Current - Captains Log

Just 10 Miles from Home

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 04:11:00 GMT

Position: 32,00.00S , 115,55.00E

On a mooring, Thompsons Bay, Rottnest Island

After a miserable night of squalls and swells on the beam the ship is snug on a mooring waiting for the forecasted front to come through. Right now it's a windy but gorgeous day with the bay bathed in brilliant sunshine, but that shouldn't last.

The feelings are mixed for the crew as we sit here just 10 miles from our final port after five months and 5000 miles of voyaging.

What a great little ship she is, and what wonderful people have sailed her thus far.

Matthew Bolton
Master, Duyfken

The Last Leg

Sun, 16 Sep 2012 16:00:00 GMT

Position: 28,46.45S , 114,35.30E

In record time -- and for the last time on this voyage -- the ship was turned from a museum into a working ship.

The crew have all sailed on the ship previously, and we are looking forward to a quick run down the coast to be in the Fremantle area for the weekend. There's a gala welcome home on Sunday morning!

The response to the ship in Geraldton has been really warm. The strong welcome the ship and her crew have received in all ports - but especially in WA - has been so heartening.

Tomorrow at 0800 we let go of the lines and proceed out to sea for the last time on this amazing voyage.

Matthew Bolton
Master, Duyfken

Safe and Sound at Anchor

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 14:58:00 GMT

Position: 28,45.86S , 114,36.42E

So here we are, safe and sound at anchor just outside the Batavia Boat Harbour in Geraldton. Tomorrow morning we move to alongside at the Fishing Boat Harbour and open to the public on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Other than finally getting to Geraldton, today's highlight was seeing a whale launch itself completely out of the water not 100 metres from the ship. While we've now seen hundreds of whales on this voyage, this was spectacular.

Matthew Bolton
Master, Duyfken

Calm Conditions

Sat, 08 Sep 2012 16:00:00 GMT

Position: 27,9.48S , 113,28.1E

Another day of motoring and sailing in the calm conditions off the WA coast. Quite different to what we had out of Exmouth the first time round, and this second time has dealt us a totally different hand of cards.

The calm conditions have allowed us to scrape and oil the woodwork -- the ship is looking great. "The perfection of a yacht's beauty is that nothing should be there for only beauty's sake." ~ John MacGregor

Progress has been good and we now expect to be at anchor off Geraldton tomorrow afternoon.

Matthew Bolton
Master, Duyfken

Our Goal Firmly in Sight

Sat, 08 Sep 2012 14:10:00 GMT

Position: 24,56.92S , 112,51.35E

As I write this we are just passing the halfway mark between Exmouth and Geraldton. And just beyond our halfway mark is West Point.

Once we have passed this landmark the ship will have been around the most Easterly, Northerly and Westerly parts of Australia. Almost makes you want to push on and do the Southerly....

A sounding of the fuel tanks this morning revea...

led that a refuelling stop at Canarvon was unnecessary, so, with the fuel cell we have on board, we should be anchoring off Geraldton Monday night or early Tuesday morning.

The day started with light NEly winds and two flying fish landing on deck. Currently the wind is about Force 2 and in the NW.

The crew is in high spirits with our goal firmly in sight.

Matthew Bolton
Master, Duyfken

100 Miles out of Exmouth

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 16:00:00 GMT

Position: 22,51.30S , 113,27.85E

We're 100 miles out from Exmouth, meaning that in one day we're now just 20 miles short of where we turned around after two days of punching into the Southerly.

Since early this morning we've had moderate Northerly breezes, which we've motor sailed with. More of these are forecast for tomorrow.

It looks like all systems go to get to Geraldton on time but nothing's a sure thing at the moment. However, we stand a good chance - thanks to the generosity of Stuart, the Harbour Manager at Exmouth, and the Kailis Group in Exmouth.

And by the way, the cook has perfected making yoghurt on board, and she turned out a really nice fruit loaf for breakfast. The next cook is going to have big shoes to fill.

Matthew Bolton
Master, Duyfken

Leaving Exmouth for the Second Time

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 16:00:00 GMT

Position: Exmouth

After our short stay (back) in Exmouth, we have bid this lovely place farewell (again) and are on our way. The next port will be Carnarvon to refuel, or if, if the weather treats us really well, it will be straight through to Geraldton and we're back on schedule.

Matthew Bolton
Master, Duyfken

Back in Exmouth

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 16:00:00 GMT

Position: Exmouth

Back at anchor in Exmouth. Whilst we were keen to return to Exmouth, we really didn't think it would be this soon!

Matthew Bolton
Master, Duyfken

Today I Saw My First Marlin

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 16:00:00 GMT

Position: 22,4.18S , 113,39.5E

The day opened with squalls bringing the first rain we have seen since the Sydney to Brisbane leg - that's quite some time! And while the day cleared to be bright and sunny, the wind and swell built to a point just before breakfast when Duyfken started to go backwards.

We had more than half the journey to make and we had a little over half of our fuel left. Captain...

Ron might have continued, but I decided to call it quits and make for Exmouth.

