Darwin: last row
Darwin: last row
I’m writing this aboard THE HAWKE OF TUONELA on Thursday, June 19, but am not going ashore today, so when I post this tomorrow, I will have only one final row out to the boat.
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A pattern has become established this week that I understand, with an early land breeze dying away mid-morning, followed by a light sea breeze in the afternoon. I’ve been able to row in across smooth seas for several days and could have this morning. I just don’t need anything ashore, and am glad to spend the day writing and doing a few things to prepare the boat for sea, such as reinserting the boat speed transducer in its through hull fitting, pumping the bilge, removing the fabric cushion covers.
Although I hadn’t pumped it for a week, the engine compartment had less than half a bucket of water in it, so I assume that the stuffing box leak has decreased. Darwin in June is a prime place to dry out.
I will be ashore tomorrow to get my final clearance from Customs and buy fresh fruit, cheese, hummus, and bread. Also a final shower and lunch at the Sailing Club Bistro. I’ll leave for Bali Saturday morning, which happens to be two months from the day I left Opua. It seems much, much longer ago than that.
A waypoint at the entrance to Benoa Harbor, Bali, is 945 miles west and slightly north of Darwin across the Timor Sea. I anticipate arriving on June 29 or 30, but could be later if becalmed. My diesel fuel tank is 85-90% full, so I can power two hundred miles if I have to in order to reach Bali before Carol.
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Sun shades are not a high priority in New Zealand.
I have mixed feelings about them. I had one on EGREGIOUS, but in any wind it sailed the boat around the anchor too much, and I seldom used it.
I had forgotten that Carol bough a sun shade for THE HAWKE OF TUONELA until I came across it while looking for something else in a locker. This one is not so large that it restricts the view or moving about the deck, and does make some difference, particularly when the boat is pointing toward the sun. Even though she bought it in the U.S., I checked the label and discovered that it is made here in Australia. I may buy a second one sometime and rig it over the boom as well, but with the wide side aft.
I’ve been in Australia long enough to be aware of what is happening with Rugby League, Aussie Rules Football, and cricket. I will in fact watch a final rugby league game on television tomorrow night.
The other day I realized that I had no idea what was happening in baseball, so checked online and found the Cubs, Red Sox, and White Sox all in first place in their respective divisions, with the Cubs having the best record in the National League and the Red Sox the best in the American.
It is, as they say, still a long way to October.
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I had expected to resume my exercise routine in Darwin, but found that rowing and walking were giving me all the exercise I needed--maybe more. Then I injured my back hauling water a week ago, and though I would do my exercises today, I can’t. Being at sea for the rest of this month, it is unlikely that the half year total will be greater than the current 31, well short of the 50 that would represent the mid-point to my self-set goal of 100. Still I seem, except for my back, to be in pretty good shape. Life has replaced working out.
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While a few boats have already moved on to Indonesia, more have come in, most for the rallies to Ambon and Kupang, and there are now fifteen anchored around me. The rally to Ambon, which was dropped for several years because of Muslim/Christian violence on the island, has only six or seven boats; but the one to Kupang has more than one hundred. I’m glad to have been in the supermarkets and the laundry room before they arrive. There is going to be a long line in front of that one washing machine.
I’m eager to go sailing.
Until Bali.
Thursday, June 19, 2008