sort of plastic to buffer the impact.

Tied up alongside, Jess and the guys started refuelling and topping up our water tanks. Now at slack water we should have been gently bobbing alongside the wharf. However, the combination of the offshore wind and the current (which was supposed to be zero) had us pinned to wall. After several conversations with David on Silver Fern to see if they would be able to tow us off, we decided that the risk was too great for both boats as Silver Fern, even with their bow thruster, was also struggling with the wind and current, so I started exploring other options.

I asked our bunkering (refuelling) guy if he knew of any boats in the local area that might be able to help tow us off. He couldn’t think of any, so I called Marine Rescue to see if they had a boat in the water that could assist. They were unable to help us and suggested we call the harbourmaster to explore some other options. I radioed Port operations, explaining our predicament and they were very accommodating and started radioing the local vessels to see if anyone could help us.

Great Escape (the boat behind us) had three tenders on their top deck with large outboards and they immediately volunteered to launch a couple to help us. The tide had now turned with the associated increase in current and the wind was refusing to abate. Their captain, a local, came alongside to discuss the situation and what they could do to help us.

Salt Lines pinned to the wharf for the next 5 hours.

We were now well and truly pinned down and after some discussion it was decided that there was no safe way to get us off until the tide turned again and (hopefully) the wind died off in the evening. They said that they would return to their mooring at cable beach, and launch their larger tender to come and help us at 1730. To thank them for their assistance, I offered them some money to buy a couple of cases of beer. Their captain vehemently refused, saying this is what we do as mariners, we help each other out.

True to their word, at 1730 two of their crew roared alongside in their tender asking how they could help. We passed them a line, which was fixed to our bow, and asked them to pull the bow out whilst I motored forward to starboard which should bring us out parallel to the wharf. Fortunately, the wind had died down slightly and the current had reduced.

With Alan coordinating on the bow, they started to drag our bow out as I slowly increased power and steered hard to starboard. Within seconds, we were moving sideways, perfectly parallel to the wharf. Once we were clear, I reduced power to allow the bow to be pulled out past the tug boat giving us room to drive out into open water.

There were many lessons from this adventure, most of which only local knowledge will help you with. But the outstanding memory for me will always be the willingness of one mariner to help another without any thought of reward. My sincere thanks go out the Captain and crew of MV Great Escape, from Great Escape Cruises, without whom I think we would still be stuck on that wharf…

All the best, Matt

Silver Fern dwarfed by the wharf, luckily managed to rearrange their refuel time till after the tide had turned.

Join the crew for a sailing adventure

Dwarfed by the wharf

Montebello Islands

Fishing Fruition