E28 – REFUGE BAY TO CAPE STEWART
This passage would be about 80nm as we couldn’t make a direct course for Cape Stewart due to uncharted waters and needed to go north around the top of the Crocodile Islands just to be safe and sure. Cape Stewart anchorage though is also uncharted although the Cairns to...
E27 – TWO ISLANDS BAY TO REFUGE BAY
We departed Two Islands Bay, Manchinbar Island in the Wessel Group with our buddy boat ‘Lady D’ who had stepped off from Torres Strait with us. Two old mates, Gary and Will we’re delivering the new to them boat to Darwin for it’s ultimate journey to Perth via the...
E26 – THE GULF OF CARPENTARIA (2/2)
Morning of Day 2 see’s us having made about 140nm after the first 24 hour run, so even though the Gulf was living up to it’s reputation of having a sloppy sea state, the crossing was on track and the miles respectable. During the night before, we had a...
E25 – THE GULF OF CARPENTARIA (1/2)
Stepping off! We stepped off for the crossing of the Gulf of Carpentaria along with another sailing boat we had met in the previous couple of days called ‘Lady Dee’. They had departed once already but turned back due to heavy weather and this was their second attempt. Gotta...
E24 – HORN ISLAND TO FRIDAY ISLAND
Eating Tropical Lobster! Before heading out from Horn Island, after giving up waiting for our Indonesian agent to obtain our Indonesian Visa’s, it was time to cook up the awesome Painted Cray we got from one of the locals at Horn Island. Friday Island We motored the short distance...
E23 – HORN ISLAND
Waiting at Horn Island. Our agent in Indonesia had let us down big time and we were now back and forth between us and them to get our Indonesian Visa’s that should have been ready a week ago and still wasn’t ready. In fact, after paying them money, they...
E22 – ADOLPHUS ISLAND TO HORN ISLAND
Rolling at Adolphus Island. The anchorage at Adolphus island offered safe protection from the SE 20-25kt trade winds, but when the tide turned, an uncomfortable and downright annoying swell wrapped into the anchorage causing Starlight to roll. I snuck in as close as was possible to try to avoid...
E21 – STANLEY ISLAND TO ADOLPHUS ISLAND
Departing Stanley Island. I checked the rudder post which I figured was the cause of the loud noise that had developed the day before after leaving Lizard Island and found a small amount of play at the top of the post, but it was only a very small amount....
E20 – LIZARD ISLAND TO STANLEY ISLAND
Fast trade wind sailing from Lizard Island. We left Lizard Island with a 20 – 25kt SE trade wind allowing Starlight to really get moving and we pumped along at 7 – 9kts in a 1m following sea as we are inside the Great Barrier Reef and running north...
E19 – LIAZARD ISLAND
Lizard Island and lots to fix. At Lizard Island, I got a last chance to do some maintenance at a place where obtaining parts might actually be possible through the kindness of the Lizard Island Resort. As the resort has daily flights from Cairns, it is possible to get...