Hi :)

My name is Dobrochna, and this is my first post in Seabreeze forum. I am a shore crew of project Maxus Solo Around. Simon Kuczynski - polish sailor is sailing now on s/y "Atlantic Puffin" (yacht type Maxus 22) around the world. He leave Poland in 2014 and now he is close to Australia. He planning to come to Darwin for more or less 3 weeks.

I would be grateful if you could share some information with me. Ex. where is the best anchorage ?
We also need to buy or rent small (and cheap) used dinghy. On Pacyfic he lost some equipment when huge wave hit the yacht and make demage on cockpit :/



This project is taking further our previous experience of sailing across the Atlantic onboard „Lilla My” (LOA 5,00 m). We build this yacht and crossed on her ocean in both directions (Europe – Caribbean leg was sailed solo, return from Caribbean to Europe double handed). It was the smallest Polish yacht ever to do it.
Maxus 22 construction and fitting; Boat is being built by our project Main Partner – Northmann Shipyard. [Technical
data: LOA 6,36m / width 2,48m / sails 23 sq.m.] This boat was originally designed to sail on different waters – from
inland through coastal to sea going on Baltic, Adriatic, Mediterranean or Bay of Biscay. Inside it hosts 3 people in coastal cruise, 2 in ocean sailing. Rigging and fittings are to be safely managed singlehanded.





PS. Sorry for my language mistakes ;P

Good work to come this far. All the best for assistance in Darwin.
Cheers
Frant

An epic effort and the yacht looks sturdy enough for it too.

Best advice I can give you about Darwin or any part of Australia north of the Tropic of Capricorn is........be very wary of crocodiles.

OK :) i tell Simon that he should't swimming ;)
can crocodiles be dangerous if you are in dinghy ?

/sorry, mayby my questions are funny but we've never visited Australia :D /

I had a 22' boat on a trailer parked in my driveway.. I would never of thought to take it around the world. Hat off to you all.…

Can you advise what sort of dingy you are looking for?

dingy... any kind... cheapest kind! there are so many expenses now . We hadn't plan new dinghy.

We had smallest Bombard dinghy and it was perfect for Simon. But Mr.Ocean took it :(

You can anchor in Fannie Bay in front of the Darwin Sailing Club, they may also be able to help you out with a dinghy, shower, laundry facilities, etc., there used to be a chandlery there and one in town near the 'duck pond' that harbours the fishing fleet also. You have to be aware of timing the six metre tides, it can be a long walk out to your boat or a long wait for the water to come back. Dinah Beach Cruising Yacht Club has a yard and haul out facilities in Sadgroves Creek. You always have to be aware of crocs but Darwin Harbour is not the worst area, there are traps there and the crocs are regularly removed, people swim off Mindil beach. My experience of Darwin is that it is a great place for a visit and people are friendly and helpful.

G'day Dobrochna,
What an excellent project, thanks for posting this. Have you got a website?

Is there any Seabreezers living at Darwin here?
Would be easier for a local club member to organise something.

Maybe Simon could do a presentation night of the voyage with a slide show or something, in return for a whip round of a hat & some hospitality. A local business may come onboard too.
cheers

Good on you guys!

One would N O T buy the c h e a p e s t inflatable for a trip like this but the most solid built roll-up type made of Hypalon not PVC!
Something like the Achilles 2.3m.

We used to help Nandor Fa and Jozsef Gal the Hungarian sailors who circumnavigated in 1987-88.
I would not mind doing the same for a Polish sailor.

Is there a Darwin bank account and bsb number to put a small amount towards your inflatable?

Only the tyrany of distance keeping me away from doing more.
This seems to be a good cause and crazy enough to move the imagination.( this is no Nigerian scam as it is well documented on the net supported by Barton Marine UK and others)

How about you Seabreezers?

When I posted my message last night, I was thinking of the possibility of sending an old inflatable up.. Thinking now that freight would be too much for what it's worth.

I would be much more inclined to deposit into a fund for a better quality tender already in Darwin.

hello, thank you for all your answers I was offline for a few days.

Yes, we have our website www.zewoceanu.pl it's mostly in polish unfortunetly. English part is here: http://www.zewoceanu.pl/About-our-projects . I put yacht position and messages from him on our map: www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zXRP0WqsgxrI.kf0-hG4jc7CI so there is possibility to follow this cruise. All pictures from solo around project and from our first project are in picasaweb gallery (picasaweb.google.com/117925155432597210617). Simon had troubles few days ago - he had storm (max was 62 kn) and satelite phone get wet - thats why there is a hole in position from last week.

