#australian circumnavigation cruise

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 9.28 (after 1920)

1924 – The first aerial circumnavigation is completed by a team from the US Army. 1928 – Alexander Fleming notices a bacteria-killing mold growing in his laboratory, discovering what later became known as penicillin. 1939 – World War II: Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union agree on a division of Poland. 1939 – World War II: The siege of Warsaw comes to an end. 1941 – World War II: The Drama uprising against the Bulgarian occupation in northern Greece begins. 1941 – Ted Williams achieves a .406 batting average for the season, and becomes the last major league baseball player to bat .400 or better. 1944 – World War II: Soviet Army troops liberate Klooga concentration camp in Estonia. 1951 – CBS makes the first color televisions available for sale to the general public, but the product is discontinued less than a month later. 1961 – A military coup in Damascus effectively ends the United Arab Republic, the union between Egypt and Syria. 1970 – Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser dies of a heart attack in Cairo. 1973 – The ITT Building in New York City is bombed in protest at ITT's alleged involvement in the coup d'état in Chile. 1975 – The Spaghetti House siege, in which nine people are taken hostage, takes place in London. 1986 – The Democratic Progressive Party becomes the first opposition party in Taiwan. 1992 – A Pakistan International Airlines flight crashes into a hill in Nepal, killing all 167 passengers and crew. 1994 – The cruise ferry MS Estonia sinks in the Baltic Sea, killing 852 people. 1995 – Bob Denard and a group of mercenaries take the islands of the Comoros in a coup. 1995 – Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat sign the Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. 2000 – Al-Aqsa Intifada: Ariel Sharon visits Al-Aqsa Mosque known to Jews as the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. 2008 – Falcon 1 becomes the first privately developed liquid-fuel ground-launched vehicle to put a payload into orbit by the RatSat mission. 2008 – The Singapore Grand Prix is held as Formula One's inaugural night race, with Fernando Alonso winning the event. Almost a year later it was revealed that Alonso's team-mate Nelson Piquet Jr. had been ordered to crash his car to help bring out the safety car and give Alonso the advantage and win. 2009 – The military junta leading Guinea attacks a protest rally, killing or wounding 1,400 people. 2012 – Somali and African Union forces launch a coordinated assault on the Somali port of Kismayo to take back the city from al-Shabaab militants. 2012 – Sita Air Flight 601 crashes in Madhyapur Thimi, Nepal, killing all 19 passengers and crew. 2014 – The 2014 Hong Kong protests begin in response to restrictive political reforms imposed by the NPC in Beijing. 2016 – The 2016 South Australian blackout occurs, lasting up to three days in some areas. 2018 – The 7.5 Mw 2018 Sulawesi earthquake, which triggered a large tsunami, leaves 4,340 dead and 10,679 injured. 2023 – The 2023 Rotterdam shootings occurred, during which two people were killed in a shooting and arson incident at a residence in Delfshaven, Rotterdam. Additionally, one person lost their life in a classroom at the Erasmus University Medical Center.

[chrisframeofficial]

P&O Australia Celebrates 90th

P&O Cruises has launched celebrations of the 90th anniversary of cruising at a history filled event hosted aboard the newly refurbished Pacific Encounter. 

The occasion marks 90 years of P&O offering scheduled cruises from Australian ports, with the first voyage taking place aboard the P&O ocean liner Strathaird. 

Strathaird’s first Australian cruise sailed from Sydney to Brisbane and onward to Norfolk Island. It was so popular that it sold out in three days and demonstrated the significant desire for Australian pleasure cruising. 

While passengers were excited to see ports such as Brisbane and Norfolk Island on the first voyages, the ship was the real appeal; especially when the voyage was being booked on one of the famous Strath-sisters such as Strathaird and Strathnaver. 

In fact, it was so successful, that P&O undertook a further five cruises in that inaugural season, with voyages aboard Strathaird, Strathnaver, Moldavia, Narkunda and Maloja taking place throughout 1933. So, what was life on the early cruises like? 

