Eowyn at Darwin
Eowyn
Tue 24 Aug 2010 08:51
|
Éowyn is at quarantine
anchor in Fannie Bay, Darwin in
position 12:25.708S 130:49.063E
Australia is the most
regulated country we have visited to date. Yesterday, we were called by one
Customs vessel and one Coastwatch aircraft.
Although we are cleared into
Australia, we have to visit Customs here in Darwin and deal with Quarantine and
Pest Control. The latter means remaining at anchor for 24 hours whilst a biocide
solution is infused into the seawater inlets. That is where we are now!!
Tomorrow AQIS will confiscate out remaining fresh food - even though it was
all bought in Australia.
Yesterday was a little
difficult sailing as we could not use our damaged mainsail. Once we got it down,
it was clear that it was caused by UV damage. It is already booked in for
repair.
We took the short cut through
Dundas Strait which meant arriving at a very specific time at Don Point.
Ironically as we were slowed by our lack of mainsail, we arrived exactly on
time. The winds headed us through the Dundas Strait so we had to motor for some
hours. When we sat off, we had high hopes of doing well in this leg particularly
as Ciao was a non-starter and Lady Eve were without Dieter.
The other main problem related
to the ongoing computer saga. My one remaining laptop packed up but I have got
one part working by re-installing Windows. Andrei is due to join us on the 30th
and will bring a netbook and I hope to buy a new laptop here in
Darwin.
Tomorrow, another 0500 start
to lock into Tipperary Waters Marina, our home for the next few
days.
|