Ahoy Sailing Australia-South Pacific- March 2023

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

Tangalooma Anchorage

Moreton Island

DISCOUNTS FOR DOWN UNDER RALLY MEMBERS

Scott B - Member Number 217.

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

HOLED UP IN HOBART

By Peter Smith

HOLED UP in Hobart

By Peter Smith

KiwiRoalefttheAzoresinthemid-Atlanticafteranextendedstay,destinationvaguelysetinthe Pacific–likelyhometoNewZealand,some14,000milesaway

Iwassingle-handingandhadwrappedupmanyyearsofexpedition-makinginthenorth,includinga lifelonggoalofaNorthwestPassagetransit.Governmentlockdownsandclampdownsonfreedom ofmovementworldwidehadbecomepersistentlydisruptivetointernationalsailorslikemyself, althoughIdidmakebriefstopsattheCapeVerdes,thenforcedonesfromTristandaCunhatoCape Town–bureaucracysuccessfullynavigatedwiththewelcomeaidoflocalassistants–foressential sailrepairsandtheadditionofexternalcabin-topsafetyrails,beforelaunchingintotheIndian Ocean.

In the event, I was to end up in Hobart, which shaves a few miles off Well before then, however, about halfway between the Cape and Australia are the French Kerguelan Islands Normally a visit would not be permitted, but fate intervened as both a 20-year-old aft lower shroud and its mating top fork terminal decided their expiry date was up

On approach Kerguelen Island

Shoreside excursions were forbidden, but the French commandant offered their boatman to help me climb the mast. I used Sta-Lok reusable fittings and two 25 mm shackles to effect a jury rig which I hoped would last the remaining 5000 miles and 6 weeks at sea

I made an urgent departure from a Kerguelen leeshore trap, with a storm-force gale bearing down, pushing me into the southern Indian Ocean, blown out to open sea looking for safety under triple reefed main – only then to experience two uncontrolled gybes as the storm seas running offshore in the open water overcame the autopilot and my vain attempts at getting things under control My mistake was not to drive Kiwi Roa into the cradling safety of the heavy kelp beds under the lee of Kerguelen, where perhaps I could have waited out the storm in relative safety.

Kerguelen -Storm Riding

HOLED UP in Hobart

By Peter Smith

Cape Town to New Zealand is close to 7,000 nautical miles depending on how far south one is willing to venture. As the blow passed over, I laid a course for Heard Island at 54 degrees south, 400 miles away just off the Antarctica ice shelf Very few people get to see this remote Australian active volcano, so a drive-by was irresistible. However, it is in the deep Southern Ocean, the gales never let up, and as the island morphed into a dark evil shape in the spray-driven fog, I considered it too dangerous to get any closer and gybed out onto a safe course back to sea and toward the underside of Australia, thankful to be gaining sea-room and safety again

Heard Island - 54 degrees south

Sailing in the Southern Ocean consists of riding the depressions as they march east, while trying to avoid the worst sectors of the accompanying fronts, if possible Gybing on the wind shift as the fronts charge through is nerve-wracking and tiring, as long periods can be spent watching and waiting for the change, which is sometimes a slow switch over hours or a sudden and violent change taking seconds

I was now ultra-cautious and awake so as to control the gybe and reduce shock on the rig as the mast appeared to be moving a lot in its lower sections I could see the tension in the starboard aft lower I had repaired was alternating a lot, coinciding with a lot of noise as the mast worked in the step On deck, it all looked alright and I could see no reason for the on-off tensions in the lower shrouds, but down below the noise was disconcerting Kiwi Roa’s mast is a very strong aluminium section so I was sure I would have plenty of warning if things got any worse I made sure the mast runners were always deployed and tensioned up, and sailed under triple-reefed main, only resorting to a small headsail if the wind went forward of the beam.

With the safety of the rig now a priority my best and closest option for a landfall was Hobart as the winds should stay aft of the beam Australia still had severe Covid travel restrictions in place and it was impossible while at sea to navigate the layers of State and Federal procedures to apply for exemptions With the help of Australian sailor Mike Sargent and my son Craig, not to mention an eventually sympathetic Tasmanian government, the boat was granted entry under safe harbour provisions.

HOLED UP in Hobart

By Peter Smith

On safe landfall and efficient Australian Border Force personnel granting clearance, the stress slipped away, and I could reflect once more on a successful voyage I found Prince of Wales Bay Marina, north of Hobart central, the ideal marina to rest and repair This marina is close to Hobart’s industrial area, and most things are available or can be ordered in from the mainland

A rig inspection found the starboard lower and forward baby stay shrouds were broken. The lower had actually broken in the same way as the port shroud repaired in Kerguelan, and the baby stay had eight broken wires in the 12 mm 1x19 matrix. I suspect this damage was due to the boom slamming into the shrouds in the uncontrolled gybes when running out of Kerguelen

Since my arrival the Australian Covid rules for foreign entrants were finally relaxed, and while I’m here a circumnavigation of Australia is looking enticing.

PeterSmithisaNewZealandboatbuilder,long-distance cruiserandoffshoresailor,anddesigneroftheRocnaanchor range.

Helivesandsailsonhiscustom-designedself-builtyacht,Kiwi Roa TheresultofPeter’slifelongexperiencebothracingand long-distancecruising,she’sa155m(52′)sloopbuiltfrom aluminiumplate,displaces27tonnes,builttogoanywhereand handletheworstconditions

Peter’srecentvoyagingincludesyearsexploringPatagonia andTierradelFuego,Antarctica,SouthGeorgia,andthe northernArticfringesofSvalbard,Iceland,andGreenland, culminatingintheNorthwestPassageeastwardfromAlaska. HefindshimselfnowinHobartbyaccident

ProfessionallyPeterwasaboatbuilder,co-foundinganddevelopingCavalierYachts,oneofNew Zealand’smostprestigiousyachtbuildingcompaniesandthelargestinthesouthernhemisphereat thetime.

Inthe2000’sPeterresortedtodevelopinghisownanchordesign,unhappywitheveryoption available,whichwassubsequentlyproducedastheRocnaAnchorsrange,availableworldwide.

MoreaboutPeteristobefoundathiswebsite:www.petersmith.net.nz

DaveandHelenbroughtAustralianBoatingSupplies(ABS)about15yearsago whenitwaslocated atthefrontofGoldCoastCityMarina,partofthe GoldCoastMarinePrecinct.Sincethentheyexpandedto shedF31,andagainintoshedC17whichisrightnexttotheboomgatesandhassubstantiallyincreasedthe rangeofboatingandmarineproducts.

HavingraisedtheirfamilyinCanberra,theymovedtoQueensland,purchasedthechandleryandTropical SunsetaSeawind1160andboatingbecamealargepartofthefamily'slives.

FormanyyearsDave,Helen,Danielle,MichaelandEmmaholidayedandsailedbetweentheGoldCoastand farnorthQueenslandonTropicalSunset.Duringthistimetheytriedandtestedmanyoftheproducts currentlystockedintheshopandcanprovideadviceandknowledgebasedontheirownexperience.

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

to Friday 8 AM – 4:30 PM

8:30 AM -12:00 PM, OR by phone or online when it suits you

AND THE WINNER IS ....

A big THANK YOU to all everyone who entered the AHOY Sailing / Bato Flags Code Flag Competition and correctly deciphered the code flag's spelling AUSTRALIAN BOATING SUPPLIES

THE WINNER OF THE AHOY SAILING / BATO FLAGS CODE FLAG COMPETITION IS...

FRANK B (s.v Time Out)

Congratulations Frank. Bato Flags will be in touch with information about how to redeem the prize of a String Of Code Flags that spell your vessels name

Thanks again to you who entered & remember Bato Flags manufacture Long Lasting QUALITY flags. Please visit www batoflags com and check out our range of burgees, bunting, courtesy & nation flags & ensigns. Bato Flags provide discounts for Down Under Rally Members.

First held in Nelson Bay in 2016, the annual Women Who Sail Australia (WWSA) Gathering on the Bay is a conference and get-together for women interested in boats.

The Gathering On The Bay (GOT) provides the opportunity for women from around the country (and even NZ and the US) to catch up with cruising buddies and make new friends while learning skills and sharing knowledge in a supportive women-only forum.

The Gathering on the Bay comprises three days of presentations and social events, bookended by additional 'on the water' events for those who arrive early and/or stay on an extra day.

The pandemic saw a hiatus after the 2019 event; however, the Gathering is back for 2023.

KEY SPEAKERS FOR THIS YEAR’S EVENT INCLUDE...

Record-breaking solo sailor Lisa Blair who has circumnavigated Antarctica (twice!) and Australia non-stop and unassisted

The first all-women crew in the two-handed division of the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, ‘2Birds2Hobart’ Kathy Veel and Bridget Canham

LISA BLAIR

KATHY VEEL

BRIDGET CANHAM

RYA instructor and experienced skipper Annette Hesselmans, who skippered her yacht Fika in the 2022 Melbourne to Hobart ‘Westcoaster’ race and completed the Melbourne to Osaka two-handed race .

Annette will also kick off the 2023 GOT with a day of sail training aboard SV Fika on Thursday, March 30th which will be followed by our ‘pre-event’ dinner at the Nelson Bay Bowling Club bistro – a casual meal and drinks (men invited too!).

