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Kasuje - Log 21st August



Hi from Philip and the crew
 
We have now arrived in the Thursday Islands after an over night passage from Stokes Bay, to get round the tip of Australia we had to negotiate Albany Straits which acts as a funnel between the Pacific Ocean (Coral Sea) into the Indian Ocean (Torres Straits). To catch a positive tide through the straits is crucial hence our overnight passage and diligent passage making, it was very much in the lap of the gods whether we could make the distance to catch the fair current but we made it with time to spare and led Cleone through the pass. Richard planned our route to perfection and Skipper Steve kept Kasuje powered up and we averaged over 8 knots for the whole passage. This was our first overnight sail with "proper" watches and completed (we think) to the skippers satisfaction.
 
From Cairns upwards there is a shipping channel which weaves its way through the many reefs and rocks, inside the Great Barrier Reef, to give you some idea navigation included some 33 changes of course, light houses and channel lights mark the way but without the GPS Navigation, plotter and its inbuilt charts it would be fool hardy to say the least to attempt this route in anything other than good visibility.
 
We are at present at anchor off Horn Island which is south of Thursday Island,(TI) which sits north across the bay, the winds and tides through the Torres Straits are very strong and our anchorage is providing protection from the heavy south westerly winds. The local supermarket is quite good and we have replenished our food stocks for the passage to Darwin. Today we took the ferry to TI and spent half a day looking the place over and visiting the Cultural Centre. The islanders are very proud of their heritage, as are the mainland aborigines, both tell of their exploitation by the "white man" now partially addressed.
 
Lunchtime was spent in the "Australian Bar", highly recommended by the local mini bus lady driver, despite being in a very isolated area it was not short of all the modern facilities enjoyed by the townies i.e. satellite TV, dog/horse racing and on line gambling. Many bars also have one arm bandits and a whole career path has been created in helping poor unfortunates beat the habit?
 
There must also be some pretty serious drink problems as all bars display state rules regarding bringing drink into bars, taking it out or having too much and the heavy fines and bans imposed.
 
There was an excellent briefing from Claire of World ARC at 4.00pm to which all skippers and crews attended, matters agreed were the start time and location for the fleet start (Thursday morning) to Darwin. With safety always in mind an experienced local sailor gave us all the benefit of his advice, gratefully received. As always reference to "salties" was made, apparently the variety along the western peninsular of the Bay of Carpentaria and along the coastline to Darwin are fed steroids!!
 
Ten yachts are expected to start together tomorrow with much banter between crews and skippers as to the eventual outcome, Kasuje has won its class in two passages with inexperienced crews so the pressure is on us, off to bed now in order to be on the top of our game tomorrow. 
 
 
Very best wishes
 
 
Phil, Anita, Richard, Larissa and Skipper Steve  



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