World ARC depart Thursday Isand after free-cruising period

Not all World ARC followers will know exactly where Thursday Island is. And it still doesn’t help when you know it sits between Wednesday and Friday Island. Yes – it actually does! But it was from this northern outpost of the Australian state of Queensland, that the World ARC fleet departed from today, on the next leg of their round the world adventure. There were great conditions for the start and the fleet are promised good winds for their passage across Australia’s Top End to Darwin in the Northern Territory.

The area of Thursday Island is a remote place and so the arrival of the fleet certainly made an impact. The boats were anchored across the passage near Horn Island, where the conditions were more secure, and the fleet enjoyed  several gatherings ashore at the local hostelries. And getting everyone together is exactly what the Thursday Island stopover is about – it marks the end to the splendid free cruising period up the Great Barrier Reef and the beginning of the next competitive leg in company to Darwin, during which the crews can expect strong currents and tidal flows.

However, the winds and weather look good and the fleet should experience an enjoyable passage across to Darwin. Once there, the fleet will have a week to explore the capital and the surrounding National Parks of the Northern Territory before preparing to leave for Bali.