TheGatheringofficiallybeginsonFridaywithMelYeomans discussingropesanddeckfittings(andtheirmaintenance)

AnnetteHesselmanswillreflectonherexperiences,anecdotes, andobservationsasafemalesailor,exploringtheopportunitiesto empowerwomentosetsailconfidently.

ANNETTE HESSELMANS

Master V skipper and MED2 mechanic Lily Barlow will present an introduction to marine diesel mechanics. While this 2-hour session is theory only, a lot of ground is covered, and you can expect to know how to identify parts of your engine, and attendees will be well on the way to the practical side of doing their next service themselves.

Along-timesupporterofWWSA’sGatherings,thisyear LisaBlairwill presenttwosessionsovertheweekend.OnSaturday,shewilldiscuss movingonfromher2017dismastingand2022Antarctic circumnavigation,whichwasnotjustaboutbreakingrecords.

Withastrongenvironmentalethic,Lisautilisedthisopportunityto completecitizensciencewhilesailingbetweenthelatitudesof45 southand60south(theofficial‘race’track).Giventheremotenessand lackofshippingintheSouthernOcean,thereisverylittlescientific dataonoceanhealthfromthisfarsouth.Vesselstransitingthese watersarerare,sopartneringwiththe CleanOceanFoundation and scientificagenciesandorganisations,Lisaundertookscientific researchwhilecircumnavigatingAntarctica.Lisawillexplainhowshe collectedoceanreadings(suchassalinity,dissolvedcarbondioxide, chlorophyllandbio-optics),microplasticsamplesandmeteorological data(barometricdata,temperature,wind/direction,airpressure, humidity)toassistwithglobalweathermodelling.

Lisa’ssecondpresentation(onSunday)willdiscussstorm management,howandwhentodeployadrogue,heaving-to,and more.Thiswillbeavaluablesessionfromasailorwhohasfacedmore thanherfairshareofstormsintheSouthernOcean!

Otherpresentationsinclude aninteractivesessionfrom experiencedskipperandboatbroker SoniaRobinson,whowill provideadvice(andtalkthroughsomescenarios)on howtosetyour boatuptosuityoursailingneeds,tomakeiteasierforshort-handed sailing,andequipyouwiththeconfidencetostepoutofyour comfortzone.

AnnetteHesselmans willbeback& discussingsailtrimforthe cruisingsailor andwilluncoverthemysteriesoftrimmingboththe headsailandmainsail.

Fabien Vignes, Rocna Anchors Australia will share Fabien Vignes, Rocna Anchors Australia will share anchoring tips and discuss new-generation anchoring tips and discuss new-generation anchors anchors

Wendy from Marine Medical Solutions will discuss Wendy from Marine Medical Solutions will discuss marine first aid kits and medical issues aboard marine first aid kits and medical issues aboard.

Laura Corà Macolino will tell us about

Laura Corà Macolino will tell us about The Sassy Sailing Sisters Program The Sassy Sailing Sisters Program

Julie Porter will chat about Julie Porter will chat about SV Rhona, Hobart’s smallest tall ship SV Rhona, Hobart’s smallest tall ship

Debi Thornton will discuss

Debi Thornton will discuss Cruising and the environment Cruising and the environment

THEWEEKENDWILLALSOFEATUREAPANELOFEXPERTSWHOWILLDISCUSS

HearpersonalstoriesfromWWSAskippersandapanelofexpertswhowilldiscusshowto preparefortheunexpected,including:

Riggingandsystemfailureetc.,thatendsinacalltoMarineRescue/VMRforassistance. Thisforumwillconsiderwhatpreptodoaheadincasethishappens.

How/whentocallforhelp.

Knowwhereyouwanttobetowedandensureyou'reinthatstate'swaters.

Howtoprepyourvesselfortowingandhowtoremuneratethosethatassistyou.

'RESCUEATSEA-WHATTOEXPECTWHENTHEWORSTHAPPENS'.

Sonia Robinson

SV RHONA

Each morning begins with Yoga4Yachties with Leanne Hembrow from Namaste Ocean Yoga.

There will be displays of nautical clothing and books and a book signing with well-known Cruising Cartoonist Sarah Steenland and author of Luff Out Loud.

On Saturday evening, the menfolk are invited to join us for our Gathering dinner, described by one male partner at a previous event as being like sundowners but with shoes on!

Attendees staying on after the close of the Gathering on Sunday will meet for breakfast on Monday morning, with some then heading to Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club for a few hours on the water sailing the club’s Force 24 keelboats.

Women Who Sail Australia is a network of more than 5700 women involved with boating (or wish to be). You don’t need to be a member of Women Who Sail Australia to attend, all women who are interested in boats are welcome.

The 2023 Gathering on the Bay is sponsored by AHOY Sailing and the Down Under Rally.

Additional supporters include Soldiers Point Marina, Rocna Anchors Australia, Marine Medical Solutions, DeckHardware, Paper Sailors Rock, Thwaites Marine, and Hawaiian Heart Massage Therapy.

For more information about the Gathering on the Bay (including ticketing details), go to the Women Who Sail Facebook page, www.womenwhosailaustralia.com, email admin@womenwhosailaustralia.com, or click the register now button below.

This event is for all women who love boats - you don't have to be a WWSA member to attend Speakers will be announced soon, and information will be available on our website.

THE RUTLAND 1200

Available in 12V & 24V

Assurance of power for essentials such as navigation, refrigeration etc.… and so you can enjoy electrical comforts on-board with confidence.

Quiet operation lets you sleep!

483 watts max

Direct savings on fuel

Reduced engine running time and maintenance

New Hope for NIUE YC

InDecember2022,The DownUnderRally learnedthatthefutureoftheiconic NIUEYachtClub waslookingratherbleak.AswehadvisitedNYCbackin2012whenwecrossedthepacificand havefondmemoriesofourvisit(seetheextractfromourblogonthefollowingpage),thiswas indeedsadnewsforusthehear.

Itwas Noonsite who,onbehalfoftheclub'sactingcommodoreKeithVialsentanSOStothe cruisingcommunityalertingthemoftheissuesandaskingforassistance.Belowisascreenshotof apostwesharedonourFacebookPagetohelpraiseawarenessoftheplightoftheclub. YoucanreadthefullNoonsitearticleHERE

We followed up with Noonsite & Keith earlier this month, who advised "the response from the cruising community has been overwhelming" and informed us that the local tourism body has taken notice and now realise what an important contribution visiting yachts made to the economy of this tiny country with the big heart.

Down Under Rally organiser John Hembrow at NIUE 2012

"

New Hope for NIUE YC

Acting NYC Commodore Keith Vial provided Noonsite with this update late in February 2023:

For a month or two earlier in the year, it looked as though the NYC might founder as we are down to only two of us left. Despite the statistics for the last 14 years that showed 6600 crew had visited Niue, it seemed the government was oblivious to the economic impact cruisers had here. Initially, even the Tourism office was slow to respond.

However, since "Noonsite" published this article, we have been overwhelmed by messages from cruisers. Many of the emails have been from crews who have visited here, appreciated the hospitality of the NYC, and all offered assistance in some form.

The good news is that help has come over the horizon in the form of NZ Aid to Tourism, with some good ideas and the use of technology to expedite the whole arrival process. NYC's website is also going to be incorporated into aspects of Niue's tourism website to make use of social media to ensure an up-to-date flow of information.

So from our darkest hour, a revamped and streamlined NYC should be ready with 20 safe moorings for the start of the 2023 cruising season"

Discounts for Down Under Rally Members

Shore Based Courses

Hands On Sail Training

Your Boat Or Ours

RYA & YACHTING AUSTRALIA ACCREDITED

ABOUT SUNSHINE SAILING AUSTRALIA

Sunshine Sailing Australia's sailing school is recognised as one of Australia’s leading sail training and experience providers. With sailing lessons taught in the class room and on the waters around Mooloolaba, Gold Coast, Whitsundays Islands, Lord Howe Island and Brisbane.

learn2sail.com.au

The Go East Rally is a 'destination rally' meaning that once participants arrive in New Caledonia, it is up to them to decide how long they stay, whether they would like to sail onwards to Vanuatu and when and from where they depart for the return voyage to Australia

For those who are keen to continue the adventure in company, there is the option of joining our NC2V Rally from New Caledonia to Vanuatu and our V2A Rally for the return voyage back to Australia from Vanuatu

Some participants have previously chosen to sail south to New Zealand with the Go South Rally and then cruise Tonga & Fiji with our mates from Island Cruising NZ the following year.

Or maybe you would like to spend cyclone season in the Solomon Islands like some of our other past participants?

The choice is yours, and the Down Under Rally can assist with information to help you make an informed decision!

Bijoux - Fountain Pajot Salina - Western Australia

Bliss - Balance 526 - Kong Kong

Bombora - Waller 1200 - Queensland

Breeze II -Moody 64 - Hobart

Cavallino - Hampton 680 - Queensland

Desire - Adams 40 - Queensland

Double Play - Leopard 46 - Queensland

Hideway - Leopard 44 - Queensland

Iria - Condor Trimaran 12 5 Queensland

LaiLai Lady - Beneteau Oceanis 45 - Queensland

Levitha - Fountain Pajot Lavezzi - Queensland

Mahalo V - Seawind 1200 - Queensland

Me & Mrs Jones - Beneteau Oceanis 48 - Victoria

The Go East Rally will depart the Gold Coast in May for New Caledonia. Pictured from left to right and top to bottom on the next page are the 18 vessels that have fully registered. Another 4 vessels are also in the process of completing the registration process.

