The Stops around The Top End

To better understand our route across the Top End of Australia, from Cape York to Darwin, please see this link:

www.sailblogs.com/member/seachild

There you will see Google Earth positions of the anchorages we made during the week long passage from Wessel Islands to Darwin, with some notes on each days sail. Sea Child is currently in Darwin, Australia, preparing for the Sail Indonesia Rally which departs Darwin July 27, 2013.

Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, AUS

Sea Child is now in the Wessel Group, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia. We had a crazy sail across the Gulf of Carpenteria after pulling anchor at Seisia, QLD. During our stay at Seisia, we were able to take the ferry across to Thursday Island and tour this very small and very interesting little island in the Torres Strait. The ferry visit is about 6 hours, and with the size of Thursday Island, 6 hours was pretty much all we needed to visit the charming town, see the fort and the Japanese Cemetery, and enjoy a fine lunch at the Grand Hotel before the 2:30 return journey to Seisia.

The strong SE trades kept Sea Child performing at amazing speeds during the crossing of the Gulf, and you can read more about this sail and see a google earth position as well at:

www.sailblogs.com/member/seachild

The Wessel Islands are beautiful though very remote and a bit difficult to get to. The anchorage here at Hole in the Wall is secluded and the Aboriginal Islands require a permit to step on shore. We are in the process of route planning for the journey to Darwin and expect to be there by the end of next week.

11 DEGREES 33.662 SOUTH
136 DEGREES 20.936 EAST

North to Cape York with Croc Warnings

The crocodile warnings are now a prominent listing in every anchorage we have visited, including Margaret Bay where we anchored just last night. The beautiful shorelines are now a worrisome sight, with the threat of crocs and their vicious behavior now the tales of legends. In Margaret Bay, there is a tale of a croc back in 2001 that "took out one person, attacked another in a kayak, and sunk a float plane".

We are currently less than 90 NM from Cape York and expect a visit to Escape River and the pearl farms there later today. You can read more about our fast sailing and see a google earth position of Sea Child here:

www.sailblogs.com/member/seachild

Of note, Sea Child has lost both 120 amp alternators and the wind generator. Our charging system is now the 2-55 amp alternators as well as solar panels. Its good to have redundancy in charging systems, but we will still make good time to Darwin to repair the breakdowns. Darwin is +800 NM away.

11 degrees 57.608 SOUTH
143 degrees 12.467 EAST