Leg 9 of the World ARC commenced this morning with the fleet departing Darwin, bound for the Indonesian island of Lombok. Conditions were near perfect for the start with bright blue skies and a very pleasant 10 kts easterly in Darwin Harbour.
Australian youth training ship STS YOUNG ENDEVOUR stood by on the start line and provided signals for the fleet with their short canon. YOUNG ENDEVOUR is an Australian tall ship, a gift given to Australia by the British government in 1988, to celebrate Australia's bicentenary of colonisation. Watching from the starting platform local bystanders were treated to a spectacular sight as the World ARC fleet sailed close by with this magnificent tall ship in close proximity.
First across the line was Finish yacht Mearra Nieida followed closely by Australian yacht BlueFlyer and then American catamaran Paradise Found. YOUNG ENDEVOUR sailed out of Darwin Harbour with the fleet as she continues her circumnavigation of the Australian continent.
Now en route to Lombok the fleet will sail 920 nautical miles through the Arafura Sea and the East Indian Ocean. The yachts will sail south of Timor and the outlying islands of Rote, Sawu and Sumba before making a slight turn to starboard, heading for the south west corner of Lombok in Indonesia. The final destination being the remote island of Gili Gede and the anchorage known as Marina Del Ray.
While the condition on the start were pleasant the winds forecast for the 1st half of the route are very light and variable and the fleet are expecting extended periods of motoring. Once West of Timor though the forecast looks to improve as the South’easterly trade winds establish over the 2nd half of the route. Yachts are expected to arrive in Lombok in 7 to 9 days time.
Reporting an incredible six week visit to Australia, the World ARC crews have mixed sailing with adventure and exploration on land, really making the most of everything this country has to offer. From camping in the outback amongst the stars to climbing Ayers Rock, from kangaroos to crocodiles, and from the Sydney Opera House to anchoring off remote island paradises in the Whitsundays, this has really been a well-enjoyed part of the circumnavigation.
On behalf of the fleet a big thank you all our sponsors here in Darwin, Tipperary Waters Marina, Cullen Bay Marina and Frying Nemo restaurant. A big thank also to our favourite lockmaster, Geoff from Tipperary Waters Marina who works tirelessly to help make our visit here such a success.