Tender Tender Moments Moments

Ourtenderwasalittleunderpoweredandno goodforclimbinginandoutofthewater,sowe startedlookingaroundforlightweightendersfor our36ftcatamaranRemarkable.

Icalledseveralcompaniesandemailedwith littlehelp,unfortunately,thenIrememberedthat RIBFORCEInflatableswereaDownUnderRally partnerbusiness,soIcontactedthem.

GoingbackandforthwithMikeduringthe decision-makingprocesswasjustgreat.Heasked alltherightquestionsinregardstowhatwe wanteditforandwhatactivitieswewouldbe lookingtodowiththetenderandwassohelpful, socheers,Mike.

WewentwiththeAuroraReefRiderandthe Mercury15hpafterchattingwithMikefromRib ForceInflatables.

Thecustomerservicehasbeenreallygood especiallyconsideringthecompetitorswho wouldnotreturnemailsorenquiries.

Theendresultisfantastic!Weloveournew tender

ThisTendermomentwasbroughttoyouby DownUnderRallyMemberNathanDay

TheDownUnderRallyhasalong-standing relationshipwithDAZMAC,whoarecustoms brokers TheDownUnderRallyrecommends contactingDAZMACtogetaquotefromthemto actasyouragentshouldyouberequiredto importorre-importavessel

Youcanmakeanobligation-freeenquirywith DazmacviathefollowingpageoftheDown UnderRallywebsite: wwwdownunderrallycom/agents DiscountsforDownUnderRallyMembers.

AUSTRALIAN VESSELS RETURNING TO AUSTRALIA.

CRUISE IN COMPANY 2023 CRUISE IN COMPANY 2023

LEARN MORE LEARN MORE

Departs Australia in May

Departs Australia in May

LEARN MORE LEARN MORE

Departs New Caledonia in August Departs New Caledonia in August

LEARN MORE LEARN MORE

Departs Fiji in August

Departs Fiji in August

CRUISE IN COMPANY 2023 CRUISE IN COMPANY 2023

LEARN MORE LEARN MORE

Departs Fiji in August Departs Fiji in August

LEARN MORE LEARN MORE

September - November September - November

SailingwithTheDownUnderRallyprovidesourrallyparticpantswith SailingwithTheDownUnderRallyprovidesourrallyparticpantswith accesstotheknowledgeandtherelationshipswehavegainedover accesstotheknowledgeandtherelationshipswehavegainedover manyyearsofcrusingintheSWPacific&Australia. manyyearsofcrusingintheSWPacific&Australia.

IInadditionourrallyparticipantshavetheopportunitytovisit nadditionourrallyparticipantshavetheopportunitytovisit destinationsthatmayotherwisenotbeanoption. destinationsthatmayotherwisenotbeanoption.

Andwehaveplentyoffunintheprocess! Andwehaveplentyoffunintheprocess!

THE DOWN UNDER RALLY IS PROUD TO SPONSOR PASSAGE GUARDIAN.

By sponsoring Passage Guardian the Down Under Rally helps make it possible for the Passage Guardian service to remain available & FREE to ALL cruising yachts when making ocean passages.

By Chris Rose

During 2022wesharedaseriesofarticlesinAHOYwrittenbyChrisRoseaboutsailingfrom BrisbanetoTheKimberleyCoastaspartofacircumnavigationofAustralia.

Chris & Jo departed Brisbane in 2021 and at the time of writing this article they are aboard No Regrets in Tasmania with plans to complete their circumnavigation later this year.

In2023wewillcontinuetosharetheiradventuresfrom2022,pickingupfromwhereweleftofin theKimberleyRegionofWesternAustralia.

If you missed the previous articles we published, you can always catch up on past or missed issues of AHOY Sailing at www.downunderrally.com/ahoy.

By Chris Rose

By Chris Rose

CRUISING THE KIMBERLEY

An AHOY Sailing Series

The Mitchell River is renowned for one of the most spectacular four-tiered waterfalls in Australia and is an iconic Kimberley attraction, but it is over 20 nautical miles inland and only accessible by four-wheel drive or helicopter. We had considered hiring a seaplane or helicopter to view these falls, but it was a little difficult to organise, especially securing a trip months in advance, making any cruising plan difficult and restrictive. There are still very spectacular waterfalls in the lower parts of the Mitchell River to see, and I personally found this lower region to be my favourite location in the Kimberley.

By Chris Rose

Weaving our way through the large pearling operations in the Osborne Islands with garfish skipping along the surface in an attempt to evade us, we motored the 35 nautical miles to the Mitchell River due to a complete lack of wind. It was so calm that we could look behind No Regrets and see the two tracks left from our catamaran to the horizon like it was a railway track.

"It was so calm that we could look behind No Regrets and see the two tracks left from our catamaran to the horizon like it was a railway track."

EnteringWalmeslyBayandintotherivermouth,wemadeourwaypastMiddleRock,wherethelarger charterboatspredominantlystop. Venturingfurtherupstreamisalittlemorechallenging,withthe next3milesscatteredwithmanydryingrocksandnumeroussandbars. Itisrecommendedthat youshouldsurveytheriveratlowwatertodetermineyourbestpath,butaswehadjustarrivedalmostat thetopofthetide,weusedoursatelliteimagerytomakeourwayupstream.

Withthetidenotfarawayfrompeakingandthenreceding,wecertainlydidnotwanttotaketoolongto determineourpathnorventuretooshallow,asgettingstuckwouldmeansittingveryhighanddry, hopefullyonthesandandnotrocks,inariverinfestedwithlargesaltwatercrocodiles.

Withseveralshallowareasencounteredandunsureofthebestpathforward,westopped quicklyandlaunchedourtender. Christhensurveyedtheareaofuncertaintyinthetenderwhile creatingasonarchartusingourportableechosounder.

Chris relayed the path from the tender to follow using our handheld VHF, pointing out the deepest path with Joanne carefully manoeuvring our catamaran through the shallows

After confirming the deepest sections of water, Chris relayed the path from the tender to follow using our handheld VHF, pointing out the deepest path with Joanne carefully manoeuvring our catamaran through the shallows. With just over a meter of water under our keels, we crossed the first of the shallow sand bars, safely making our way to the deeper water anchorage in front of Surveyors Creek for the night.

"Chris created a sonar chart in the tender using our portable echo sounder "

By Chris Rose

Wewokethefollowingmorningwithitnowbeingnearertolowtideandcouldthenfully appreciatetheincredibleanchorageinwhichwehadstopped.

Large,exposedsandbarsextendedfromjustbehindoursternacrossfourhundredmeterstoaverygreen andheavilywoodedmangroveisland.Largerrockscouldnowbeseen,whichcreatedfurthersanddeposits fromtheirposition,steeringthewaterintooneofthechannelsthatwehadfollowed.

Muchoftheroutewehadtakenwasnowabovewater,andwhatwasstillunderwaterwas extremelyshallow.

Launchingthedronerevealedsomespectacularsceneryinthisincrediblelocation,butitstillcouldonlygive atinyperspectiveofjustwherewewereandwhatwecouldseearoundus.Wewereanchoredinadeeper holejustontheedgeofSurveyorsCreekthatwasitselfpredominantlydrywithsoftmudflats,linedoneach sidewithathickgrowthofmangrovetrees.

Fromthisbird’seyeview,themanysandbarsthatlayalongtherivercouldbeseen,somethatwehad alreadycrossedandthosecreatinganobstacletotravelfurtherupstream.

Afterwaitingforthetidetocome inapproximatelyhalfway,itwas timetodropthetenderand headuptoexploreSurveyors Creek.

Themouthofthecreekhas someverylargerocksonthe southernside,soyouneedto ensureyoukeeptothenorthern sideofthecentrewhenentering.

It is nearly a two-nautical mile trip upstream that immediately turns left once you enter Surveyors Creek and then, after a short distance, turns sharply right before it then maintains a nearly straight course to the rock bar. Motoring up the creek, we observed several crocodiles, so there were undoubtedly many others lurking in the muddy water out of sight.

"We woke the following morning with it now being nearer to low tide and could then fully appreciate the incredible anchorage in which we had stopped."

By Chris Rose

Having secured our tenders near some large rocks to allow for the incoming tide and hoping this would also make getting back in simple and safe, we started our hike upriver, climbing and hopping over the rocks and boulders.

Notveryfarupriver,wecameacrossthefirstlargecanyon-linedlagoon,completewithawaterfallspilling intothedeeperwateratthetop.Unfortunately,thislagoonwasquitedeepandeasilywithinaccessofa saltwatercrocodile.Itwasimpossibletoseethebottom,anddespitetherelentlessheatandour overwhelmingdesiretogetinandcooloff,itwastoodangeroustogetin.

Returningtothestartofthelagoon,wefoundanareawherewecouldclimbupthecanyonwallstothe top. Atthesummit,wefoundafantasticrockformationthatappearedasthoughtheenormous flatboulderhadbeenplacedonpillarselevatingitandcreatinganexcellent,shadedspotto restandtakeinthespectacularviewsbackdownSurveyorsCreek.

"After waiting for the tide to come in approximately halfway, it was time to drop the tender and head up to explore Surveyors Creek."

By Chris Rose

Following the edge of the canyon ridge, we made our way to the first waterfall supplying the deep lagoon. A shallower section can be found with another beautiful waterfall, complete with a perfectly formed bench seat where we sat under the falls, enjoying the water flowing over us.