As I write, we are skudding along at 6.5 knots under just the fore course. It's blowing 30 knots from the SSW and gusting, the swell is between four and six metres with the occasional larger one that sets us surfing down its face.

The distance we took two days to make under motor we'll make back in a little less than half that time.

So the plan now is to refuel in Exmouth, and take on board a 1000 litre fuel cell, and make a dash for Canarvon when the weather clears on Friday afternoon. We'll wait there for another weather window before pushing on for Geraldton. We are still a chance to make Fremantle by the 23rd.

Today I saw my first marlin. It was about 150 metres away and it leapt out of the water six times as it crossed our bow from starboard to port.

Matthew Bolton
Master, Duyfken

Conditions are Bleak for Going South

Sun, 02 Sep 2012 16:00:00 GMT

Position: 22,11.27S , 113,34.73E

We've been going along nicely today after a night fighting the wind, swell and waves to get clear of Exmouth Gulf. We'll still need to refuel in Canarvon but we might get there a litte bit sooner than expected.

The big excitement today was a pod of more than 100 dophins who have been playing around the ship for the last half an hour. Half the crew are on the fore...

deck checking them out as I write.

Sailing wise, conditions are bleak for going south -- that's pretty much where the wind has been coming from at around 5 knots. Fortunately it didn't get as strong as predicted.

There's also huge SW swell of between 4 to 6 metres with about 40 seconds between waves.

The western WA coast is certainly proving to have a character all its own.

Matthew Bolton
Master, Duyfken

Leaving Exmouth

Sat, 01 Sep 2012 16:00:00 GMT

Position: 21,42.34S , 114,12.46E

As soon as the ship rounded North West Cape conditions went from a gentle SEly without any swell to waves of up to five metres and 20 knots of wind. It was a real slap in the face, which has begun to bring home the nature of the voyage ahead of us.

The crew's initial reaction to the new conditions -- so different to our wonderful sailing legs of the delivery voya...

ge to date -- has been positive. There's no lack of excitement even though we are under motor.

Before we left Exmouth we took down the topsail yards, ran a preventer stay on the bowsprit, and lashed and stowed all loose gear. Once again it's now up to the mates to keep the ship right on course and safe.

Without any notice of our leaving about 50 people were at the wharf at Exmouth to wave the ship goodbye. The positive response to the ship and its crew at Exmouth have been deeply appreciated by all on board.

Many thanks.

Matt Bolton
Master, Duyfken

We Sail Tomorrow at 1100

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 16:00:00 GMT

Position: Exmouth

Unfortunately one of the crew has suffered a minor injury whilst ashore and, to be safe, will have to remain in hospital until tomorrow morning. While most on board think they've gone a bit too far in getting a bed ashore, it means that we'll be alongside in Exmouth for another night.

This isn't such a bad thing as the warmth of the welcome and the level of interest in the ship have been very strong here - we've had about 120 people come down for a tour today, which is a good outcome for an unexpected stopover. The crew looks forward to visiting this port again any time soon.

Barring further injury, or other unexpected hiccup, we sail tomorrow at 1100.

Matt Bolton
Master, Duyfken

Exmouth at Last

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 16:00:00 GMT

Position: 21,57.44S , 114,8.48E

Alongside in Exmouth. We were only going to stop for fuel and then leave as soon as possible, but the locals have been so welcoming we'll stay until 1200 tomorrow.

It's been a very warm day for the last day of winter and we've spent most of it under iron topsails watching nearly 100 whales playing all around us. It can be a hard life sometimes.

A night ashore and alongside should rest up everyone for the 240 miles to our next stop at Carnarvon. It looks as though much of it will be with iron topsails, so we will need our resilience to see us through.

Matt Bolton
Master, Duyfken

A Busy Day for Wildlife

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 16:00:00 GMT

Position: 20,47.66S , 115,1.37E

The day started strangely enough. Of all things, we had a budgie land on the main mast shrouds. Hearing its whistle made me think of home, budgies being such common domesticated birds. This one was about 40 miles from land so they can obviously fly a bit.

As well as the budgie, we had a few whales in the distance, a couple of sea snakes and some dolphins today. It...

was a busy day for wildlife, now that I think of it.

We are still under iron topsails in very light southerly winds. The weather remains warm and sunny and we'll enjoy it while it lasts.

We are on track to be anchored off Exmouth late tomorrow night. Hopefully we can refuel on Saturday and be headed off down the coast straight after that.

Matt Bolton
Master, Duyfken

The Iron Topsails Came on this Morning

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 16:00:00 GMT

Position: 19,35.75S , 115,37.95E

Unfortunately, the iron topsails came on this morning. We'll be provisioning in Indonesia before we got to Geraldton, at the rate we we're currently going. I wouldn't have minded so much, but it wouldn't be good for the ship to miss her own home coming party. If we didn't have a deadline to meet, this would be a very different leg.

But, despite the lack of wind, there's not much to complain about. The weather is great (despite the lack of wind) and we had a very yummy laksa for lunch.

So, we're Exmouth bound at the moment to refuel and then push on down the coast. Everyone is pretty stoic about having to motor but we'll get under sail whenever we have the chance.

Matt Bolton
Master, Duyfken