Paperwork and Batteries

Where Next?
Bob Williams
Mon 3 Aug 2026 09:32
Moored Rushcutters Bay, Port Jackson
Wind: F0 calm
Sea state: calm Swell: nil
Weather: partly cloudy, showers with hail, mild
Since our return to Sydney from our very short sojourn up the coast I have been focusing on getting the paperwork in order for our forthcoming departure, mostly the New Zealand stuff. It seems bureaucracy doesn’t get any simpler in our age of mass communication and the internet. I have been bouncing from one web page to another trying to ensure I have all the bases covered. And this evening I received an email from Australian Border Force advising that I need to fill out the Arrival Form before departing – I am glad they told me as that is not particularly intuitive to me. However, we are getting there.
One problem I think I have resolved today was an engine battery issue. Recently the engine batteries have been losing charge much quicker than they should and on investigation it turns out that the starboard engine battery is dead. I have isolated it so the engine is connected only to the port battery and I will monitor over the next several days. Likely I will need to replace both batteries before departing Sydney. One more item to add to the ‘to do’ list.
All is well.