Aftercoolingoff,weventuredfurtherupstreamandfoundanotherlagoonandfalls,thisfall workingitswaythroughacrevasseintherockandpassingunderlikeabridge.Afterclimbingtothetopof thisthirdwaterfall,wenotedthatthewaterwasmuchshallowerandsafetoswim.

Althoughsafefromcrocodiles,therocksurfacesinthewaterwereextremelyslippery,andcaution fromanastyfallwasneeded.Afallresultinginabrokenlimbwouldnoteasilybemanagedinsucharemote location.

By Chris Rose

A look further upstream revealed more lagoons and waterfalls, tempting us to continue our adventures the following day and, hopefully, enjoy a swim or two. Having carried the drone in its waterproof bag whilst splashing across rivers with slippery crossings, it was time to launch it and capture some video of this incredibly picturesque location. The numerous lagoons stretching along the river, waterfalls connecting each creek segment, and surrounded by the iconic Kimberly create a truly stunning landscape.

Having carried the drone in its waterproof bag whilst splashing across rivers with slippery crossings, it was time to launch it and capture some footage of this incredibly picturesque location.

By Chris Rose

Risingjustbeforedawnto movefurtheruprivertothe rockbarwiththeincoming tide,Inoticedslightmovement notfarfromourrearplatform stepintheveryfaintlightof dawn.

Steppingupalittlehigher,we couldmakeoutasneaky crocodilekeepingaveryclose eyeonusaswepreparedto liftanchor.

Usingoursatelliteimageryin SASPlanet,wehadahigh-resolutionrivermapthathadluckily beentakenatlowtideandconvenientlyshowedthelargerrockpositionsalongwiththe channelweneededtofollow.

Aftermarkingthesedangersaswaypointsinourchartplotter,weslowlyworkedourwayoverthe remainingsandbarspassingsomeshallowerregionsofonly2.4mtotaldepth.Theriverfinallynarrowed andbecamedeeper,allowingustorelaxandenjoythescenictripupriver.

Nearingthetopofthenavigablestretchofrivertotherockbar,weencounteredanothershallowstretch, whichourplotterconfirmedwouldbeexposedatlowwater.Theurgencytofinddeeperwaterbeforethe tidestartedtogooutincreased,andluckilyjustbeforetherockbar,theriverdeepened,andasuitable anchoragewasfound.

"Stepping up a little higher, we could make out a sneaky crocodile keeping a very close eye on us as we prepared to lift anchor."

The urgency to find deeper water before the tide started to go out increased, and luckily just before the rock bar, the river deepened, and a suitable anchorage was found.

By Chris Rose

After setting the anchor, I just had to get a drone shot of our anchorage in this incredibly remote location. After videoing some more of the spectacular scenery along the river, it was time to take a few panning shots of the boats with the limited battery life remaining... that's when disaster struck.

Whilstflyingthe(veryexpensive)drone sidewaysandpanningaroundtheboats,I failedtonotice,andthedronealsofailed todetectwithitssensorsatreeinitsflight path,andacollisionoccurred.

Thedroneimmediatelyhaltedits flightandcrashedintothetree'stop branches,finishinginthetree hangingwiththecameralooking skywardsupthroughafewleaves. Withaverylowbatterywarningbeeping atme,afranticsearchandrescuebegan.

Ourmatesfromtheboatswewere travellingwithjumpedintheir tenders,andwebeganscouringthe canyonclifffaces.

Itshouldbementionedthatitwasvery hot,intheupper30s,andverydry makingrunningandclimbingfrantically alongthecanyonledgesverydraining. Itriedtousetheflightmapfeaturesbut justcouldnotlocatethedrones position.

Notlongintothesearchandrescue,thecontrolleranddronebatterieswereflat.YouusuallycouldGoogle howtorecoveryourlatestflightpath,buttherewasnomobilesignaloranycommunicationpossible. (Starlinkisnowavailable,andforthefirst-timehigh,speed,lowlatencyinternetispossible;(howthings havechangedinjustover18months).

Withthefearoflosingthisexpensivetoygrowinganddepressionbeginningtosetin,we continuedsearchingforseveralhours. Usingthelastphototakenasareferencetodeterminethe heightandlocationagainsttheyacht'smast,wescouredaspecificsectionofthecliff.

Withdrinksbroughtovertoustohelpcombatthefatigueanddehydration,wesathalfwayupthecliffs, andIbegantoaccepttheinevitable...

By Chris Rose

Sitting there with my drink and commiserating about the loss of the drone, I looked up into a branch above my head, where I miraculously spotted one very camouflaged drone! With the boat hook and a little climbing, a very fortunate recovery was made, and a very happy reunion was had. ��

Feeling fortunate to have recovered the drone and it still being operational, we took advantage of the incoming tide and set off in the tenders upriver, past the rock bar. With sufficient depth, thanks to the rising tide, we could cross the “rapids” section and into the top area of the rocky gorge with some larger pools. The final section is littered with massive boulders and pools where you negotiate your way around in the riverbed, slowly making your way to the very top of the gorge. After selecting a secure area and setting a long anchor rode to allow for the large tide to come in and recede (Port Warrander has a tidal range of around 7m, the river varies between 60-80% of that range), we began our hike up the gorge.

With sufficient depth, thanks to the rising tide, we could cross the “rapids” section and into the top area of the rocky gorge with some larger pools.

By Chris Rose

The rocks are pretty large, and after an hour or so, we made our way up through some unique rock formations to reach our first waterfall. After deciding the pool was shallow and safe from crocs, we climbed under the first of the falls.

As we approached the waterfall, there was a massive boulder with a huge round hole through it, with a single round rock inside it that must roll around when the wet season water flows down the river and up ahead a 2-tier waterfall where you could swim and slip behind the cascading falls sitting comfortably with the water cascading over in front of you making for an incredibly memorable experience.

"a 2-tier waterfall where you could swim and slip behind the cascading falls sitting comfortably with the water cascading over in front of you"

By Chris Rose

Just a little to the side was a huge hole going straight down where a large amount of water was rushing, something similar in design to a vortex water park ride. The noise of the rushing water was incredible, and we kept to the side of this flow as it was pretty daunting watching the force of the water disappearing, with no knowing where it was going below.

"a huge hole going straight down where a large amount of water was rushing, something similar in design to a vortex water park ride."

Pushing your way through the waterfall, there was a dimly lit cavern with branches heading back to the left that revealed the base of the scary vortex we had seen above, with water rushing in and spinning around.

A drone flight showed more spectacular waterholes and waterfalls further upriver, but we had to return to our tender before the tide was too low. We had indeed found the most amazing natural waterpark, so we decided to return the following day and make the most of it.

By Chris Rose

Thefollowingmorning,weheadedbackuptheriver on thelateincomingtideandleftourtenderatourprevious anchorspot,againwithaverylonganchorrodetoallowfor thesignificanttidalmovement.

Wehikeduppastourpreviouswaterparkandoverthe mostincrediblerockyriverbeds,withhugeround potholesinthemliketheyhadbeencutbyacookie cutter. Thesepotholesareformedbywaterpassingovera rocksurfaceandsmallerrocksspinningintheseholeslikea cementmixergrindingawayfurther.

Therockyriversurfacewasanincrediblegoldencolour,and itfeltlikewecouldhavebeenwalkingonthemoonwiththe unusualrockformationsanderosions.

Ournextwaterfallhadadropof3-4metersandahuge overhang,sowecouldagainsitbehindthefallsand swimthroughthemintheshallowpoolatthebottom.

Togettothetopofthesefalls,wehadtocrosstotheleft sideoftheriverand gettingacrosswasmade challengingasthesurfacewasextremelyslippery,with waterrushingpastthesmallerwaterfallfeedingalargedeep lagoonthatwefeltwasunsafetoswim.Althoughthislagoon wasbeautifullydeep,withelevatedledgesjustbeckoningme tojumpfrom,wecouldn’tbesureofitssafety.

Atthetopofthesecondfalls,wefounddeepholeswe couldsitandswimin,withthewaterfallsprovidinga wonderfulinfinitypoolbeforethewaterplungedto thedeeperlagoonbelow.

Workingourwayalittlefurtheruptheriver,wecametoour nextsetofcascadingwaterfallsthatfedintoyetanother largelagoon.Notkeentoswiminthelargelagoon,we climbeduppastverydeeprockpotholesinthesmooth polishedrockybed,some5-6metersdeep.

Wewereweavingourwayaroundtheedgesofthese numerousholes,beingverycarefulnottoslipintooneand injureourselves.

Thisnextsetoffallsprovidedmanydeepsafe swimmingopportunitiesandevenaslipperydipinto onefallthatcarriedyoubacktolowersections.

Most of these potholes had spherical rocks inside them, occasionally almost perfectly round, resembling a golf ball or a softball.

By Chris Rose

After a day of incredible adventure, waterfalls, and numerous swimming pools, it was time to return to our tenders and return to our yachts. After one last play in our waterfall cave system, we returned to where our tenders were left and found our tender had decided to misbehave. It had decided to park itself on a lovely flat rocky ledge, some 3-4 meters above the now receded water level.

