Tuesday August 17-Day 15, Total nautical miles traveled 2091, 48 nautical miles traveled in the past 24 hours.
7 am, partial fog and little sun, barely being able to see the reef. The anchor came up cleanly then the wind gently pushed us backwards safely away from the edge of the reef. A trip line was attached to the back of anchor before it was deployed. It assists in pulling the anchor up and out of its holding in case it was stuck on something.
Australia Boarder Force Aircraft called both of us with questions regarding last port, next port where our boats are registered.
*Sourdough Notes* another Belle loaf in the works. This loaf as well as the last, I did a mixture of flours, 5 parts bread flour 1 part of a flour purchased in Tahiti. It’s a high protein flour, looks like it’s part wheat flour. The label is in French, when I googled the brand it says it’s pizza dough flour. It worked well for the last loaf.
Very unpleasant night! Lots of wind waves crashing over the reef we were rocking and rolling all night long!
Wednesday August 18-Day 16, Total nautical miles traveled 2166, 75 nautical miles traveled in the past 24 hours.
7:15 anchor up. It was a bit more difficult than yesterday, the anchor was stuck on coral.
Light on Wyborn Reef 
Albany light at the northern most point of Australia. 
Light on Eborac Island
We traveled nortwest till 4:30pm, anchored near York Island and a beautiful beach. It’s quite windy around 25knots, it’s an off shore breeze so there are minimal waves. Much more pleasant than last night.
Thursday August 19-Day 17, Total nautical miles traveled 2214, 48 nautical miles traveled in the past 24 hours.
Anchor up by 7:15 am amidst 37.5 knots of wind, per Ohana. A little Change of plans. Instead of going towards Thursday Island, which requires snaking through islands and a narrow pass with lots of current, we are going down the Prince if Wales shipping channel to anchor at Goods Island.
Our friends on Ohana have a child with a disability that requires life saving drugs. They have arranged throughout the world on their journey to have medication shipped to various places. With the assistance of an agent, they were able to have it delivered to Australia, which is currently closed. When we stop at Goods Island, they were greeted by a pilot boat to deliver the drugs to them. In addition, they also requested to purchase produce. Ohana asked us we’d like some also, we gave them a short list of what we’d like. Grateful for that!
Hammond Rock marked the with a light near the edge of the channel. As we passed the rock the current was ripping by, the boat turned sideways going at times 8 knots speed over ground. The engine was turned on to get back on course, doing 9.7 SOG, 3.5 knots of current. Reminiscence of “Hells Gate” on the East River in NYC.
Friday August 20-Day 18, departed Good Island by 7am along with s/v Ohana. It was nice break to stop each night after the big winds we had the weeks before.
Total nautical miles traveled 2240, 26 nautical miles traveled in the past 24 hours.
It was a pretty calm day, sailing 4-6 knots. By early afternoon we exited the Torres Strait to the Arafura Sea.
Saturday August 21-Day 19, Total nautical miles traveled 2380, 140 nautical miles traveled in the past 24 hours.
Sunday August 22-Day 20, Total nautical miles traveled 2517, 137 nautical miles traveled in the past 24 hours.
Time change, we are now in the same zone with Seoul, South Korea, GMT+9. It’s 8:00am Sunday, 7pm Saturday in Philadelphia.
Shortly before 1:30pm, Ohana received a radio call from Australia Border Force Aircraft requesting their location and asked if Trance was still sailing with them. 20 minutes later we both had another flyby. They are following our progress through Australian waters.
Fix- it Sunday. iPhone and iPad charging has been challenging. Charging cables frequently fail and we purchase new ones, guess it’s the salty and humid environment. The marine USB port Dan installed on the side of binnacle rusted, it was replaced. Access to the electronics is under the compass. A switch for the bow thruster is also there. Dan found a loose wire on a screw, maybe that’s why the thruster wasn’t working properly. It would turn off at the wrong time or turn the chart plotter off, requiring jiggling the joystick to get it to turn on again.
Monday August 23-Day 21, Total nautical miles traveled 2655, 138 nautical miles traveled in the past 24 hours.
There is always something that needs to be fixed. The Genoa sheet, chaffed. On a boat, ropes cut to a length for a purpose are called “lines”. Lines attached to control a sail are referred to as a “sheets”. Dan removed it from the sail and cut off about 3ft and reattached it to the sail.
We received word today that Indonesia is closed once again to foreigners due to a surge in COVID cases. Our agent told us we can stop there as a transient for fuel and provisions. We will not be allowed to get off our boat. This will be a short rest before crossing the Indian Ocean.
Sailing Trance 
Sorry Indonesia is now closed, what a wild trip to get there so far. Good Luck crossing your next Ocean. Love you always!!!
LikeLike
We still hope Indonesia opens soon. We will stop in Lombok. Can’t get off the boat. Yet, can get fuel, food provisions, they will do laundry and get a SIM data card if needed.
LikeLike
Oh wow…sorry to hear about Indonesia. Safe travels crossing the Indian Ocean. We just love reading about your adventure!
LikeLike
Thanks Beth, rumor has it they may open in a week so we are slowing going towards Lombok, where we would “check in” to Indonesia.
LikeLike
Why is the Australia Boarder Force asking you questions and tracking you? You are a marked boat out there! LOL So, my last post about the waves should’ve been here. You went on your side?????? You guys are crazy and I’m so glad Dan is so knowledgeable with all the ‘stuff’ on your boat!! That really sucks about Indonesia. Hopefully, they’ll reopen.
LikeLike
We were in Australian waters, that’s what they do, making sure we don’t sneak into their country.
It was an illusion, we were not on our side.
Yes seeings how we spent $600 for our eVisas they said it’s not refundable.
LikeLike
Whoa! That just doesn’t seem right! Hopefully they’ll open soon.
LikeLike
You mentioned the s/v Ohana has multiple Adults and kids. Same family or just sailing friends? And a child needing lifesaving drugs. WOW.
LikeLike
One family with 6 kids, 5 girls and 1 boy, two nurses or helpers with the kids and one make crew. Their youngest daughter has cerebral palsy. They are also sailing around the world. They are sailing a 62ft catamaran.
LikeLike