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American Spirit II - Day 232; Arrival in Darwin & at the Half Way Point Around the World; Monday, August 25, 2014



At 2:27 AM the 72 foot Tug Enrybo K passed us to starboard, crossing in front of us doing 17 knots. About this same time we passed by a red lit up buoy that was not listed on our electronic navigation charts. That's always fun. We finally turned off the main channel leading into the Cullen Bay Marina and Lock area, and had to pass around another red light not listed on our charts to line up on the range lights leading us into our final destination. One range light was a solid blue light and the other one a flashing blue light. By lining them up one on top of the other, that creates a line for you to navigate on and approach them with until turning off and passing thru a red and green lighted markers. As is customary in the rest of the world outside of the US, the red markers are on the left and not the right. Its no longer 'red, right returning.' Green is on the right. As we approached the Cullen Bay Marina dock located outside of the Cullen Bay Marina locks, we saw the Rally boat Chika-lu already tied up. We tied up in front of them. A short while later Polaris tied up behind us and then Celebrate tied up to us at 4:20 AM.

We slept from 4:40 AM to 7:00 AM.

Biosecurity came to the docks early, and between 8:00 and 8:30 AM they had injected a poison into our thru hulls to kill any foreign mussels that might be living there. The diver doing this had a full face mask on so she could talk to her supervisor on the dock while under water. The device they used was actually a microphone lowered into the water. The diver obviously had a device to project their voice thru the water to the micro phone. Very cool. Once our treatments were done, we couldn't move our boat until 5:00 PM; nor could we use any of the boats faucets or the toilet.

We then headed into the marina area to have breakfast. Rob and Hugh from Rally Control had joined us and welcomed us to Darwin. Locks created the marina and residential area located inside of the locks. And these locks are small. They can only accommodate one boat at at time.

Breakfast was at a restaurant overlooking the marina and expensive homes surrounding the perimeter of the marina area. The price of the food was very expensive, costing about $75.00 for the three of us for breakfast. As much as dinner usually costs.

Back at the boat after breakfast, we slept from 9:45 AM to 1:00 PM, then headed back into town and had lunch at 2:30 PM at a Thai restaurant. We had a couple of appetizers first, then Joel had Sweet & Sour Pork and Rice; and Jeanine and I had either Chicken Curry or Beef Curry with Rice. The main course was followed by a fried banana/vanilla ice cream combination that we all split. A very good lunch. Again, expensive. Lunch with a tip was $80.00.

We were back on the boat at 3:35 PM; were invited to Celebrate for coffee at 4:40 PM; and started our engine and departed at 5:00 PM. We were going to fuel the boat before leaving but another boat pulled up so we couldn't do that at this time.

We arrived at the Tipperary Waters Marina lock at 5:45 PM. Along the way we passed 4 warships tied up at a wharf. One, the largest, was Japanese. Apparently there are some war games going on in Australia starting this week. A large Japanese flag was flying behind the warship, which looked like a frigate or a destroyer. It was the first time I'd seen the 'land of the rising sun' flag on a vessel in person. I'd seen them before only in World War II videos.

Once inside of the lock we did a port side tie, with Rally persons Hugh and Suzana acting as line tenders. The lock held one boat at a time, and it was a tight fit beam wise. Polaris and Celebrate followed us thru the lock and into their berths in the marina. We were tied up at berth A 8, with Polaris next to us. A port tie to the dock. As is now usual, our power hook up to shore power worked. However, Joel had to remove part of the collar on one of our fittings for it to fit properly.

Around 6:00 PM Michael and Peggy from Polaris set up a wooden table behind their boat on the dock and invited us and Festina Lente, along with the Rally crew of Rob, Hugh and Suzana, to eat some of the fish they caught. Tuna and Mahi Mahi. It was fabulous. Most used chop sticks while I used my knife and a fork.

Around 8:00 PM we had some small appetizers at the dock restaurant - a hamburger, some pita bread and dip and chips (french fries). Rico and Silka from Polaris joined us. Rico owns a few restaurants in Dresden, Germany.

Back on the boat, we watched the movie 'Centurion' from 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM, then lights out.

Australian slangs of the day. Someone who is 'well turned out' means that they're 'dressed well.' And my favorite of the day, 'To sink a few' means to 'drink (some) beer.' As in, let's go sink a few.


Brian Fox


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