Ofcourse,ascruiserstravellingagreatmanyplaces,wemusthaveanoutboardsecuritylockinstalledfor insurance,andnothavingthekeywithuspreventedusfromremovingthemotorinanyattempttodrag thetenderandtrytoconsiderhowwecouldloweritdowntothewaterbelow. Ourtenderisquite large,makingitquiteheavy anddifficulttomove. Whenit’sfloatingandfullofdivegear,itis fantastic,butdraggingitupabeachthatgoesoutakilometre,orchallengessuchasourcurrentsituation, bigger,isnotalwaysbestintheKimberley.Untilweseeacrocodilenearus,thenbiggerisALWAYSbetter. Withnootheroption,wehadtotakethesecondsmallertenderbacktotherockbar,withmostofour grouphikingaroundtherocksandthenmakingseveraltripstogeteveryonebackontheirboats.

"Bigger, is not always best in the Kimberley. That is until we see a crocodile near us, then bigger is ALWAYS better."

By Chris Rose

Safely back on No Regrets, we had to plan our rescue mission to get our tender back. Unfortunately, we had to wait until later that night, and in complete darkness with no moon in a crocodileinfested river, we headed off to collect her.

Taking every fully charged torch we had, we were picked up in the second tender and made our way back upriver to recover our tender. Spotlighting numerous sets of red eyes even before getting

"Taking every fully charged torch we had, we made our way back upriver to recover our tender."

We were very thankful to be safely back onboard, reunited with our tender, still in possession of our drone and our limbs and were now ready to head back down the river and on to our next destination and more adventures... Cruising The Kimberley.

SAILING NO REGRETS YOUTUBE CHANNEL...

A VERY USEFUL FREE RESOURCE TO HELP RESEARCH & PLAN YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE

PredictWind, the world's leading provider of weather and routing services for the marine industry, is proud to announce the availability of the Iridium GO! exec. This device is set to revolutionize the satellite phone market with its increased data speeds, improved functionality, and competitive pricing.

"The Iridium GO! was a game-changer for the satellite phone market," says Jon Bilger, CEO of PredictWind. "For the first time, people could connect their own device to the web while offshore. Although the unlimited plan was cost-effective, the data speeds really limited its use to just satellite phone calls, sms, email and weather. This is why we are so excited about the Iridium GO! exec. With 40 times faster download speeds, there are now so many exciting possibilities for customers, anywhere on the ocean."

Keryn McMaster, Support Team Manager at PredictWind, says, "Customers can now download larger forecast maps and more weather layers with minimal download time.

They can also view national met office weather warnings overlaid on any of our weather maps, real-time observations from land stations and yachts, ocean and tidal currents, satellite imagery and real-time boat positions via the AIS Network.

All this data means our users can make better decisions to keep their crew and vessel safe offshore."

The PredictWind DataHub seamlessly integrates with the Iridium GO! exec to enable GPS tracking, allowing friends and family to see the boat's position on a map and check its progress, and view blog posts and photos in real-time. The DataHub also shares wind speed and direction, directly from the boat's instrumentation to the GPS tracking webpage.

PredictWind Weather Routing has transformed the way cruisers get weather offshore. With the Iridium GO! exec, weather routing calculations are even faster and more accurate. "Gigabytes of data are used in the PredictWind cloud to calculate the route in a compact file that is less than 1% of the equivalent GRIB data," says Jon. "This data saving is a gamechanger for low-speed satellite connections and is now even faster to acquire with the Iridium GO! exec."

TheIridiumGO!execalsoallowsreal-timeupdatingoftheboat'spolars,usingmachinelearning techniquestoproduceanextremelyaccuratepolarfortheboatinallconditions.

This,combinedwithreal-timewaverouting,givestheuserthebestpossibledatatoinformtheir decision-makingwhileoffshore.

With its permanent internet connection, the Iridium GO! exec has also enabled PredictWind to develop its new Anchor Alert App. This app monitors the movement of the boat's GPS location, wind speed, direction, depth, and other NMEA 2000 data, alerting the user if conditions change or become unsafe.

"We're excited that the Iridium GO! exec offers increased data speeds for our customers at a really competitive price point," says Keryn. "The flexibility of the yearly plans is perfect for our core customer base who cruise for 3-6 months and only require the Iridium GO! exec during their offshore passages. The data allowance doesn't expire monthly, so it's always ready to go when they start their next passage."

"We truly believe the Iridium GO! exec is a quantum leap forward in terms of functionality and safety and an essential device for any boat venturing offshore," says Jon. With its increased data speeds and global coverage, the Iridium GO! exec is the perfect go-anywhere device for customers who need to stay connected while on the water.

Anchoring

Each year sail-boats get into trouble at anchor in atolls: they get trapped on lee shores after a shift in the wind direction, foul their anchor and/or chain in coral, and the results are stressful manoeuvres to get the anchor back up, bent bow rollers and ruined or even ripped out windlasses.

Of course, the fragile coral structures get badly damaged with each of these messed-up manoeuvres. Isn't an anchorage with colourful coral and fishies much nicer than a dead rubble field?

It is easy to avoid damage to the coral and your boat if you

Around Coral

anchor in conditions with good visibility (don't drop your anchor blindly), anchor in shallow water, where...you can clearly see the bottom, ...usually fewer coral heads grow on the sandy shelves, and...you only need a short chain, try to find a big, sandy area to drop your hook, keep an eye on the weather forecast and move to a safe anchorage before the wind shifts, float the chain so the boat can swing around in shifting winds without getting the chain caught in coral heads.

2medium-sizedfendersorbuoys

2carabinersthatfitintoyourchain

Droptheanchorinthemiddleofthebiggestsandyspotyoucanfind

Payoutthechainwhilereversinggently

Lookaroundatthesurroundingcoralheadsandestimateyourswingingradius.Hookinthefirst fenderbeforethechaincouldtouchanyofthem.

Payoutsomemorechainandsettheanchorgentlypullinginreverse. Ifthescopeisstillinsufficient,asecondfloatcanbeadded,followedbymorechain.

Ifyoucannotavoidanchoringblindlyindeepwater,itstillmakessensetofloatthechainto avoidgettingtangledinunseen(andmaybeliving)structures.Useabundleof2floatstocarrythe extraweightofthelongerchain.

ABOUTTHEAUTHORS

Wesetout12yearsagoandhavetravelledviatheMed, AtlanticandCaribbeantothePacificaboardourS&S41SY "Pitufa".OnceinthePacific,wewerecruisinginandaround thefivearchipelagosofFrenchPolynesiafornineyearsand havegatheredlotsofinfoaboutcruisingareaswhichwe shareonourblog.Wecruiseallyearround,tryto experienceregionsinalltheirfacetsandreportonourblog, that'supdatedatleastonceaweekandsharetipsabout anchoringtechniques,wildlifeprotection,etc.Wehave publishedmanyarticlesaboutdestinationsandhelpfulDIY topics(manyareavailableforfreedownloadonourblog).

Wehavealsopublishedabookaboutourtravels: "SailingTowardstheHorizon" isavailableon Amazon.Weareveryinterestedintheweather.Welookatforecastsdailyandsharevaluablesites onourblog.E.g.wehaveasummaryofallweathersourcesweusedinFrenchPolynesiaonour blogwithallsourcesembeddedinjustone-page www.pitufa.at/weather-fp andaglobal interactivewindatlas(basedonsatellitedata)that'sidealforpassageplanning www.pitufa.at/oceanwinds. Justclickthroughthemonthstoseetheprevailingwindspeedand directionfortheregionyou'reinterestedin!

We're"greencruisers"whorelyonlyonalternativeenergysourcesandtrytominimisetheimpact wehaveontheenvironment.Livingclosetonatureandtheelements,wewitnessthechangesand theadverseeffectsofcruisersandlocalpopulationsonfragileecosystems.Wheneverwefeel thatsomething'sgoneawryinaplacethatwevisit,wetrytotakeaction:

Plasticonthebeach?Wetrytoraiseawarenessofpollutionandorganiseaclean-up. Hardlyanyfishonthereef?Wediscusssustainablefishingwiththelocals. www.pitufa.at/2022/10/no-reef-no-fish-no-fish-no-reef

Brokencoralaroundtheanchorage?Weapproachcruisersandtrytoeducatethemabout anchoringtechniquesthatavoiddamage. www.pitufa.at/2017/05/anchoring-around-coral

Ourprojectsincludetwomooringsthatweinstalledtogetherwiththelocalcommunityinthe mainbayofRapaItitoprotectthecoralthereandtosavecruisersfromriskingchainandanchor inthedeepandtrickyanchorage www.pitufa.at/2019/01/a-mooring-for-rapa-iti

Pitufa,BirgitandChristian www.pitufa.at

FLOATINGTHECHAINISASIMPLEPROCEDURE.YOUWILLNEEDTHEFOLLOWING:

2. 3 4. 5. TIP:

Christianfrom SYPitufa hasdesignedanddevelopeda"Pitufino"multiplexerwifi-gatewayboxthat candomuchmorethanthecompetition:

itturnstables/smartphonesintofullyfunctionalnavinstruments, isanautopilotremotecontrol& featuresalarms,alogbook,etc. Itcomesatabetterpricethanthecompetition,andChristianprovidesindividualcustomer support(he'sconstantlyintouchwithpeopleandaddsfeatures).

ThePitufinoshouldbeofparticularinteresttocruiserswhodon'twanttoreplacebroken chartplotters,orsimplydon'twanttorunthebigchartplotterallthetime,thatneedanautopilot remotecontrolorjustenjoylyingonthesofaduringnightwatchwiththesmartphonetocheck course,wind,AISsignalsetc.insteadofsittingoutsideinthecockpit.

