This is the latest tale of traveling adventure, for previous logs visit the archives. If you are new to Bad Latitude and wish to get a better idea of the whole adventure then it is best to start at the very beginning. The logs are updated when we get the chance, due to the erratic nature of sailing it is difficult to know exactly when we will be able to update the site, so for this reason we have the update alerter which will inform of any update via e-mail.

Issue 4- 30/08/2001 Darwin, Northen Territory

As I write this I'm on the 50 foot ketch Nkhwazi anchored just outside of Darwin in Fannie Bay. I have no idea how the images will turn out on this page as I am updating from someone else's laptop on the yacht, with scans that were done by an internet cafe....so bear with us! Anyway back to the first 'proper' update of Bad Latitude. We have been in Darwin now for two weeks, as usual things were a mad rush back in the UK to get ready, I even had to organise the completion of my degree from Oz, not fun at all!

Anyway, we were met at the airport by the South African Skipper Pete and his wife Norma, and thankfully any 'Dead Calm' scenarios were quickly dispelled, Pete isn't an axe wielding maniac. We took a gamble meeting people over the internet and initially it has certainly paid off.

The first couple of weeks have been spent readying Nkhwazi for cruising. Filling the water tanks, a few cosmetic repairs and getting to know the rest of the crew who will be detailed in the crew section soon.

Nkhwazi (Zulu for Fish Eagle) had been moored at Tipperary waters on the outskirts of Darwin itself. The marina is being developed and at the moment the owners don't mind the 'live-aboard' cruising sailors that currently occupy the marina. No doubt that will change once the development surrounding the marina becomes more occupied but for now it provides a well located and reasonably priced home for many people.

Darwin itself is fairly small, in fact the whole Northern Territory only has around 80,000 people in an area twice the size of France. The town has a very 'wild west' feel, whilst maintaining a cosmopolitan atmosphere. That's not just due to the abundance of backpackers but also to Darwin's proximity to South East Asia that seems to open up Oz as a sort of Gateway to Asia.

The Northern Territory is blessed with a couple of National Parks within close proximity to Darwin: Litchfield and Kakadu. We haven't seen Kakadu as the attractions were too far apart for our limited length of stay and of course budget. Though we did visit Litchfield however which was fantastic. We shared a rock pool with a two foot long water monitor, swam in crystal clear fresh water pools that are filled by stunning waterfalls. Litchfield was well worth the visit especially if you like to swim. By the way Darwin is host to every reason not to swim in the Ocean: the worlds most deadly jellyfish the Box Jellyfish, Saltwater Crocodiles, Blue ringed Octopus, and no doubt there are some sharks down there too, though that depends if the Crocs got 'em first!

Anyway, we left Tipperary Water's marina on the 20th of August and motored due to the lack of wind to Woods Inlet across the bay where we spent the night under the most amazingly clear and un (light) polluted sky. Satellites and every Southern hemisphere constellation could be seen easily.

The next day we motored to Fannie Bay to wait for the weather patterns to look good enough to go East, we have our waypoints set and are ready to go. Our first major port of call is East (against the trade winds) to Gove. At the time of writing it looks like a slightly hairy night sail is ahead of us through the Clarence Strait round to the entrance to Adelaide River where there is a historical reserve called Escape Cliffs. We then plan to head North East passing between Melville Island and round to Port Essington. (I will sort out some maps soon!) There are a number of attractions along the Northern coastline on the way, including Aboriginal land that hardly any European has ever seen. I imagine the next update will be from Gove sometime in two or three weeks.

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