Well, very different that’s for sure. 

Today we are used to cruises being all encompassing experiences where your every whim is catered for. There are teams of entertainment staff aboard each cruise ship to ensure passengers are kept entertained for the entire trip. Take P&O’s Pacific Encounter for example. 

She’s got two show lounges, a shipboard hotel, multiple restaurants, a spa, swimming pools and the on-deck Edge experience including zip lines, rope ladder climbing and the brand-new twin racer waterslides. Now it won’t come as a surprise to you that the first P&O cruises did not offer waterslides. But they also didn’t offer much of what is available today. 

After boat drill, on day one, passengers would be invited to nominate a committee of other passengers who were then tasked with developing an entertainment programme. 

The purser’s office would provide a few staff to help, but it was up to the travellers to arrange the actual events. Popular activities on the early cruises included egg and spoon relays, bucket and ball, as well as push the bottle. Despite the simple entertainment, the cruises were very popular and passenger demand increased. 

This was bolstered in 1934 when the P&O liner Cathay undertook a circumnavigation of Australia – the first P&O cruise of its kind, and something that pioneered Australian cruising travel even further. 

Over the decades, P&O Cruises has grown to become Australia’s leading cruise brand. The 1980s saw Oriana cruise here, as well as the beloved Fairstar which was unquestionably Australia’s favourite cruise ship. 

Fairstar was followed by Fair Princess which was in-turn replaced by Pacific Sky. By the 2000s the brand was introducing more and more cruise ships to sail locally – some names you may remember including Pacific Sun – the former Jubilee, Pacific Star – the former Tropicale, Pacific Dawn – the former Regal Princess, Pacific Pearl – the former Ocean Village, Pacific Jewel – the former Crown Princess, Pacific Eden – the former Statendam and Pacific Aria – the former Ryndam. 

Today the brand has three large ships – Pacific Encounter, Pacific Adventure and Pacific Explorer. These ships continue the P&O cruising tradition, sailing on pleasure voyages from Aussie ports to the South Pacific. 

Happy 90th Anniversary P&O Cruises, and here’s to the next 90!

[luxebeat]

Holland America Line’s Noordam Returns to Service in Fort Lauderdale

Holland America Line’s Noordam Returns to Service in Fort Lauderdale

Ship is the eighth in the fleet to restart since industry-wide pause in March 2020 After more than two years since the industrywide pause began due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Holland America Line’s Noordam returned to service Sunday, April 24, 2022, at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The ship embarked guests for a 21-day Panama Canal transit to Vancouver, Canada, that will position it…

[thesteveyates]

The Contessa 26.

Canterbury tales.

An unknown bloke who designs fast dinghies and dayboats.

What was i thinking ?, here i am working on the design series posts for ‘F’ and ‘G’ now and for some reason i completely missed out on some of the ‘C’s, so in this post i’m going to try and correct that with a quick look at one of the best traditional smaller cruising boats ever built and then take a look at the work of British designer ; Keith Callaghan.

Contessa 26.

“Sweet sailing, seaworthy, safe, seamanlike” : these are all words that have bee used to describe the Contessa 26 as designed back in 1966 by David Sadler alongside boatbuilder Jeremy Rogers who built the boats under his ‘Contessa’ brand.  The basic design drew strongly on the Folkboat shape ; Sadler having been a Folkboat owner. In size, shape and displacement the Contessa is very much akin to a later model Folkboat with it’s semi-long keel, keel hung rudder, low coachroof and so on….to it’s ‘compact’ Folkboat like cabin under a low coachroof.

These are all pretty old boats now and there are a lot of very tired and run-down ones kicking around, and they do pop up occasionally as cheap sell-offs ; i tracked one on EBay last year that went for less than £1000 but that one looked as though it needed a new engine, all new rigging and new sails…..i���d be happy to sail one without an engine, in fact i would make the boat faster by filling in the prop void and just having a big oar to get home with !.