Theproblemwiththismagicboxisthatonlyafewpeopleknowaboutit...

What type of sailor are you?

By Rob Latimer

What type of sailor are you?

By Rob Latimer

Some sailors race. Others cruise. While many tinker. But it was Ratty from Wind in the Willows who summed it up best when he exclaimed,

As for me, I’m definitely not a racer, however, who hasn’t gripped the wheel more tightly or paid more attention to the trim of the sails after spying another vessel heading roughly in the same direction.

Likemany,though,IstartedsailingindinghiesonPort PhillipBayasakid. ThisprogressedtoaCompass29my fatherboughtinthe1970swhileIwasinmyteens,opening thedoortomanyadventuresandnarrowescapesaround BassStraitandTasmania.

Then,in2006,afterasuccessionofsharedboat-ownership arrangementsspanningmorethan20years(involvingtwo Nicholson32s),mybrotherandImadeaquantumleapin theformofa55-footsteelcuttercalled Chimere.

At around 30 tons, to us, Chimere – which means “unattainable dream” – was more ship than yacht, allowing us to travel further, safer, in more comfort, and with plenty of room for friends.

An unexpected direction

Aroundthistime,bychance,IreadanarticleintheCruising Helmsmanmagazinetitled“SailingforHumanity”. Itwasanaccountofdoctors,dentistsandoptometrists deliveringscarceandmuch-neededmedicalservices aroundtheislandsofVanuatuaboardayacht.

It seemed like an opportunity to combine a love of sailing with ... “doing some good in the world”. After reading the article, I remember thinking … “I’d love to do that”,… but whilst I had a boat, I knew nothing about Vanuatu, didn’t have a medical background, and I’d never sailed across an ocean before...

there is nothing – absolutely nothing –half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.

"It seemed like an opportunity to combine a love of sailing with ... “doing some good in the world".

SV Chimere, my 55 foot steel cutter, lays at anchor, Waterfall Bay, Vanua Lava, Vanuatu

Ignorance Is Bliss....

It’salongstory,butaftermuchdreaming,talking,planningandaboveall,frustration,themakingsof a“venture”begantotakeshape.

Thegoalwassimple.We’dpartnerwithexistingaidgroupstohelpthemtakemedicalteamstothe mostisolatedandout-of-the-wayislandsandvillages–yes,inVanuatu.

Theyearwas2008,andtheGlobalFinancialCrisiswasstartingtotakehold. AndherewasI, establishingagroupcalled MedicalSailingMinistries (MSM)…lockingindatesandmakingpromises, sixmonthshence,totransportteamsofhealthprofessionalstotinyvillagesonobscureislandsI couldbarelyfindonthechart.

They say, “ignorance is bliss”, which I think is only partially true. There’s no doubt in 2008, I was ignorant of what truly lay before me, but with my business overdraft climbing and my usually supportive wife using words like deserted and abandoned, I was anything but blissful.

Soonenough,May2009camearound,anditwastimetosetsailonourfirstvoyageandhealth transportmissiontoVanuatu. The“learningcurve”wassteep,verysteep. Butit’samazinghowfar enthusiasm,hardworkandpersistencecantakeyou.Tocompensateforallmyshortcomings, weaknessesandlackofexperience,Irecruitedadiversemixofexperiencedsailors.Allvolunteers, withashareddesiretoalso…“dosomegoodintheworld”.

At the conclusion of that 6month voyage in 2009, I returned with a deep sense of satisfaction.

This satisfaction was shared by the 20 or so sailing volunteers, who’d joined me along the way, each paying a share of the running costs for the privilege.

We all thought we were going there to “give” when in fact, we came away having “received” far more in the form of a priceless experience.

To compensate for all my shortcomings, weaknesses and lack of experience, I recruited a diverse mix of experienced sailors, all of whom volunteers, with a shared desire to also … “do some good in the world”.

There’s something very special about Vanuatu

Ask almost anyone who has sailed to Vanuatu, and they’ll soon relate stories of friendly smiles, warm welcomes and the simple, laid-back style of the locals. Not to mention the beautiful, largely unspoilt environment.

Having untied our lines and finally got underway, subsequent Vanuatu sailing missions were conducted in 2010, 2013 and 2017. building deeper relationships both in Vanuatu and more broadly.

Overthepast14years, MedicalSailingMinistries (MSM)haschangeditsfocusfromtransporting medicalteamstoestablishinganoralhealthprograminresponsetothetremendousneedwe observed. WehavealsobecomearegisteredAustraliancharitywithtax-deductiblestatus(DGR) and,in2017,coordinateda NationalOralHealthSurvey onbehalfoftheVanuatuMinistryofHealth.

Onethingledtoanother,andin2019westartedmanufacturingcoconutoil-based,bubble-gumflavouredtoothpaste–inVanuatu–foruseinasupervisedbrushingprogramwehavedeveloped; again,onbehalfoftheVanuatuMinistryofHealth.

Thebrushingprogramiscalled“GudfalaTutSkul”(prGood-fellaTootSkool)andnowdirectly involvesaround4,000children,across72kindiesandschools.

Local lads put on a concert for us, some of which was captured on video HERE

What can we do that’s useful when we visit Vanuatu?

Runninganoralhealthprogramiscertainlyafarcryfromwhereweoriginallystarted,butwhilstI nowhaveChimereonthemarket,yachtieswithaninterestinVanuaturegularlyaskme... “what canwedothat’susefulwhenwevisit?”

Sohereareafewtips,basedonmyexperience,toaidyourplanning

Plan ahead but stay open for opportunities

Given that many cruising schedules can be ad hoc and unplanned, one crucial consideration is planning. So having determined the period of time you have available, the skills you bring and the islands or region through which you will be travelling, it’s a good idea to make contact with organisations operating in the area – ideally several months in advance. A thorough web search will soon provide a list of possibilities.

Connect with Rotary

If you are a member of Rotary International, or even if you’re not, there’s a club in both Port Vila and Luganville. Why not check them out, see what activities and programs they currently have on the go, and see if you might be able to lend a hand.

On one occasion, after attending the Luganville Rotary Club, we were asked if we could deliver a mountain of second-hand sports equipment donated by an Australian charity. This was something we could easily do as we island-hopped our way north – making sure to give the balls, bats and rackets to the schools in each village, rather than any one individual.

Low Smoke Stoves – Made from Mud Bricks

SmokefromvillagecookingfireswasonethingweobservedwhiletravellingaroundVanuatu,in particular,itsdetrimentaleffectonthehealthofwomenandchildren.

Infact,accordingtoaSciencemagazinearticlefromDecember2011,morepeopledieworldwide ofsmokeinhalationandassociatedillnessesthanmalaria–yes,Iwasamazedtoo. Inresponse,we designeda LowSmokeStove -a“RocketStove”–madeentirelyoutofsun-driedmudbricks,an ideawesharedwhereverwecouldthroughhands-ondemonstrations. Afurtherdesign,thistime usingcement,wasalsocreated,makinguseofanoldbucket,whichweaptlynamed“TheBucket Stove.” Tip: Beforeconductingamudbrick-makingdemonstrationinaremoteislandcommunity (infrontofalargecrowdofbemusedandenthusiasticonlookers),itmightfirstbeagoodideato makeandtrialoneathomeinyourbackyard.

Making mud bricks to build low smoke stoves

Be Open to Helping

Other examples where opportunities to assist seemed popupwere;

Delivering boxes of toothpaste for the Vanuatu totheisolatedislandofMerelavaintheBanksGroup. Delivering local language (Bislama) bibles to communities.

Offering transport to a local chief to reach meetingonanislandfurthernorth.

Evacuating a young woman and her mother island for emergency medical care, the delivery viacaesarean,asitturnedout.

More Useful Tips include …

Buy local produce, and be sure to pay a fair price. Haggling is not the norm here, so it’s best to just ask, “how much?”

Take the time to learn something about the culture, history and kastom of each place being visited.

Dress and behave respectfully, especially in villages and near religious or culturally significant areas.

Learn keywords in the local language, Bislama – always a good way to build rapport and give the locals something new to smile at.

Respect the dignity and privacy of others – ask before taking photos. When going ashore, remember that all land, tracks, gardens, features, and sites should be considered private property. Only wander around after permission has been granted. Usually, it’s as simple as asking someone in authority, and for a small fee, a guide can usually be found if required.

Minimise your rubbish, remembering to take it back with you and not dump it offshore.

Be aware of coral and marine environments when anchoring – where possible, anchor in sand. Do not buy products made from coral, endangered plants or animals, e.g. conch shells, giant clams etc.

If you want to give money, it’s usually best to support community projects rather than individuals. Employing locals at a fair price to scrub the hull, paint the deck, or do other tasks, injects much-needed income into the local economy.

Entry, or access fees, to local sites and features can apply. It’s best to expect them and remember, there are few opportunities for the locals to earn income in the outlying islands, and they rely on this to pay school fees, buy fuel, soap and other necessities.

Ensure trade or gifts are responsible, i.e. healthy and sustainable to the environment. And please don’t hand sweets out to the local children – maybe toothbrushes and toothpaste instead!

Fixing a broken tap on a school water tank

Useful items for trading

fishing gear

petrol

2-stroke oil

flip-flops

caps, hats and appropriate clothing for children and adults.

wind-up torches, solar lights and chargers

toothbrushes, toothpaste, sunglasses

1 & 2 x magnificent spectacles

snorkels (“pipe ‘n’ glass” in Bislama) & flippers (“leg-blong-duck-duck”), rope

soap & cleaning products

hand woodworking tools & nails

epoxy & fibreglass matting

bags of flour and yeast (for the village bread maker)

tubes of sticky adhesive and sealant compound - for fixing wooden canoes.

