Can-Do Aussies
Rhiann Marie - Round the World
Stewart Graham
Sun 21 Nov 2010 22:29
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Monday 22nd November 0734 Local time 2204 Sunday
21st UTC
12:27.07S 130:49.39E
We made it to Darwin but perhaps we were a little
fortunate. We had only a half day sailing off sea breezes on the east side of
Cape York and we, got another five or six hours north of Cape Don on the
last night of our passage. Every night at sea we witnessed spectacular lightning
storms on the shore. This is the wet season in the Top End of
Australia.
On Thursday evening we were sitting at the cockpit
table as the sun and the sundowners went down. The sea was almost like a
mirror. Rain clouds could be seen and examination on the radar showed they
were very dense, covered a huge area and would catch us. What I did not
expect is the wind to go from almost zero to thirty five knots almost instantly.
One minute we were droning along at under eight knots on the engine next minute
we were flying along above ten knots with main and jib! It lasted till
after midnight and then disappeared just as quickly as it had arrived. It had
bought us however about fifty to sixty litres of reduced fuel consumption
and that plus the fifty litres I had in two gerry cans was just enoough to get
us into Darwin.
In Darwin, Cullen Bay marina has a lock gate
which operates till 2300 normally. However you can not enter from a
passage from other areas unless you contact the fisheries department who
arrange for some divers to come and disinfect the bottom of your boat. This is
to protect against importing any alien species into the area. They take special
care not to allow you into the marina before the treatment. If you were not
treated and were infected then the alien species would rapidly multiply inside
the marina environment and infect every boat which would then carry the unwanted
species across the whole area when they leave the marina. This is
a good policy, however after treat ment a boat has to wait 14 hours before
entering. The divers who do the treatments could only work up to 1630 at
the anchorage due to the tidal streams and upto 1800 at the lock gates due to
the daylight situation.
We were desperately trying to make the deadline so
that we could be treated Friday evening and enter the locks Saturday
morning. However with the tides in the Dundas straits our ETA slipped and
slipped and eventually we could only arrive at the lock gates after 1900 hrs
(seven pm).
Now ever since we have arrived ion Australia we
have noticed that a) everyone - everyone - we have met has been very
friendly and helpful. Even in the big cities and b) everybody we have come in
contact with has had a "can do" attitude.
We radioed the dive team and the fisheries who had
already stretched to the limit their time deadline to treat us to 1800. We told
them we were going to be late (remember this was Friday night), that we
were a Scottish couple circumnavigating the world.... that we had just
been on a six day passage.... and asked if there was any chance.......
"Look you just call us when you arrive at the channel to the locks and we will
come and treat you so you can get into the marina the next morning", said the
divers. The lockmaster arranged then, exceptionally that we could stay
overnight on the pontoon at the lock gates for an early entry. Can do!
That's the Aussies we have met. I wonder where all the "jobs-worths" in the
world are? Oh yes, I remember now......
Good on ya mates! We owe
you.
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