Day 193 – Circumnavigation Complete

Where Next?
Bob Williams
Fri 24 Jun 2022 06:51
Position: 34 46.5 S 138 29.5 E
Alongside RSAYS, Outer Harbour, Adelaide
Wind: Force 0
Sea: calm Swell: nil
Weather: overcast, cool
Day’s Run: 120 nm

We continued to enjoy a favourable breeze overnight and as we got into the lee of York Peninsular the seas dropped off making the ride smooth as well as relatively fast as Sylph beam reached to the NNW force four breeze, making good six to seven knots. We rounded Troubridge Shoal and turned to the NE to make the final run of forty miles to Outer Harbour, Adelaide at 2325.
I had given Australian Border Force and the Department of Agriculture an ETA of midday Friday and with Sylph’s consistent high speed it looked like we were going to make it quite comfortably. I had been concerned about whether the wind would remain favourable once we rounded Troubridge Shoal but it turned out that I had no need for concern. The wind remained fair, backing slightly into the NW and Sylph continued to make good time. The wind eased as we crossed the Gulf and by dawn Sylph had slowed to four knots, but by then we only had some five miles to go to the harbour entrance.
At 0642 I noted in the log, “Crossed outbound track. Circumnavigation complete.”
We had made it. 193 days of sailing but it feels like we only left yesterday.
Thinking I had plenty of time to kill before picking up the tow from the Yacht Squadron, I started to reward myself with some pancakes for breakfast. As I was doing so I noticed a familiar name come up on the AIS: Inukshuk. I called her on VHF and was delighted to hear the voice of Leslie and Rob and was very touched that they had come out to welcome Sylph home, especially at such an early hour on a Friday morning. Also, later another RSAYS yacht, Effie, flying Bravo Zulu (international code for ‘well done’) came and said hello. Thank you David for paying me the honour. Rob and Leslie also facilitated organising getting Sylph alongside and cleared in for which I am grateful.
At 0900 the RSAYS tender took Sylph’s tow line and at 0942 delivered us to the Etchell dock where we were to await the authorities to clear us in. The clearing in all went smoothly, especially considering that Adelaide is not an approved first point of entry for non-commercial vessels, something I only found out a few days ago. I am grateful to the Department of Agriculture for facilitating our clearing in and to Sylph’s shore manager, Wayne, for once again coming to the rescue and helping to sort this little mess out.
So, another of Sylph’s adventures comes to a highly satisfactory conclusion. I want to thank Wayne for his assistance throughout the voyage, providing regular, (mostly) accurate weather reports, and for solving problems such as the one above. Thank you to my wonderful sister, Jenny, who has managed my personal affairs while I have been sailing over the years, with this six month voyage being the most demanding yet. My older brother, John, has also helped sort out a few issues along the way as and my other two brothers, Michael and Mark, have, as always, been of great moral support. And finally I would like to the thank the Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron. I have been a member for less than a year but their support has been unstinting and the camaraderie I have enjoyed from its members before my departure was truly a breath of fresh air and has helped keep me motivated during some difficult periods.
It is now time, first of all to do the laundry, but once the immediate domestic chores are done, to give Sylph some TLC, for already I am thinking, “Where next?”
All is well.