Regarding the spectacles

Whilstoptometristsandeyespecialistswillrightlyadvisethat glassesshouldonlybeprescribedafteracompetenteyetest hasbeenconducted,asfaraslow-magnification,off-the-shelf “readers”areconcerned,theysufficeinthevastmajorityof caseswhereeyesightisfadingduetooldage.

Forme,itstartedaroundage40,andI’vebeenwearinga progressionof$4readersofincreasingmagnificationeversince. Inremotevillages,apairoftheseglassescanenablepeopleto resumedailytaskssuchasweaving,threadingfishhooks, reading,preparingmeals,teachingandgardening.

Soifyouarethinkingofgivingawayglasses,havearangeof magnificationsonhand. Thenaskthepersontoreadsomething usingdifferentones. Theywillquicklytellyouwhichonesuits thembest.

Insummingup,forthoseyachtieswillingtobeflexiblewiththeirtime,opentoopportunitiesas theyariseandsensitivetothecustomsofthelocals,thereisanamazingarrayofusefulthings thatcanbedonewhilesailingaroundtheislands.

Ontheflipside,however,itwaspointedouttomethattheappearanceofa“yachtinthebay”, couldpossiblyleadtoanexpectationamongvillagersthatanypassingyachtistheretofix generators,giveoutclothes,repairgutters,providetransportetclikeafloatingSantaClaus,when thisisobviouslynotthecase.

Agoodfirststep,liketravellinganywhere,istostartbybuildingfriendshipsasyougo,basedon showingrespectandagenuineinterestinthelifeofothers. Naturally,somepeopleandplaces you’llwarmto,othersyouwon’t. Butagain,beingflexiblewithyourschedulewillmeanthat “usefuldoors”willinevitablybeopenedtoyou,andyourexperiencewillturnouttobeadeeper andmoremeaningfulone.

Ifyou’dliketomakecontactwithmetodiscoverpossibleopportunitiesforlendingahand,simply emailmeat msmvanuatu@gmail.com.YoucanalsoviewsomeoftheMSMVanuatuvideos HERE

AndourlatestAnnualReport HERE.

AstheysayinVanuatu...“LukimYu”(seeyoulater)and“TankYuTumas!”(thanksverymuch) RobertLatimer.www.msm.org.au

SouthernSeasMarineprovidessolutionsforrecreational, commercialandsuperyachts.

Weoffersuppliesforsailboatandpowerboatdeck hardwareandfittingstobothwholesalersandthegeneral publicviaouronlinestoreordirectlythroughourretail outlet.

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Down Under Rally Members Price $1330.00

IN THE TROPICAL PACIFIC ISLANDS

ThisisthesecondinstalmentinanAHOYSailing NewsserieswrittenbyRichardChesherabout criticalhealthissuesyoucaneasilyavoidwhen cruisingthetropics–IF you learnfrom other cruisers'mistakesandgetseriousabout protecting yourself andyourcrew.

Everycruiserknowstheywillfacedangersfromthe weather,equipmentfailure,collisionswithothervessels, andaccidents.

Asensiblecaptaintakesprecautionstopreventthese accidentsbygettinggoodweatherforecasts,maintaining thevessel’sequipment,usinglightsandAISandkeeping watchatsea,havingagoodmedicalkitandsafety equipmentaboard,etc.Andmostcruisersknowwhatto doifthesedangerssurprisethematsea.

But anamazingnumberofcruisershavenoideahowto defendagainstthehealthdangers lyinginwaitforthem whentheyarrive inremotetropicalareasfarfrom medicalcare.

Ifyougetsickfromcontaminatedwater,attackedby malaria,adeadlybloodvirus-likedenguefever,parasites, fishpoisoningoraflesh-eatingmicrobe,itwillbealong andexpensiveordealandmaycausepermanent disabilitiesorevenkillyouoroneofyourcrew.

Healthissuesareseriousdangersformariners butfewcruiserstakeelementaryprecautionsto protectthemselvesandtheircrew.

Diseaseorganismskillmorepeopleeveryyearthanall themaritimeanddivingaccidents,shark,seaserpent, crocodile,seawasp,orevenpirateattackscombined.

Youandyourcrewtrulywanttoavoidgettingsickor injuredanywhere,butthisisespeciallythecasewhen cruisingfarfrommedicalsupport.

Thegoodnewsisthatmostcruisersavoidserioushealth issueseitherthroughluckorprudence.

Tobesurethegoodnewsappliestoyouand yourcrew,followthesethreeverysimplerules:

BY RICHARD CHESHER, PH.D.

"Smartpeople learnfromtheir mistakes,smarter peoplelearnfrom otherpeoples' mistakes."

“I was bitten by mosquitos while hauled out at the Marina Manzanillo Club in Cartagena, Colombia. Symptoms began with a high fever, then a dangerously high fever with a fullbody ache. They don't call it "breakbone fever" for nothing. I was in bed in an apartment at the marina for several days, partly delirious. I was finally able to stagger to a taxi and get to a hospital, where they took blood and prescribed Acetaminophen (Ibuprophen is dangerous because of bleeding). The fever followed the normal cycle precisely: fever, fever reduced, the fever returned, then stinging full-body rash--bright red palms and soles of feet." Ben

Zartman, S/V Ganymede

“I got Dengue in Vava'u Tonga in the mid 90's. Spent a week in my bunk with a high fever, fatigue, and extremely painful joints. No docs around so it was just me. When I got to NZ I went to see a Dr. as I was having trouble speaking loud and could only get out four or five words before running out of breath. She told me one of my vocal chords was paralyzed, most likely from the Dengue. I still have only one vocal chord that works but I have learned to live with a 'Clint Eastwood' voice." Captain

Mikem

Q:

WHAT ARE THE RISKS?

Below are a couple of accounts of health mistakes made by cruisers and the consequences... by the way, Dengue Fever is also a serious threat in the Pacific Islands.

Dengue Fever is the most common danger in the south pacific islands, but it’s not the only bioweapon mosquitoes offer. They can inject their victims with a huge variety of bacteria, viruses or parasites, causing misery to nearly 700 million people each year and killing over one million of them.

Mossie-bornediseasesincludemalaria,dengue,yellowfever, filariasis,tularemia, dirofilariasis,encephalitis, RossRiverfever,Zikafever,Keystonevirus,Chikungunya virus,and22varietiesofswinefevervirus.

Mostofthesediseasesarehardtodiagnosebyyourselfandevenhardertocure.Evenif youfigureoutwhat’swrongwithyouoracrewmember, itisunlikelyyou’lljusthappen tohavethecorrectmedicineandequipmentaboardtodoanythingaboutit.Andnone-I sayagain,NONE-oftheprophylacticssoldbybigPharmawillprotectyouagainstevena smallnumberofthesemonsters.Yes,youcangetavaccineforyellowfever,andeven some(butnotall)strainsofmalaria,buthaveyouandeveryoneonyourcrewalready beeninnoculated?

Even mossies not carrying a disease ghoul inside of them are a pain. Their high-pitched whining is remarkably annoying when drifting off to sleep. And after they suck your blood, the feeding site can swell up and itch like crazy. One mossie is a nuisance, but when there are thousands of them …. A few years ago, we sheltered from an approaching cyclone in a mangrove-lined river. At night our mosquito screens were a back-quivering mass of mosquitoes. Not just one annoying mossie got inside or bit us, not one. We foiled a major air strike of bio wheapons by a screen of precaution.

Itwasano-brainertoinstallmosquitoscreensonthe hatches,portholesandventsofourcutter.

Thescreensonthecoachhatches,ventsandportholes areinplaceallthetime–exceptwhenweremoveone toopenorcloseahatch.

Everyevening, atsundown,weinsertthedropslide screensintothehatchesintheforwardandaftcabins. Always.Nomatterwhereweare.

Youcanseehowweinstalledourscreens,sotheyare easytousewiththislink:

https://cruising-newcaledonia.com/flexiscreens-foryachts.html

Q: HOW TO PREVENT DANGERS FROM MOSQUITO DISEASES?

YOU CAN SEE HOW WE INSTALLED OUR SCREENS, SO THEY ARE EASY TO USE WITH THIS LINK:

https://cruising-newcaledonia.com/flexiscreens-for-yachts.html

'My wife and I have cruised areas with malaria, yellow fever and dengue epidemics for over 40 years, and we have never had any mossie-borne diseases because my wife and I are much more intelligent than any mosquito... We don’t let them bite us."

T

H E A L T H A L E R T

Youcanalsousemosquitonets toprotectabunk area,andthereareevenbiggeronestouseasa “tent”overacockpit.

Mosquitonetscanbeuntreatednets,Insecticide TreatedNets(ITNs)thatneedtobere-treated withinsecticideeveryyear,andLongLife Insecticide-treatedNets(LLINs)re-treatedevery 3years. Thenicethingabouttreatednetsisthat, ofcourse,theykillmosquitoesorotherbugs. TheinsecticideisPyrethrum,nowmanufactured butoriginallyfromthecrusheddriedflowersof thedaisyChrysanthemumandsafetouseif handledcorrectly.