What they are as an older GRP boat is a much heavier layup than more modern GRP hulls, please correct me if i’m wrong but iv’e never heard of a very bad case of boat-pox in the Contessa 26 either.    Even a rough one is eminently rescue-able and, i would say. totally worth the effort : that of course begs the question “would i have one” ?.  My answer is both yes and no in the context of that answer over time.  In the past my answer would have been yes except that i chose a Frances 26 instead because it’s a bit of a ‘chunkier’ boat inside and there were lots of things i liked more about the Franny !.       My current answer is no because i now want boats that dry out on their own bottom with either none, or very little support : both the Contessa and my old Frances will stand on their keels, that’s how i scrubbed mine, but both of them need legs to stand on a beach.

Contessa 26…..what is it good for ?

Answer….pretty much anything and everything as long as it’s just you and maybe your partner, and don’t expect to be able to stand up in one ; just like a Folkboat !.  The list of Contessa 26 voyages and accomplishments is so long that it’s hard to pick out a good small sample but here’s a few ; this, by the way, is a quite shameless cut and paste from the Contessa 26 Wiki page.

“In a review Michael McGoldrick wrote, “The Contessa 26 … is clearly robust and overbuilt, and it has to rate as one of the very best ocean-going production boats in its size category. For example, it has no sliding hatch over the main companionway, a feature which makes the cabin roof much stronger and better able to withstand a pounding in an offshore storm. Evidence of this boat’s abilities as a bluewater cruiser can be found in the fact that it was chosen by both Tania Aebi and Brian Caldwell in their separate attempts to set the record as the youngest person to complete a single-handed circumnavigation. Because of the nature and origins of this design, the Contessa 26 has a narrow beam and limited elbow room down below.

Peter Hancock tells of his travels in Kylie in Sailing out of Silence, Sailing into Sunshine, and Sailing Home. Several transoceanic voyages have been completed, including two circumnavigations: by Tania Aebi in Varuna, as described in her book Maiden Voyage, and by Brian Caldwell who in 1995 aged 19, began a journey of 27,000 miles (43,000 km) in Mai Miti Vavau to become, at the time, the youngest person to sail around the world alone. These latter two sailed in the J. J. Taylor built Canadian version of the 26.

Norwegian couple Henrik Nor-Hansen and Nina Kristin Nilsen are currently undertaking a circumnavigation in their Jeremy Rogers 1976 Contessa, Bika having set-off from Norway in Spring 2005.

Australian Nick Jaffe sailed singlehanded in his Jeremy Rogers 1972 Contessa 26 named Constellation, to Sydney, Australia. He set off from Monnikendam, the Netherlands on 17 September 2007 and arrived in Sydney in the early hours on 1 February 2010.

Canadian Stéphane Tremblay, sailed singlehanded & engineless from Sandy Hook, New Jersey to Spain via the Azores & back against the trade wind, aboard his J.J. Taylor Contessa 26 Joshua III on 15 May 2008.

Thomas Höckne did two single-handed circumnavigations in a Jeremy Rogers Contessa 26 named “Tai Fun”. The first lasted between 1981 and 1985,and went via the Panama Canal and the Cape of Good Hope. The second lasted from 1987 to 1998, via the same general route. Both started and ended in Helsingborg Sweden. “Tai Fun” had no inboard engine.“

Now for something radically different : Keith Callaghan and boats that look like a Merlin Rocket on steroids.

Here’s one of his 18 foot open dayboat designs on Ebay.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Highlight-18-dingy-lifting-keel-keelboat-with-road-trailer/184145807743?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908131621%26meid%3D197d5f9bc66c4060920f3e4e0abcf029%26pid%3D100678%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dnone%26sd%3D193350150500%26itm%3D184145807743%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057&_trksid=p2380057.c100678.m3607&_trkparms=pageci%3Abcefee2b-5570-11ea-9eda-74dbd1802dc4%7Cparentrq%3A6ceb59dc1700aad7016064c7fffdd082%7Ciid%3A1

I’m unusual for a sailor of my generation in that i didn’t come up through dinghy racing as most of my friends had done ; had i gained that early ‘seat of the pants’ experience i would have been a much better sailor earlier on….at least i think so.