I know that there are high tides. The most comfortable would be stay in marina but monthly charge is crazy (i checked and it's about 1000$ - it's my two salaries, so I prefer to buy new dinghy for these money.
Most important in dinghy is weigth. Yacht is small so we really care to not swap center of gravity. Now we have about 700$ for a dinghy.

In Australia we also want make new antifouling, so information about yards are also welcome (crane prices, ect.) :) We would do so many this so we can by ourselves. I write "we" becouse I'm arrive to Darwin in 2 weeks to help Simon with all these works

Good on you Dobrochna sounds like a great trip.

Maxus, for $700 you should be able to get a small dinghy with inflatable floor and keel. This is the lightest solution and will make it easier to row. It is also the easiest to stow. Might not be a big choice in Darwin. Maybe you should buy in a big city and send by road transport to Darwin. Whitworths and other chandlers can supply and ship.

As far as I know, Hypalon dinghys are no longer available, so you will probably have to go with PVC, but it should have welded seams. Try to keep out of the sun in Australia/Pacific.

I bought the smallest Aspre from Whitworths which cost around $800. I was quite impressed with it, came with a great cover, pump patches, carry bag etc. rowed nicely but it was strictly two man. I had to buy as small as would fit on deck.

It took off on its own accord toward New Caledonia one night. Rope broke. You're welcome to that if you can find it!

www.dinahbeach.evasbackpackers.com.au/
I would make contact with the Dinah Beach club they have careening poles which may be a cheaper option than haul out.
the cheapest haul out I could find was Cullen Bay (Darwin Ship Stores) I think it was around $250 for my 40ft 9 tonne boat, they are extremely helpful there.

G'day Dobrochna,
Here is a link to a site called Gumtree, which has a few inflatables, unfortunately none in the Northern Territory.
I typed in a limit of $550, which should leave you some money for shipping, hopefully...

www.gumtree.com.au/s-boats-jet-skis/inflateable/k0c18420?price=0.00__550.00

You could also click on the "Tinnies and Dinghies" section.
A tinnie is an aluminium dinghy here in Oz.

You could also try e-bay,

http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/Inflatable-Semi-Inflatable-/102699/i.html

Please don't forget that there are strict reporting proceedures that must be followed when arriving in Australia by yacht. You must give notice. The following are some of the rules that must be followed. Please contact the Customs department for an update of correct proceedure.

The rules apparently are:

Information for yachts travelling to australia - let us know you're coming

The Master of a vessel arriving in Australia is required by law to give notice of impending arrival not later than 96 hours before arrival. Penalties may apply for failure to do so.

There are several agencies interested in your arrival - principally Customs, Quarantine and Immigration.

96 hours notice may be given by either;

* Sending an email to yachtreport@customs.gov.au:

* Sending a fax to +61 2 6275 6331;

* Phoning the Australian Customs National Communications Centre on +61 3 9244 8973.

You will need to provide the following information

* The name of your craft;

* Your intended first port of arrival;

* Your estimated arrival time;

* Your last four ports;

* The details of people on board including name, date of birth, nationality and passport number;

* Details of any illness or disease recently encountered;

* If you have any animals on board;

* If you have any firearms on board.

RiffRaff is it OK if we clean hull and put new antyfouling next to careeing poles in Australia? In Poland there are no problems with this kind of work, but I heard that in Australia could be an enviromental restricion ?

One more question about dinghy - which shop you recommend (can be a lint to online shop) ? I think also about infatable kayak becouse it's easy to used it without outbord (Simon doesn't have outbord or any motor on-board)

morningsun thank you for link to gumtree - I'll chack it!

Wanton thanks - i now this procedure. I sand all information when Simon will be closer and when i could estimate date of arrival - As I wrote earlier there is no engine onboard so everything is reliant on the weather

Dobrochna
I have sent an email off to the Dinah beach yacht club requesting further information regarding careening poles
I will pass this on when and if they respond.
I am currently in Darwin working but unfortunately do not get too much time to get into the City center due to work committments. If I can get in on sunday I will ask around for more infomation

Cheers
Riff Raff

THX Riff Raff!

I have another question :) Which type of International antifoul you recommend for sailing in your water? What paints do you using?

I'am asking becouse in Poland we have different water so we have diferent kind of paints. I learned that the best information about products always have local sailors :) I found 2 kind of antfoul - International Micron Extra & International Micron 66 but i cannot find information about them :/

If you pick up a Whitworths catalog it explains a bit. Also could be read online.
Ring International, they are very helpful have reps everywhere.
I use Micron Extra, ten litres for a 28 hull, two coats on hull three on the leading edges, hard on prop shaft, Propspeed on prop. Lasts two years, l clean the hull myself.

