Our 2 crews assembled in Darwin over the past 2 days and after completing pre-departure safety briefings, we ambled up the dock and across the road to Seafood on Cullen for our crew welcome dinner. Of the 21 people onboard Silver Fern and Salt Lines, only 3 had not sailed with us previously. We are humbled and grateful for our clients that join us as crew, time and time again.

They turn into friends and its always great to have friendly faces back onboard. They know the yachts, know the systems and it makes it really easy to get a new crew to gel, when there is so much prior experience onboard and many of them already know each other.

People just don’t spend the time and money to come back again and again if they are not having fun. Chris Bower onboard Silver Fern for this leg, holds the record, with 7 sailing events booked with Ocean Sailing Expeditions so far and he even has his own favourite bunk when he’s onboard each time.

We departed the marina at 1100 hours, after booking our spot in the lock with the lock master. We were through by 11:15am and then refuelled at the dock outside by 1200 hours. With at least 2,000nm miles to sail to Perth and 7-10 days of light winds initially, we filled our fuel tanks to the brim and also have 375 litres of diesel in 25-litre jerry cans on specially built racks on the foredeck.

Once fuelled up, we headed out into the harbour and motored in large circles while we waited for Salt Lines to refuel. With the forest at 5-10 knots it was a nice surprise to get 15-20, so we hoisted our sails for an upwind sail 15nm to the top of the channel before turning 60 degrees to port on a track west once again.

With 440nm to sail to St George Basin, its a solid first two and a half days to our first expedition stop. We have had sunshine, 32 degrees and more downwind sailing over the first 36 hours, with tidal gate to make by 5am on Thursday morning. We have to time the entrance into the 15nm channel with the bottom of the tide and get in and anchored before it runs at 7 knots in peak flow. Its going to require excellent boat handling and navigation to avoid coming unstuck.

*The narrow channel to the St. George Basin*

I was at the nav station this morning when I heard the hissing sound of loud engines go past. I jumped into the cockpit in time to see a 4 engine aircraft pass over us no more than 100 metres above. 30 seconds later I heard a voice crackle over the radio “Salt Lines, Salt Lines this is Australian Border Force, do you copy?”. They repeated the call again and after 30 seconds, got no response. I picked up the VHF Mic and responded “Australian Border Force, this is Silver Fern, do you copy?”.

ABF responded and I explained we were travelling with Salt Lines and asked if I could help. ABF wanted to know who we were, last and next port, country of registration, POB and whether we were charter vessels. I explained our backgrounds and answered their questions and they bid us a safe trip.

I said thanks and signed off with “thanks for the low flyover, the crew really enjoyed that.”

You can’t take life too seriously!

David

Join the crew for a sailing adventure

Buzzed by Border Force

Fishing Fun

Santa never made it into Darwin..