One of the boats that i greatly admired when i was effectively learning to sail….usually as bowman and all round winch-winder….was a very wide (for the time) and reputedly fast wooden racing dinghy that i was told was a Merlin Rocket.  I never did get to sail that one but as a class it was one that i always watched out for and still do, on this coast we have an active class of them just down the coast at Salcombe and racing them there, or in nearby Looe, is a big deal.   I used to marvel at their plethora of control lines and their radical looking wide chined hulls with that uncompromisingly sharp bow.

Merlin’s and please note that none of these pictures are my own.

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The high ‘C’ connection here is that British designer Keith Callaghan designed a series of radical ‘Rockets’ and then went on to design a whole series of other fast dinghy’s and dayboats with a very ‘Merlin Rocket’ kind of look to them….plumb bowed and usually wide sterned boats that look a bit like small mini transat yachts.

I have to admit that iv’e always hankered after a Merlin just for fun, except that i’m too old, too heavy and too slow to sail one…..or maybe not !.  For many years now iv’e kicked around the idea of somehow getting a viable boat to the start line of the Everglades challenge and one boat that iv’e always had in mind would be an older ‘classic’ Merlin but much converted.   That’s not as stupid an idea as it seems as there plenty of different Merlin designs, i’m just learning my way around them and the EC itself is often sailed in smaller and slower boats.

At the moment it’s still a daydream project except that iv’e worked out which of the older designs would be the one to go for and even had a chat with the class secratary to sound them out on the idea.  The main problem, aside from taming one and learning to react quickly again is that i would have to convert it to a solo boat and one would be more easily handled offshore.  I can see ways of doing that with for example a ‘soft’ rig like a standing lug and maybe a small balancing mizzen…..the boat isn’t much different in overall size to local guy Steve’s Welsford ‘Navigator’ although of course it’s a radically different concept.

Who knows…….?

The high ‘Cee,s’ The Contessa 26. Canterbury tales. An unknown bloke who designs fast dinghies and dayboats. What was i thinking ?, here i am working on the design series posts for 'F' and 'G' now and for some reason i completely missed out on some of the 'C's, so in this post i'm going to try and correct that with a quick look at one of the best traditional smaller cruising boats ever built and then take a look at the work of British designer ; Keith Callaghan.

[vacationsoup]

New Post has been published on https://vacationsoup.com/sailboats-in-exuma-2/

Sailboats in Exuma

Every year from November onwards cruising yachts start arriving in Elizabeth Harbour in Exuma. Then over the next two months we get a daily intake, weather permitting, of more yachts until we have a fleet of around 400 cruising yachts in Exuma.

The boats arrivals coincides with the end of hurricane season and on a calm day you will see a line of sails on the horizon approaching the entrance to the harbour.

Each yacht will fly a flag at the stern of their boat,  the flag of their country of registry. So you will see mainly US Stars and Stripes, Union Jacks, and Canadian maple leafs.  Amongst that fleet will also be boats from many Europian countries and probably some Australian. As they arrive they will fly a yellow flag from the spreaders which indicates that the yacht has yet to check in with customs and immigration.

Some yachts are live-aboard cruisers, whose boat is their home, many of them will live on board for several years and some have children aboard. Some are snowbirds, heading south to escape the winter weather others will be cruising the Caribbean islands.

The boats vary in size and design, from 30 foot monohulls and catamarans, to 100+ foot mega yachts.  With 400 boats  that equates to over a thousand persons, which obviously plays a significant part to the local economy. The social life of the boaters is pretty hectic with daily volley ball matches, mass organized dinghy trips to various beaches and restaurants and culminating with  week long festivities at the cruising regatta. Events will include competitions in: The round-the island-yacht-race, talent shows, treasure hunts and sand sculptures.

