Flags, Flags and more Flags......

Pictured: Just a 'few' of the yachts in the Port-to-Port rally - there were too many to include then all....

ANNUAL PORT-TO-PORT RALLY: Well the invasion of the yachts from South Pacific Island of Vanuatu has taken place. There are 56 yachts officially in the Port-to-Port rally with about 20 more yachts tagging along. The marina can not berth this volume of yachts so there yachts rafted off each other and about 15-20 anchored around the marina. Our once peaceful marina is a zoo. Trying to use the bathrooms is a major challenge. (While it's kinda of fun to see them come in - I hope they don't stay long....)

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: There are yachts from the USA & Europe, as well as, many Aussies returning home. They are all coming here to get out of the path of the upcoming 'Cyclone' season. Upon arrival these yachts must be pass through customs and be inspected by quarantine officials before they are allowed to step foot on land. I met a couple of the quarantine inspectors - they were actually very nice.

FLAG PROTOCOL: A vessel traditionally flies her own countries' flag (or yachting ensign) on the stern of the boat. Upon entering a foreign county it is protocol (and common courtesy ) to fly the flag of the country you are visiting (in this case Australia) up near the starboard side spreader (higher than your own country's flag). On a number of the American yachts they have the USA flag flying as high up as they can get it and NO Australia flag - very insulting to the country they are visiting - (as pointed out by the guys in the Master Class 5 course I'm taking - quite embarrassing). As for all the other flags flying on the yachts in the above photos - they are signal flags (letters of the alphabet and numbers). Some spelling out the name of their yacht - other just for the fun of it. The Port-to-Port Rally was having a 'Best Dressed Yacht' contest.

YACHT-IES: Despite the volume of new yachts and people - we are not really getting to meet many of them - as the Port-to-Port Rally organizers have a jam packed schedule of events for the rally participants. We have met a few -like the yacht next to us - they are from Alaska on their way to Perth, delivering a boat for their Aussie friends there (fortunately they DO have the Australian flag flying on the starboard spreader). We also met the editor of http://www.sail-world.com/ (To Rob & Donna Starkey - Mike delivered the 'Red Wine' and card you left for Ted & Nancy).

OTHER TIDBITS: - I'm flat out doing my TAFE course - scheduled to go out on the TAFE training vessel (A 60-foot Trawler) on Monday & Tuesday (24x7). It is a real working type boat - (rusty & dirty - in my humble opinion). The weather is forecast to be windy and raining. We have to do things like - work on the engine, use the 'emergency steering system' , navigate, etc. We practiced setting up the 'emergency steering' at the 'dock' - that was dangerous enough - can't imagine doing it rough weather. (Hope I come back in one piece).

Mike has been developing some very nice 'Web-sites' for people - so far not-paid for - but hopefully it will lead to some business. see: www.the-arabian-dream.com

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Port to Port Invasion & TAFE

Pictured Tranquility of: Sunset from our boat, The Marina, Nearby Beach & Sunrise

A SAFE PORT We have decided to make Bundaberg our base for the next 6 months. The cyclone season in Central/Northern Queensland can occur anywhere between Nov-March (and the winds have turned early this year). We feel that Port Bundaberg is a lovely, tranquil, cost effective and safe marina to stay put at until next season. It is also very easy port to get in and out of, in any kind of weather. There a numerous locations that we can still venture off to during this time with Bundy being close enough for us to get back to - if a cyclone were to develop.

TRANQUIL When we 1st arrived here - the isolation and openness of this area/ marina was a little daunting - but now we love it! The sunsets & and sunrise's are really pretty. Being able to see for miles without buildings blocking your view is really nice. And as mentioned previously - I really enjoy driving along the country roads with so little traffic - (so what if everything is at least 25K away). Well, we aren't the only ones who like Bundy.

PORT TO PORT This marina has developed into one of the best ports to travel to from the South Pacific Islands (like Vanuatu, Fiji, New Caledonia) to escape the cyclone season. Many of yachts travel together in the 'PORT TO PORT' ocean passage. The group running the 'Port to Port' help organize dealing with Australia Customs. AND THEY ARE ABOUT TO INVADE OUR TRANQUILITY!!! Over 50 yachts are schedule to start arriving the 1st week of November. Some are already starting to arrive - anchored off the marina with the 'Yellow Quarantine Flag's" flying awaiting to be cleared by customs. While it will be exciting to see them all come it - I selfishly hope they move on to other locations......

TAFE The Maritime division of 'Technical and Further Education' (TAFE) is located in Port Bundaberg. And there is a Master Class V course starting next week - ssooooo, I have enrolled in the course. Wish me luck.

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Windsong, Dame Margot & Misty Blue

Pictured: TOP - Mike, Rob, Margot, Donna, Ian, Sharon, Michelle on Dame Margot MIDDLE (Left) Hear NO, Speak NO, See No - Evil (Right) BBQ on the Marina BOTTOM - Community News

FRIENDS We had the pleasure of catching up with folks from the RPAYC as they traveled south back to Pittwater after they wonderful time in the Whitsunday's.

Three boats - Windsong, Dame Margot and Misty Blue stopped over in Bundaberg for a few nights. We really enjoyed seeing them and getting together for diner, drinks and catching on on everyone's adventures. The marina was nice enough to let us use their BBQ and we had diner using their picnic tables one evening (pictured).

PROVISIONS REQUIRED Of course everyone needed to go shopping for 'provisions' before the next leg of their trip. While shopping for these essentials Donna, Sharon and Margot stumbled upon some 'bargains' too hard to pass up - (i.e. shoes). There seemed to be some 'discrepancy' about the cost of these bargain shoes.... So as husbands tried to get to the bottom of this the ladies choose the oath of "SEE NO EVIL, SPEAK NO EVIL, HEAR NO EVIL (pictured)!!!

(note to the ladies: I found the bargain shoes at the mall - the sales person remembered you all well!)

BUNDABERG COMMUNITY NEWS The local newspaper was schedule to take photos of a family staying at the marina for community story - about how they like Bundaberg. The people didn't turn up. The photographer decided that Mike & I were would make a good 'back-up' in case they couldn't get the 1st story published. So we made it to the local newspapers (pictured).

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