Sailing across the 'top end' of Australia

by World Cruising on 28 Aug 2016 Since late July the World ARC fleet have been on free cruising period, enjoying the many delights of the Whitsunday Islands and cruising Queensland’s Coral Coast. This popular Australian sailing destination is a fantastic area and as the local pilot book says, is ‘100 Magic Miles’ of idyllic coastline. Yachts have enjoyed visiting beautiful beaches, islands and pleasant marinas including; Whitehaven beach, Hamilton Island, Lizard Island, Airlie Beach and Cairns.

The passage North from Cairns included rounding Cape York, the most northerly tip of Australia, crossing the Gulf of Carpentaria before entering the Arafura Sea and eventually the port of Darwin. Yachts will have sailed some 1500nm since departing Mackay and almost a month later this cruising period is coming to an end in Darwin where the fleet will prepare for their next leg to the Indonesian Island of Lombok.

Carango were first to arrive in Darwin with Peter and Vicky reporting a “Stupendous sail across the top end!”.Carango were very adventurous and in a first for a World ARC yacht sailed the Gugari Rip otherwise known as “the hole in the wall”. The Gugari Rip is a narrow, short passage, about 50 yards wide and about a mile long, where an island cracked in half to become two: Raragala and Guluwuru Islands.

These are part of the Wessel Group of islands that stretches up between the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Arafura Sea. As might be expected where large volumes of water are squeezed through a narrow space as tides rise and fall, the currents can be terrifically fast. Carango shot through at a “Crazy 14.7kts, what an experience!”

Darwin is a vibrant city known as a tropical melting pot of food and culture that reflects it’s close proximity to Asia. Crews can look forward to program highlights such as the sunset markets on Mindil Beach, welcome drinks hosted by Tipperary Waters Marina and a crocodile tour to Adelaide River. With superb large supermarkets and excellent nautical supplies Darwin is also a great place to provision and prepare for coming legs to Lombok, Christmas Island and Cocos Keeling islands before heading out into the Indian Ocean.

The World ARC fleet will be in Darwin until the start of Leg 9 to Lombok on 6th September.