Each morning the boats will listen to their vhf radios for weather forecasts and if there is a threat of strong winds in the future days then they often move their vessel to a more sheltered location, which is easily done in a large harbour that encloses many smaller islands.

The season starts in November and runs through to Easter, when many either start heading North to their summer home, or head  South to continue their Caribbean or even their circumnavigation.

This coming winter is expected to be busier than ever due to the devastation in the Northern Bahamas caused by hurricane Dorian. This monster storm ravaged The Abacos and Grand Bahama islands. Two of the islands that many cruisers visit. So where will they go this year?  Only time will tell, but many are expected to head on down to Great Exuma thus increasing the boat count for 2019-2020, and some years to come.

[hudsonespie]

Residential Cruise Ship Conducts Exercise Off Western Australia

Western Australia's Premier Mark McGowan has admitted he was unsure why the world's largest private residential cruise ship, The World, was following a star-shaped track of the coast.

The World, with all guests evacuated and only a skeleton crew onboard, left Fremantle on April 6. “We don’t really know why she’s doing that,” he said. But a spokesman for vessel said the captain was having a bit of fun with a navigation training exercise. The five-pointed star is a holding pattern that covers the maximum distance in the smallest possible area.

The vessel was due to spend two months circumnavigating Australia between February and March until delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. She was then ordered to leave Australian waters, and future trips have now been canceled until July. 

There have been no cases of COVID-19 onboard The World, but other cruise ship passengers and their contacts make up about 40 percent of all COVID-19 cases in Western Australia.

On Wednesday, Western Australia recorded another five new cases of COVID-19, three from cruise ships: two from the Costa Victoria and one from the Artania. This brings the total number of cases linked to cruise ships in Western Australia to 212.  

from Storage Containers https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/residential-cruise-ship-conducts-exercise-off-western-australia via http://www.rssmix.com/

[travelingadv16-blog]

Travel In Sydney, Australia Things To Know Before You Get This

Not known Details About Places To See In Sydney, Australia

Blanketed with eucalyptus trees, the mountains are known for their characteristic blue haze and dramatic sandstone high cliff encounters. You can catch a train up there, yet the drive along the winding the Bell's Line of Road from Richmond, leading up to Mt Tomah's cold environment botanic gardens deserves the initiative (the gardens likewise have an outstanding dining establishment with sights to the Sydney plains).

We suggest staying a night in Katoomba-- not only does it have The Three Sisters, an unbelievable rock formation with a devoted search point, yet the community likewise has medical spa resorts and nearby Leura is an excellent area to consume, particularly Silks Brasserie, Solitary or Leura Garage. A picture from atop the bridge is the supreme souvenir-- also Oprah's done it.

The far less expensive, lesser-known option is the Pylon lookout. At the top of 200 actions, it places you 87 metres over sea level while offering you quick bits of info on the history as well as building and construction of the bridge. Don't trouble walking the length of the bridge, you'll obtain over it half way in.

The Greatest Guide To Great Destinations In Sydney

Obtain yourself a schooner as well as some club grub and also park on your own before the view as well as take pleasure in. The Hunter Valley is among Australia's best recognized a glass of wine areas. A two as well as a half hr drive from Sydney, the region has wineries and restaurants galore. It's a simple retreat for Sydney-siders getting away from the hustle as well as bustle of the city, where red wine tasting is at the top of the program.

In the last few years extra diverse varietals consisting of Tempranillo have been emerging. It's a stunning location with pleasant locals and holiday accommodation to fit all spending plans. Near Manly Coastline is this covert little treasure, a 10-minute stroll southern along the coastline course from the Manly surf club. BYO your snorkels as well as head out to the right-hand side of the bay where it opens up right into the ocean. Now with a burger, liqueur as well as lobster eatery the checklist of hamburgers suffices of a factor to go. Beyond of community, there's the East Sydney Resort, sometimes described as the last country-style bar in Sydney's city. Simply a brief stroll from the Sydney CBD, the club has fireplaces, top quality draft beer, and also yummy bar food and also treats.

