can we help
+44(0)1983 296060
+1 757-788-8872
tell me moreJoin a rally

Menu

Firefly - Green Turtles but no Crocs at Margaret Bay



Today is Tuesday 18th August, Firefly was underway at 0600 bound for the Escape River, within 25 miles of Cape York. We have about 15 knots of wind and are running with the sails goose winged at about 7 knots. The sun is on its way up in the sky and Firefly is just rolling a little in the small wavelets as we are still well protected from any ocean swells by the Great Barrier Reef - sailing here is superb!

We are in company with Garlix and Exody and having gone differing routes for a few days we met up again in Margaret's Bay on the north side of Cape Melville. We were last with Garlix at Low Islets and Exody in Cooktown. Most of the World ARC fleet, of which there are only about 10 boats currently, are in touch on a daily basis via informal sessions on the SSB at 0900 and 1800. This is really useful as each session will normally provide some useful information, particularly from those ahead. Yesterday, Eric from Luna Quest, described their passage around Cape York and through the Torres Strait, giving us useful information regarding what to expect.

We are now ahead of our original schedule as we chose to continue on from Lizard Island and sail overnight to Margaret Bay. As we approached Bathurst Bay, Firefly was sailing at 8 to 9 knots, running in 25 knots of wind, straight up the channel. Stopping as planned at Flinders Island, beyond Bathhurst, was rejected and instead we raced along throughout the starry night. Arriving at Margaret Bay yesterday at midday it was good to have an afternoon anchored in a calm spot so that we could relax and also start to get prepared for the forthcoming passage to Darwin. Cooking meals ready for freezing, deflating the dinghy and stowing everything were all completed in the beautiful surroundings. Sadly, due to the likelyhood of crocodiles we did not venture ashore - the nearby beaches were white and pristine and very inviting. We never did see any crocodiles but large Green Turtle were abundant, coming up for air and appearing to look 'startled' if they surfaced near Firefly.

The trade winds are forecast to increase during the next few days up to the 20/25 knots range. At Cape York the trades often reach 35 knots and we were hoping to avoid our transit during one of these periods. Once we arrive at the Escape River we will compare notes with Peter and Marian on Exody and Jens and Dagmar on Garlix, via VHF, to collectively work out the best time to leave. The information we have is that we should try to arrive at Cape York at high water, which is at 1300 on Wednesday 19th. That timing will give us a favorable current up past Albany Island and then as we turn west, the current should be west flowing and should take us all of the way down the Endeavour Passage. Both passing Albany and in the Passage we are expecting up to 5 knots of current, although it may be less as we are at neaps at present.

Our overnight passage to Margaret Bay effectively gained us 2 days and on studying the various sets of notes on pilotage information we have now decided to make a stop before arriving at Darwin. From Cape York we will head almost due west across the top of the Gulf of Carpentaria, sailing through the Arufura Sea. We will go north of Cape Wessel and then head south west with a view to stopping at Somerville Bay or Port Essington on the Coburg Peninsula. If all goes well, this should mean we have just 3 nights at sea on Passage. We can then time our trip through Gulf Van Diemen with the tide and are planning to arrive in Darwin on Tuesday 25th August.

Paul and Susie




Previous | Next