But….Havinganetoveryourbunk(s)isn’tgoing tokeepthedevilsoutofyoursalonwherethey willbelurking,waitingforyoutogetup,or maybeteasingyouatnight,breakingthesound barrierflockingaroundthe.mosquitonet.Plus, youneedtoputthemupeachevening. Having screensforyourhatchesandportholesisless expensive,moreefficient,andeasiertouse.BUT youneedtogetthemsetupBEFOREyousetsail.

Whenwegoashore,wealwayscarrymosquito repellantinourpack. Ifweseeorhearamosquitoor suspecttheymaybeaprobleminthearea.Weputiton beforeleavingtheyachtifwegoashoreintheevening.I alsowearsocks,longpantsandoftenlong-sleeved shirtsashoreintheeveningorwhentrekking.

Denguevirusmossieshuntforvictimsanytimeduring theday,especiallywheretheycanfindbareanklesina shadyspot–evenrightinthecentreoftown.

Malariamossiesprowlintheevening,atmidnightand dawn –exceptinforestedareaswheretheysnoozein thebushesandtreesbutarehappytowakeupfora feedifdisturbed.

"Ifyoudon’twanttoslatheryourselfwithDEET,wear longpants,heavysocks,andalong-sleevedshirtand justuseasmallamountofrepellantonexposedskin."

Installmosquitoscreens somossiescan’tgetinsidethe yacht,and wearmosquitorepellant inmossiehazardousareasashore.

Avoideveningordawnwalksinislandforests–ornear airportsorhospitals.

It’ssosimple,butIwasamazedtodiscoverthatpracticallynoneoftheresidencesor yachtsinTonga,Fiji,NewCaledonia,PNG,AustraliaorNewZealandhavescreens.They certainlyhavelotsofmossiesloadedwithanassortmentofbugs. Ihavenoideawhyso fewpeopleintheSouthPacificdon’tusescreens.WhenIwasakidinupperstateNew York,everyoneIknewhadmosquitoscreensontheirwindowsanddoors, oncamping tents,andonrecreationalvehicles.

MosteveryyachtI’veadvisedtoinstallscreensdidn’t. Idon’tknowwhy,eveninplaces likeSEQueensland,Australia,whereweencounteredthebiggest,nastiestsandfliesand mossiesonourplanet.Onebitefromthem,andyougethugeweltsthatitchandburnfor days.

WeknewoneyachtthatevilsandfliesattackedintheGreatSandyStraitsbehindFraser island.Theladyoftheyachtstillhadbruisedwelts6monthslater.Andsixmonths afterwards,theystilldidn’thavescreensontheirportholesandhatches...Bewildering.

Howmanyyachtsdoyouknowwithmosquitoscreens? Whataboutyouryacht?

WHAT TO DO IF YOU GOOF UP AND GET ONE OF THE DREADED MOSSIE DISEASES?

Yes,well,youoryourcrewmembercouldbeinserioustroubleveryquickly.

Donotdelay. Atthefirstsignofanyofthesediseases,gettothenearesthospital.Ifyou can’tsailthere,getamedicalevacteamonitswaytoyouassoonaspossible.Youmay havetorelocatetoananchoragenearanairport(ifthereisone).Theproblemisthat manyofthediseasescouldbemistakenforabadflu(atfirst)orindigestionfrom somethingyouorthecrewmemberreallyshouldnothaveeatenashore.

Ifyouknowyouaregoingtoanareawithanyofthemanydiseasescarriedbymosquitos (i.e.TheyarecurrentlyhavinganepidemicofDengueFeverorMalaria), makesureyou knowwhattheearlysymptomsarebeforeyoularkoffoverthehorizon.

Checkthegovernmenthealthwebsite –theyalerttheirpeopletothesedangersandtheir symptoms.

Youmightwishto addsomemalariatreatmentpills ifyouarecruisinginamalariazone.

It’seasierandusuallycheapertogetthemfromapharmacistinthecountryyouwillbe cruisingin.Butbewarned;themosquitoshavebecomeimmunetothecommonmalaria treatmentpills,soaskalocaldoctorwhichonemedicationismosteffectiveintheirarea. InVanuatu,IwasrecommendedtouseArtesunate,buttherearemanyothermedications, andyouneedtoconsultwithalocaldoctorforthebestmedicationforyouandyour crew.

Ordon’tgetbitbymosquitoes,anddon’tworryaboutanyof thesediseases.

ThereisnocureforDengue. Thebestadviceistodrinkalotofwaterandtakepainkillers.

Richard and Frederique Chesher began cruising the Pacific aboard their Peterson 44 cutter in 1976. Richard is a PhD marine scientist, and Frederique is an artist and professional photographer. Together they created and publish the Rocket Cruising Guide to New Caledonia and the Rocket Cruising Guide to Vanuatu, widely praised as the best cruising guides in the world.

Rocket Guides are programs for Windows and Mac computers (not Ipads or Android tablets). They are unlike any other kind of cruising guide you’ve ever used; extremely intuitive, fast and comprehensive.

You’ll find critical information on staying healthy while cruising (including avoiding injuries from dangerous marine creatures – like sharks). Important conservation regulations, local custom requirements, repair services and supplies, accessing the Internet, weather, navigation aids and much more. With just two clicks, you can do a virtual visit to 220 anchorages in New Caledonia and 170 anchorages in Vanuatu, with 240 verified GPS routes in New Caledonia and 160 GPS routes in Vanuatu. The guides cover all of New Caledonia and Vanuatu and are updated at least 4 times a year.

Every anchorage has a high definition, colour aerial image showing the anchorage area, surface or drone shots showing what it looks like on approach, what it looks like after you get there, plus above and below water (sometimes even spherical 360-degree images) of beaches, coral reefs, forests, waterfalls, and trails. You'll have everything you need to choose the places you and your crew will enjoy most, along with reliable sailing directions, exact GPS coordinates of the safest place to anchor, depths, bottom type, protection from wind and waves, hazards, VHF reception and times of the weather reports, mobile phone, Internet, Wi-Fi and TV reception, points of interest, treks and trails. Plus, important information on health hazards, social issues, where to get fuel, supplies or repairs, government and local restrictions, conservation laws, and more. You’ll also get the Rocket Travel Guides prepared for the tourism departments of New Caledonia and Vanuatu to train travel agents about the enormous range of tourism facilities and activities in both counties; accommodation, car rentals, shopping, tours, sights, beaches, all the things tourists need to know about visiting these holiday destinations. Rocket Guides have it all available in a couple of clicks– and you don’t need to be online.

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Members Marketplace

DownUnderRallyMembersareinvitedtolisttheir*unwanteditemsforsaleinAHOY!

Tolistyouritemoritemsinthemember'smarketplace:

Emailphotos/description/price&contactinformationtoadmin@downunderrallycom

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*Itemsofferedmustbeusedequipment/personalitemsrelatedtosailing&cruising-Noboatsforsalelistings,please(Tendersok)

SIMRAD 4G BROADBAND RADAR

We have upgraded our Radar. The Simrad unit was functional with a B&G MFD until its removal in late November 2022.

Included are Broadband 4G Radar, Broadband 4G Radar mount (will require cleaning and repainting), 10m x 4G Broadband connection cable, Broadband Radar RL10 Interface Box, 6’ Ethernet cable and some paperwork. Available Brisbane northside in early-mid December

FREE TO A GOOD HOME.

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4SAILSFORSALEOFFA41FTMONO-HULLCUTTERRIG.

135%Genoa(neverused.)ProradialbyDimension,in7 ozand8ozBlendLuff15.6m(51'3")Leech15.3m(50' 3")Foot7.85m(35'9")$2600

110%Genoa(used)9to10ozFairconditionLuff15.50 m(51')Foot6.1m(20')$300

Innerheadsail(used)9to10ozFairconditionLuff 10.05m(33')Foot3.35(11')$200

Mainsail(used)leechbattened10ozFaircondition, Dutchmanreefing.Luff14.335m(47')Foot3.965(13'). $300

CallKevin 0413168351.LocationScarboroughBrisbane

LEWMAR OCEAN/EVO ST50-65 WINCH SPARES KIT

New Winch Service Spares Kit (purchased the wrong kit). Lewmar Part#48000017

Asking $100.00

Available now at Bundaberg Port Marina, or I can post at buyer cost.

Call Leanne 0433-185-167

3.

4.

Members Marketplace

ANCHOR CHAIN

60 metres of 13MM GRADE L SHORT LINK galvanised anchor chain

Purchased in 2020 (see photo) and in very good condition. Available for pickup at The Boat Works in April.

$900 ono.

Call or email Mike Jones

P: 0428 598 085

E: 33jonesfamily@gmail.com

SE ASIA PILOT GUIDE

5th Edition, 2016. Good condition.

Asking $40.00

Available now at Bundaberg Port Marina, or I can post at buyer cost.

Call Leanne 0433-185-167

VETUS WATER STRAINER TYPE FTR470/32MM

Cooling water strainer with transparent cover for easy inspection of the filter content. Used water strainer in good condition with stainless steel wall bracket for easy alignment and clamping in place. All clamps/brackets.

Asking $80.00.

Available now at Bundaberg Port Marina or post at buyer cost. Call Leanne 0433-185-167

All six of the items on this page have been carried as spares. They have never been used and, as such, are in an as new condition. Located Brisbane Area for pickup or postage can be arranged.

do not include the cost of postage.

Members Marketplace

MARINA BERTH FOR RENT

Secure single-shute multi-hull pen available (would also suit two monohulls).

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