Hi Guys,
We are heading off from Brisbane in about 6 weeks and may see you in the Kimberley this season. You can follow us on our website / blog balakera.com and would be interested in following your blogs and local experience updates. Perhaps we should also commence a topic for members heading west across the top this year?
Regards
Derrick
balakera.com
Seawind sailing catamaran Balakera

Hi Balakera,

Lu Ali and crew will be heading west this year, leaving Airlie Beach around the 23 rd of April, to haul out in Townsville for a week then head north from Townsville on the 4 th of May.

We plan a leisurely trip, day hopping when possible, to get us to Darwin around 12 th of June.

We plan to stay in Darwin for a couple of weeks and depart 8th of July for 2 months through the Kimberley. We plan to do a crew change mid way, not sure where but it is a time thing, people have to get back to work.

We will then continue down to our home port at Busselton by the end of September.

Hope to catch up along the way

Best regards

Noel Roots

Hi Noel,

Appreciate your post, we will be in the Whitsundays at the end of March so will try to look you up.

regards

Derrick

balakera.com

Hey Guys

Brian and Marcelle of the sailing vessel “Simply” currently in Darwin waiting for the cyclone season to end. We sailed around from Mooloolaba last year and put the boat in dry-dock last October. We have just returned and after some repairs and applying some antifoul to our boat we are getting ready to sail to the Kimberleys. We plan to leave Darwin in the first week of May and spend 3 months exploring the Kimberleys. We look forward to a catchup with anyone heading that way this year.                         Cheers

We are currently in Yorkeys Knob Marina waiting for another 3 sailing cats to join us mid May for a trip to the Kimberleys & back.  This will be our first trip, and fortunately Doug Cameron on one of the other boats has been there many times and will be our leader & guide.  We have very limited sailing experience. (2 years).

Our boat is a 42ft Wharram Pahi which we built in Brisbane.

Any advice, especially back across the Gulf in mid November would be greatly appreciated.  Our motoring capability with 2 Honda 20hp outboards is only 6kts max.

Anyone who would like to join us would also be very welcome.  We do not cruise fast!!!

Hi Katfish,

Balakera is departing Brisbane next week (cyclones permitting) and will be in  Cairns about mid May and then onto the Kimberley. What are the names of the other vessels joining you? Will try and look you up in Cairns.

Derrick

Balakera

jennybaan@gmail.com

Hi All

We are also heading to the Kimberleys this season in “Sublime” – a 45’ Clipper motor cruiser. We are departing from Port Stephens (NSW) mid March and expect to be in Cairns by late April and Darwin by late May. Weather permitting, we will be in the Kimberleys for about 10 weeks, returning to Darwin mid August. We will be travelling in company with Callisto, a 43’ Mariner. She will be departing from Melbourne also around mid March and should catch up to us around Fraser Island in early April. We will keep a look out for you all and hope to catch up with you along the way.

Len Dockrill

MV Sublime

Tim & I are back onboard Gemini Lady in Cullen Bay Darwin preparing to leave for a 9-10 week exploration of the Kimberley coast. We anticipate leaving sometime after Easter, returning early July to join the Sail Indonesia Rally.

We had a great trip last year, sailing from the Gippsland Lakes, Victoria arriving in Darwin early September. Then a road trip back to Victoria via Gibb River Road, Broome & Perth. Looking forward to sharing a sundowner with any other boats cruising the area.

Tim & Leanne
SV Gemini Lady

• This reply was modified 9 years, 1 month ago by Ross.

Cat and Mark aboard “Tuuletar”, a 43ft Nauticat pilothouse ketch sailing monohull.  We are currently in Whangarei, New Zealand and plan to leave Opua in min-late April to head directly to Cairns for arrival there around mid-May.  We’ll then coastal-cruise around to Darwin for mid-June and on to the Kimberleys in early-July.  It looks like there’s a few of us intending to be in Cairns around mid-May.  It would be great to catch up and possibly cruise together.  You can keep track of our progress or contact us on our website here: http://www.svlogbook.com/Tuuletar

SV XTsea currently on a mooring in Sadgroves Creek, Darwin intending to depart for the Kimberleys in the first fortnight of May.  Colleen and David and croc-bait (dog) Molly.

We have been in Darwin since late November and have a car which we will be selling before we head off, so if KCCYC members can make use of us, let us know.

Onwards to Perth after that.

Hi David, Colleen & Molly,

wont be needing a car, will be using my nephew’s briefly and heading on after you. We are expecting to be in Darwin mid May so will probably miss you, maybe catch up as we head to Perth too. I believe our vessels have something in common apart from the factory, both were formerly owned by Nanette Black.

regards Derrick

We are sailing from Fremantle, currently in the Abrolhos Islands waiting for a weather window to take the next step north to Steep Point.

Are any other yachts in the area who would like some company?

Regards

Kirk n Barbs, (Do-it)

Tuuletar from Katfish,

We are leaving Yorkeys Knob on Monday for the Kimberleys.  When do you expect to be in the area?  Our email is svkatfish@gmail.com & ph 0405112283

Best revgards,

John & Kat

Just departing eastward from near Wadeye. 100nm to Berkely. 10-15 knots hopefully.

(And FYI Telstra 3G phone/internet service works for me quite well in the Wadeye region. No idea where the next connection will be, but we expect to be in the K’s for a couple of months.)

Hi to All

We are heading to the Kimberly this year and are currently at Gove. Looking forward to our first trip to the Kimberly and hope to meet many of you.  We plan to be at the “Beach Party” if possible.  Should be in Darwin about the middle of June.  Does anyone have info on an economical car hire in Darwin as we would like to do a bit of sightseeing.

Cheers

Bruce and Kay

Tunnel Vision

Hi All

Ruby Tuesday 2 is just heading up to Berkley  river for the annual do. Leaving Broome today (15 June).  Would love to to catch up with anyone we see on the way and trade storeys (and any time would trade hot coffee for cold beer due to our slight refrigeration limitation). Other wise Im sure we will catch up with plenty of you at the Beach party.

Thanks Ross and contributors to the great information through this site and its links.

Cheers

Hendrik and Werner.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 10 months ago by Ruby Tuesday 2.

Hi all. Balakera is now in Fremantle waiting for warmer and more suitable weather to cross the Bight in Spring. I have flown home to Brisbane in the interim. Our trip through the Kimberley was amazing. Regards Derrick

XTsea has survived the Kimberley and we are currently off Streeters Jetty in Broome waiting on some mail.  It’s been over a week and my parcel has only made it from Melbourne to Welshpool(Perth mail centre).

Plenty of opportunities to give the hull and props a lookover during our trip as we managed to find ourselves high and dry four times. One of those we actually meant to do!

A poor wet season contributed to not a lot of water over the various falls, and a lack of fish. If you want to know more, take a look at our blog at http://www.xtsea.com.au