Fai Tira blog Sunday 10th October 2010

 In Darwin 12:26.99S 130:51.08E

Today is 10/10/10

Gove Yacht Club

We left Gove to complete our journey across “The Top End” to Darwin.  We had the opportunity to transit the infamous channel called the “Hole in the Wall”

The latter is a mere 70 metres wide, through which an 8 knot tide can flow.  To get thru this gap between two islands it is best to arrive at slack tide. We timed this perfectly and the three boats: Chisel, Moon Shadow and Fai Tira passed through without a hitch.

The Hole in the Wall as we approached.

The chart plotter showing this unusual geological phenomenon.

Exiting the channel at slack tide on the way to Darwin.

Chisel heads off into the distance with both head sails full.

Coral Bay where we waited overnight for a favourable tide to take us through the Dundas and Clarence Straits and onward to Darwin.

Fanny Bay at Darwin where we had to have the hull inlets disinfected to prevent infestation by the Black Striped Mussel, a type that is a pest in these waters.

We went into town to clear Customs and I visited a crocodile zoo.

Young crocs waiting for their dinner. I fed them using a fishing rod.  They jumped up nearly their own length out of the water to get the bait.

Well-fed, they rested in the sun.

You could be lowered in a cage into the water with the croc to get a closer look. I didn’t have a go.  Instead I had a crocodile sandwich.  The cafeteria made it quite snappy. Hee Hee.  

The next day we entered Tipperary Waters Marina via a very small lock. Well it was compared to the last ones we went through in Panama!  

John and Dee helping with the fending off.

It was time to party again.  Here are some of the girls (l-r Susan, Marie & Sara) enjoying the chance to drink some cool wine.

Fai Tira in the calm of Tipperary Waters Marina.  It is bloody hot here, being in the mid-thirties Celsius, with a humidity level of 90%

More later.