Zac's Departure from Darwin: John Knight

Zac hasn't been able to post a blog because his email has been so limited this week. John Knight has been keeping us up to date each evening via his own email. I think his post from last night is excellent and really makes you feel like you are there watching Zac depart.

From John Knight in Darwin:

The Darwin stay is over and Zac is again back at sea. He was relaunched and sailed out of Spot On Marine and Ludmilla Creek at 1620 local time today (0650Z) Saturday, 27th September 2008 bound for Cocos (Keeling) in the Indian Ocean south of Java.

Today was fairly hectic while we obtained fuel filters and collected the last of Zac's Darwin mail. Customs came and cleared him to leave, sealing up the items they had held during his stay in port on board not to be opened until he sailed. Zac spent time securing containers of diesel and tidying up the yacht as he prepared to leave. At 1515 the yacht was lifted from its place in the yard and rolled to the launching slip. Media were in attendance from ABC (Australia) and Channel 9 TV both of which featured Zac on their evening news. After a quarter of an hour successfully running the smoothly performing engine still suspended in the slings, "Intrepid" was lowered afloat and the slings dropped to the mud below. Skillfully backing out, Zac did a turn in the creek and headed to seaward, following a dinghy which guided him through the deeper areas of the coastal flat to sea. I drove to East Point to see him away into deep water. I had hoped to wish him well over the VHF radio from the Darwin Sailing Club but in the flurry of departure he may not have had it switched on. He has headed out into the Timor Sea with a northerly sea breeze but forecasts for the next few days suggest that he may have some slow progress as he travels westward out of Australian waters. Attached are some photos I took which you are welcome to use in the Blog. Not quite Jen's quality but I hope they will do. It has been a hectic few days as Zac and I got his needs sorted. Tiiu and I sent him off with a cooked chicken and two jars of a cheese spread he had taken a liking to so he had something to eat for his first meal at sea. Zac was confident that he had everything he needed on board. If there are any loose ends to tie up in Darwin let me know and I will see what can be done. A 24ft. Seawind catamaran sailed round from DSC in Fannie Bay and joined Zac for the first part of his journey. I last saw him about three miles to sea off Nightcliff heading out to the same waypoint we used to bring him in. There he would turn west and about 500 nautical miles further on he will pass out of Australia's mainland waters and into the Indian Ocean finally leaving the shallow waters which have so amazed a boy used to the near shore deeps of California's Pacific coast. All the best to you both John

Zac called last night to let us know that he had cleared the mangroves and was in 50 feet of water. This was a good thing. He was feeling rested and ready to go. Now...pray for wind!

Cheers,

Marianne

Lifting "Intrepid" in the yard

Lowering the yacht back into Ludmilla Creek

Running the motor prior to departure

Zac motoring out to sea bound for Cocos (Keeling)

Following the pilot dinghy out of Ludmilla Creek