The seaside route from Coogee to Bondi is a scenic reward. Not only is the 6km path a great way to workout, but it also provides much to see and also do along the road with lots of picnic places, rock pools to explore, parks for the kids, cafes as well as dining establishments, and also of course some high quality people-watching.

Little Known Facts About Places To See In Sydney, Australia.

If you're seeing in summer, capture a motion picture under stars at the St George Open Air movie theater, on the Fleet Tips at Mrs Macquarie's Chair. Enjoy fine food and wine, as well as the ideal in brand-new release films on a gigantic 350 square metre movie theater screen, with the attractive Harbour Bridge and also Opera House as your background.

Order a cheese board or a pizza and your toxin of option and also take in the pulse of the city as day resorts to night. If you're fortunate, you'll see one of the substantial cruise ship linings departing, rattling the Harbour with blasts of its departure horn. With online songs every night of the week, this dark below ground pizzeria and also whisky bar is a hidden gem favoured by those in Sydney aiming to overtake friends as well as pay attention to some awesome songs.

The Elevation Dining establishment rests at the 36th floor of the Dreamland Resort as well as Sydney and offers several of the finest modern Australian food and also Australian wine in city. Surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass, the Elevation has sights of Sydney Harbour that match the sophistication of the restaurant. The Island is Australia's initial drifting, open-air beach bar.

6 Simple Techniques For Great Destinations In Sydney

It can only be accessed by water taxi and also you'll require to publication in advance for their weekend beach club celebrations, but it creates a truly unforgettable experience. This wintertime event of light transforms the city every evening for a fortnight between late May as well as early June. Several of the world's leading musicians produce sculptures and task outstanding colours onto the city's buildings and more than a million individuals appear to see as well as experience the joyful glow of Brilliant Sydney .

While the Sydney CBD itself has a terrific array of tasks as well as sights to see, you'll be losing out if you don't circumnavigate a bit. The locations around Sydney are renowned Nearby Travel Agency for their beaches and seaside locations where you can walk, have a BARBEQUE or enjoy one of the several public swimming pools.

Booking.com Garie Coastline, Royal National forest It might be difficult to believe however Sydney does have its share of poor weather condition. Rainy days are not as uncommon as you assume and while winter months is more light, it absolutely isn't great for swimming. Luckily, areas in and around Sydney likewise provide some incredible interior task alternatives such as shopping, clubbing, dining establishments, coffee shops as well as theatres among others.

About Places To See In Sydney

Nonetheless, traveling simply a brief distance from the city will certainly provide you an opportunity to see world renowned national forests, coastlines as well as obviously, take some remarkable images. Here are simply a few examples of what is available precisely Sydney's front door! Sydney's largest and also possibly the very best theme park (most definitely among the most effective worldwide) bursts with adrenaline and also unforgettable moments.

[albinohare]

Sailing Tasmania: Bucket list cruising across the Bass Strait

Cruising in the ‘roaring forties’ proves rewarding for Janneke Kuysters as she braves the Bass Strait to explore Tasmania

Photo: Alamy / Alistair Scott

“No pizza today.” When this announcement is made at Port Cygnet Sailing Club, all conversations among members in the clubhouse stop. “The pizza guy says it’s too hot. He won’t bake today,” is the explanation. Too hot in the Roaring Forties? It’s true; it has been a delight to sail here with warm temperatures, clear skies, light breezes and moderate waves.

The sailing club members recover from the disappointment of missing their pizza by delving into more cheese and crackers with gusto. The local Shiraz flows, as does the conversation about sailing, racing, crews and skippers: this is cruising in Tasmania at its best.

Tasmania is one of those bucket-list cruising destinations. On the other side of the world and across the daunting Bass Strait, it takes a lot of effort to get there. But the rewards are plentiful: stunning landscapes; very diverse cruising areas; superb food and a friendly welcome.

