Darwin to Kupang
Marita3
Mark & Helen Syrett
Tue 2 Oct 2012 05:01
Customs came to the boat at 0730 yesterday morning to give us our clearance papers and then Rod (call me Rocket) opened the lock gates. He had been very helpful and ran the marina in a friendly and efficient way although he did not quite live up to his ''Rocket'' name either for speed or intellect!
We were booked into the Fisherman's Wharf to get duty free diesel at 0830 but had a frustrating one hour wait whilst firstly they unloaded a fuel tanker and then put 5,000 litres into a fishing boat. In the end both Camelot and Marita had their tanks and cans filled and we set off at 1030 on the last of the ebb tide expecting to have to use the fuel to motor 480 miles to Kupang. Since then we have been sailing along in 15 to 20 knots for about 80% of the time with only a little engine use. At 0815 this morning we were overflown by Australian Customs who were checking that we really were leaving Australian waters.
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