Thank you sirgallivant . I also thought about Micron Extra. But what is a diffrent between Mixron Wxtra and Micron 66 ?

Simon have about 650nm to Thusday Island. He clean yacht after overflow, lost books and probably tools (jigsaw, polisher, cordless screwdriver). He complain about food - He took most of supply from Poland ( ex. great ready to eat meal and soup made by Profi company, fruits and meat in cans) but he eat almost everything because he cannot bring food to Australia. So he eat now almost the same every day - kasha, noodle, soups. In last messages he wrote that his dream now is big stake, ice cream and cold beer :)

Becouse of Storm on Pacyfic have delay, so I need take care of myself for 4 or 5 days in Darwin :(

The difference is quality and p r i c e M66 costing much more. Here it is, from the catalog:
"M66 is a long lasting Self-polishing Co-polymer that is formulated with copper acrylate co-polymer resin and Biolux technology for use below the waterline on fiberglass, wood and primed metal boat hulls and parts in salt and brackish water." (4L $349)

"MExtra optimum performance antifouling. High copper content, self polishing technology ablates slowly over time. Re-coats most existing anti-fouling with normal surface preparation." (4L $219; 10L $499)

I also use MUltra (harder no ablating) on the prop-shaft and the leading edges of the hull.
I use MExtra with success.

Also, about the food. Certainly, Customs has very strict rules as we do not want diseases what we do not have here get in, but canned food pre-packed, freeze-dried food items should not be a problem l guess. I am not sure, though! Check with Customs or Quarantine! before arrival!

They are definitely touchy about fresh food, animal products, plants, fruit. Fines apply too! Declare everything, absolutely everything, you can not go wrong.
Also, clean the inside but do not toss the rubbish over the side! Declare it too!

How do you go with the inflatable?

I saw that Micron Extra is better becouse it's cheaper ;)

Just in case Simon eat everything on board :) We make supplies for next part of cruise in Darwin. I read carefully all information about Australian Border Control especially about food (thanks holdfastom !). There are information that you cannot bring anything with meat - in ready meals from Poland there is meat. By the way this food is extremely good for sailors! Simon now eat last portion which he took from Poland one year ago - it's really long term food and don't need fridge :)

Inflatable? I would by one from e-bay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2-7M-INFLATABLE-BOAT-PONTOON-DINGHY-TENDER-FISHING-BOAT-WITH-SLAT-FLOOR-/281555861766?hash=item418e098106). We don't have adress in Darwin so I write to Dinah Beach Cruising Yacht Club is there posibility to send it to their adress. I am waiting for answer... And still looking for dinghy in gumtree :)

Before you buy that...two things,
l have a 28 feet cruiser and l sold my 2.7m inflatable dingy because it was too big for my yacht! Your mate got only a 22 feet boat! ? ? Would not he be better off with a smaller dingy?

This dingy looks like a child's toy boat!


I would buy something like a Zodiac or Achilles. They might costs a few extra bobs but it will be better on the long run, l think.
You get what you paid for!

Howdy...so hows it going?

Simon is on Gulf of Carpentaria, probably arrival to Darwin on next Monday (31.08). I e-mailes with Wendy from Dinah Beach Cruising YA. Probably Simon make slide show about his cruise during Darwin to Ambon Yacht Race.

He decide that he prefer kayak, so I buy one for him.

Tomorrow morning I leave Poland and starting my trip to Darwin :)

Hi.

we are in Darwin now. there was no problems with customs and biosecurity control. Everything was quick and in nice atmosphere :)

now we are in Dinah Beach Cruising Yacht Associacion. Yacht is stayung clise to careeing poles and we are prepering bottom to make new antifouling. Still don'tnow with one we choose... thera are too many options in international.

Select to expand quote

MaxusSoloAroud said..
Hi.

we are in Darwin now. there was no problems with customs and biosecurity control. Everything was quick and in nice atmosphere :)

now we are in Dinah Beach Cruising Yacht Associacion. Yacht is stayung clise to careeing poles and we are prepering bottom to make new antifouling. Still don'tnow with one we choose... thera are too many options in international.

Decide whether you are going to use hard or ablative antifouling. Then see what the local fish coop stocks or the yacht club patrons use. Get some feedback from the locals on what works there.

hi.
we almost done with boat. Simon is leaving Darwin at 28 or 29 September and he sailing to South Afriaca around Cape Good Hope.

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MaxusSoloAroud said..
hi.
we almost done with boat. Simon is leaving Darwin at 28 or 29 September and he sailing to South Afriaca around Cape Good Hope.

Good luck Simon... Fair winds. Keep us posted with photos of your trip.