Bathurst Harbour on Tasmania’s west coast

The cruising areas can roughly be divided into three: the north of Tasmania and the islands scattered in the Bass Strait, the east coast, and the west coast. The numerous islands to the north of Tasmania, such as the Furneaux Group, Hunter Islands and King Island, offer excellent opportunities to break the crossing of the Bass Strait into daysails, with a wide range of anchorages available to find shelter from the occasionally strong winds.

The islands are little treasures where everything revolves around really good food; many are the base for specialised fleets of fishing boats and the cattle on the windswept pastures produce milk for an abundance of cheeses and other dairy products.

The north coast of Tasmania has a few towns, Launceston being the largest one. This second largest town of Tasmania lies on the banks of the river Tamar and has an active sailing community.

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Sharon Bon, who cruises with her husband Jason from Launceston on their Fountaine Pajot Athena 38 Aurora, comments: “The Tamar river is a perfect place to potter around in a boat. Launceston is 30 miles inland, so you can take your time exploring the river and using anchorages, jetties and sailing club facilities as you go south. Beware of the strong current though.

“We also find Launceston a good base for cruising the north coast of Tasmania and the Bass Strait islands. The north of Tasmania is known for the excellent wineries, which are worth a visit.”

The most popular cruising ground is on the east coast of Tasmania, where there is shelter from the rough westerly winds and the large swell of the Southern Ocean. Steep cliffs rise out of the icy cold water on the north east coast, and large granite boulders are covered in orange lichen.

Photo: Alamy / Shane Pedersen

The weather can be unpredictable here and the distances between safe anchorages are slightly longer, but shelter can be found at iconic anchorages like Wineglass Bay and Chinaman’s Bay on Maria Island.

Passing the pipes

In the middle of the east coast the Tasman Peninsula juts out into the Tasman Sea. The rugged coast has some interesting dolerite rock formations: the ones at Cape Raoul famously resemble organ pipes and feature in many photographs from the Sydney to Hobart Race. The peninsula is also home to Port Arthur Historic Site, the world-renowned ruins of a penal settlement.

Once around the peninsula, Storm Bay opens with many more options for anchoring. As soon as we drop the hook in Nubeena we meet Australian Margaret Beasly, who has sailed around the world with her husband Chris Wilkie for many years in their Alan Payne 40 Skookum Storm Bay of Hobart. She told us: “We finally came back to Tasmania and enjoy every minute we get to go out and sail here.”

Spectacular ‘organ pipe’ rock formations at Cape Raoul near Port Arthur. Photo: Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi

Hobart appeal

A pleasant south-easterly slowly pushes us up the river Derwent, the infamous closing stage of the Sydney Hobart. You can almost feel the agony of the racing yacht crews in their final miles to the finish line. The mouth of the Derwent can be the place where races are won or lost: Mount Wellington looms in the distance and its bulk changes the direction and strength of the wind in the final minutes.

For us, the warm embrace of the marina of the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania beckons, and we have the luxury of being able to start the engine when the wind drops. In Sandy Bay, the RYCT and the Derwent Sailing Squadron have large marinas where visitors are welcome (a 20 minute walk into Hobart). In the city centre, Constitution Dock offers berthing too.

Hobart is one of those towns where you can easily stay longer than you intended: the foodie scene dishing out Tasmania’s best foods and drinks, the museums and well-preserved heritage buildings, the laid-back atmosphere and all the facilities a yachtsman could want are here. But there is more to be experienced elsewhere, so after two weeks of indulging, we slip our docklines and head south to Bruny Island.

The lighthouse on Bruny Island. Photo: Piter Lenk/Alamy

The first thing you see when you sail closer to Bruny Island are the nets over the orchards. Fresh fruit is abundant, but birds are too, so the crop is protected. Meanwhile, out to sea, large Norwegian-flagged ships work the fish farms.

Bruny Island shields the south-east coast of Tasmania from strong easterly winds and swell. The D’Entrecasteaux Channel is a sailor’s playground in itself: many small bays offer anchorages, often with a small village nearby.

