The next couple of days were nice sailing as we made our way towards the Dundas Strait north of Darwin. We thought we’d have to anchor outside the strait to wait for a favorable tide, but good sailing weather got us there earlier than expected and we zipped right through with a helpful push from the current. It wasn’t as strong as it can get in livelier weather, I guess, but was enough to clock some serious mileage overnight, and we approached Darwin the next morning.

Just shy of Darwin I looked up to see that we had managed to break a batten in the sail. I will admit that my insistence on nearly always sailing from Point A to Point B directly may have led to way more accidental jibes than we should have had when the wind was coming from directly behind us. That batten had hit the spreader a few times too many, apparently. Better that the batten gave way, rather than the spreader.

And just like that, we were in Darwin, Ali was back (I swear she is, I just don’t have any pictures to prove it), and the kids were in the wave pool with their friends. All the cities along Australia’s coast seem to have plenty of water park type places to visit for free or very little money. It’s a response to the fact that the ocean, as inviting as it is, is inhabited by saltwater crocodiles. I can’t imagine a more frustrating place to live.

The night market happens twice a week, and is just a short walk up along the waterfront from the Fannie Bay anchorage. A nice place to go eat some dinner, listen to live music, and watch the sunset. You’d think maybe the locals would tire of it, but the place is always crowded.

We were all jealous of the locals. They obviously knew what they were doing, showing up with wagons filled with coolers of beer, folding tables, and chairs.

Arriving back at the Darwin Dinghy Sailing Club after dark. The sailing club is where we beached the dinghies while in Fannie Bay. Nice welcoming club who lets all the cruisers use their garbage, water, and even their dinghy dollies when the tide is way out.

And let me tell you, the tide goes WAYYYYY out. Tidal ranges during the king tide were nearly 30 feet. At low tide, the first three or four rows of small catamarans anchored out there would be sitting on the sand. We had to plan our adventures ashore very carefully. You couldn’t leave a dinghy out at the low tide line and return at high tide because you’d have yourself a half mile swim through crocodile infested waters to get back to it. Our friends were here, so there was a lot of coordination involved.

The Darwin Museum was just a few minutes walk up the road and was absolutely fantastic. Every time I thought we had finished seeing everything, a new wing would open up before me. Tons of regional history and cool displays.

We were all surprised to walk down one hallway and discover a huge room filled with unique old boats.

I can’t overstate how important a good, nearby grocery store is when you live on a boat. The Fannie Bay IGA was a gem.

Darwin is severely lacking in the free BBQ department (at least compared to other Australian cities along the coast). We would make do with a roast chicken picnic dinner instead.

The Darwin Dinghy Sailing Club at night. There are a number of these “clubs” along the waterfront. The Dinghy Sailing Club, the Trailer Boat Club, the Water Ski Club, etc.. They all look similar, with good food, a lively bar, and great sunsets.

Laughing after I was nominated to be the one to enter the croc water at night. In reality, nobody worries too much about crocs here. Attacks are rare, though admittedly deadly. Signs on the beach said the last croc sighting in this bay was a couple of months earlier. It isn’t as if they are swimming back and forth along the beach looking for snacks.