Blue Water Rally Arrives Downunder
by Peter Seymour on 16 Aug 2008
Mackay party Peter Seymour
It’s been a hectic few days here in Mackay Marina in Australia with our Blue Water Rally yachts arriving day and night. The Marina has set aside a secure pontoon as a customs and quarantine berth and 19 yachts have received their clearances there before going on to their pre-allocated berths.
Helpful Officials
There might have been some trepidation about the strict customs and quarantine procedures for yachts entering Australia. However, our crews have reported only helpful professional officers from the Customs and AQIS Departments. Both are based here at Mackay Marina and their officials have made every effort to welcome our people and make their entry into Australia as quick and easy as possible. What a change from some of the places we have been!
Marina Management and Engineering Support – a Can-Do Attitude
We all knew that Aussies have a can-do attitude and it’s been reflected in the welcome skippers and crews have received at the Marina Office and from the Marina staff. However, it is probably at the Marina Shipyard here that this has been most noticeable.
For several months Todd Gavan, the Manager, and his engineering teams have been planning liftouts and work on Rally yachts. These have ranged from relatively straightforward antifouling and paint jobs to the purchase and replacement of generators. But all this starts with the liftout at the 65-tonne travelift. I watched the liftout for Jenny take about 20 minutes and within the same hour the yacht was on hard-standing and propeller and shaft removed for repair. Before I arrived 3 Rally yachts had been through the liftout and engineering process and there are others awaiting similar professional treatment. Certainly our decision to visit Mackay because of its all-round support services appears to be vindicated.
Starting to chill out – Aussie style
Another benefit of being here is the proximity of the various bars and restaurants lined up along the side of the Marina. Whilst it can’t quite compare with being stern-to at the Copra Shed at Fiji, it comes a very close second! However, Mackay beats it hands down for variety. There is a huge choice here – seafood, steak, Thai, tapas and a welcoming Yacht Club with bar and restaurant, not forgetting the 4-star restaurant at the Clarion Hotel.
Since our arrival Blue Water crews have also started to get in their tourism, both locally and afar. Around the region there’s plenty to see and do – a National Park at Cape Hillsborough attracted some last weekend and there were even wallabies on the beach! This week the Tourist Board has arranged trips to the Hibiscus Trail, the biggest coaling facility in the southern hemisphere and, tomorrow, to the Eungella National Park. There, amongst the spectacular rainforest scenery we can expect to see platypi (platypuses?!) and enjoy some bush tucker in a bush camp.
We have said a temporary farewell to several people today who are visiting Sydney – a 'must do' when you’ve come halfway around the world. Apparently there’s Don Giovanni at the Opera House, not forgetting all the other sights and some great eating out after weeks of boat food!
We are having a great time and with another 6 weeks to our next gathering in Darwin, there’s so much to look forward to. And I haven’t mentioned Captain Cook yet!
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