Paperwork

Where Next?
Bob Williams
Sun 12 Jul 2026 06:41
Moored Rushcutters Bay, Port Jackson
Wind: WNW F3 gentle breeze
Sea state: 2 wavelets Swell: nil
Weather: sunny, cool
I have set a tentative departure date of 24 August for our passage from Sydney to Aotearoa-New Zealand. This week, apart from continuing some minor maintenance tasks, I have started the paperwork towards achieving this goal. In particular I have submitted the application for an export permit, a new requirement for small craft departing Australia which I have never done before. Why the bureaucracy requires this additional paperwork is a mystery to me; however, as one of my old navy colleagues keeps reminding me, ‘don’t fight the white’, it is a waste of time and energy (Kafka’s “The Castle” springs to mind).
This coming week, with sunny days forecast for Monday and Tuesday, we will be doing a couple of short quiet sails on the harbour with the view to getting Sylph and crew back in shape for our offshore and ocean sailing. We will also be taking Ada for a sail as she hasn’t been on the water since she was admitted to hospital back in March. Hopefully the sail will represent quite an important step forward in her returning to a more-or-less normal life as her treatment continues.
All is well.