Text Author: John-Frederick Thye

We left Chile 6 months and 8600nm ago and on 27 October at 21:15 local time our anchor touched Australian soil. Wow, we were ecstatic... and hungry like a pack of starved wolves. After making our entrance against 2 knots of Burnett River current and a steep northerly prefrontal chop, we motored with both engines at 3/4 throttle into the protection of Bundaberg Port Marina, where we anchored next to 6 other yachts, waiting for Customs and Quarantine clearance. We staid up until 2:30 in the morning eating and drinking as much as we could because Ausi Quarantine is very strict. The official, who couldn't have been nicer and presented us with a mountain of Quarantine stickers, pamphlets, key chains and a baseball cap (which reads "Quarantine Matters!"), searched our lockers, bilges, fridge and freezer for food and organic matters that are prohibited from entering the country. He snagged the rest of our ice cream, pork sausages, eggs, milk (liquid, condensed, and powdered), veggies, fruits, and seeds we use for baking.

Customs also took a close look at our liquor stash because legally a yacht is not allowed to enter the country with more than 1.5 liters of hard liquor per crew member. We tried answering all their questions about our team and boat as well as we could. We were honored by their interest, but in the back of our minds worried constantly about being setup with a trick question which would have them send us right back out to sea again. Of course we had nothing to hide, but the 2 Customs Officials drilled us with such curiosity and detail, that it seriously mad us wonder. The sound of heavy rubber clearance and immigration stamps smacking our passports brought a big sigh of relief to Cally, Dan, and me. I wonder if the officials ever noticed.

After Quarantine trucked off with a pile of yellow bio sealed commercial plastic bags we didn't waist any time lamenting our losses, but hit the local pub for a refreshing round of Dark and Stormys (a mix of Bundaberg rum and ginger beer). Ahhhh, how good it is to be in an English speaking country again. Cheers, Mates!