We happily pottered around here for a week in a steady rhythm of sailing, enjoying the delicious food and meeting very hospitable Tasmanians. Yacht clubs like the Port Cygnet Sailing Club often have an active social programme to which visitors are welcomed.

Salamanca Markets in Tasmania’s capital, Hobart. Photo: Kerin Forstmanis/Alamy

Go west

The southernmost anchorage is Recherche Bay, which offers shelter from all but easterly winds. And that is exactly why yachts anchor there: as soon as the wind veers to the east, it’s time to go west. In a long day, you can sail around the south of Tasmania; a milestone in itself. The scenery is eerie, even under blue skies and bright sunshine, and the large south-westerly swell is impressive.

Once round Southwest Cape, Port Davey is our next destination. Port Davey was once the place where whalers sought refuge in bad weather; on shore they’d meet loggers of the majestic Huon pine. Now there is a lone fisherman tending to his lobster pots.

On the eastern side of Port Davey a small strip of islands, aptly named Breaksea Islands, covers the entrance to Bathurst Channel, which leads to Bathurst Harbour. Bathurst is a true gem, which can only be visited by yacht or small airplane (in Melaleuca there is a small airstrip and some huts for the park rangers). VHF coverage is limited, internet nonexistent; it’s a perfect place to unwind.

Tasmania’s Bathurst Harbour is protected by the aptly named Breaksea Islands. Photo: Viktor Posnov/Alamy

Further north on the west coast there is a similar, though slightly more populated, inlet of Macquarie Harbour. No nice islands here to shield the entrance from the swell: it is called Hell’s Gate for a reason. Once through the challenging tidal currents at the harbour mouth, the large estuary offers enough places to explore for a month, especially near the confluence of the Gordon and Franklin rivers.

Macquarie is typical of Tasmania – the island offers such a diversity of cruising options at relatively close distances, that many visitors come back again and again. But it is not only the beauty of the landscape that leaves a lasting impression: the genuine hospitality of the Tasmanians who love to share their amazing home will stay with you for a long time.

A chequered history

Dutch navigator Abel Tasman was the first to sight Tasmania on 24 November, 1642. He called it Van Diemen’s Land, after the Governor of the Dutch East Indies. He named an island on the east coast Maria Island, after the wife of the Governor.

Chinaman’s Bay on Maria Island

The Dutch thought that Australia wouldn’t yield any value for the Dutch East India Company, so they didn’t colonise any further. In 1700 Captain Cook arrived and started exploring the east coast of Australia, before a fleet of 11 British ships arrived in Sydney Harbour 18 years later.

In 1798 George Bass and Matthew Flinders circumnavigated Tasmania and established that is was an island. The race was on to colonise it, and the British won by settling in what is now Hobart in 1803.

From 1788 the British began shipping convicts to Australia. They were set to work alongside the settlers until their sentence was over. Returning home was almost impossible, so most of them settled in their new country and helped populate the new colony.

One of the locals… a Tasmanian Devil. Photo: David Kleyn/Alamy

A second penal settlement was established in Tasmania, where Governor McArthur ruled with an iron fist. Conditions were grim, especially for reoffenders, and many died of exhaustion. Several prison ruins can still be found in Tasmania, as part of the Unesco World Heritage Site programme – Port Arthur is a particularly recommended site to visit.

Van Diemen’s Land had become synonymous with hardship, so in 1856 the name of the island was changed to Tasmania in an attempt to change the image and make it more attractive to settlers.

Tasmania had been inhabited for thousands of years by several Aboriginal tribes before the Europeans arrived. They coexisted with the colonists peacefully at first, but when the settlers took more land for farming, the Aboriginal Tasmanians fought back. The Aboriginal population was decimated by disease and gunfire, until the last remaining Aboriginal people were sent to a settlement on Flinders Island, where they withered away.

Tasmania essentials

To make good use of all the anchorages Tasmania has to offer, there are several cruising guides available. We used Cruising Tasmania by J. Brettingham-Moore. In addition, the government organisation Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) offers information on several platforms, including Facebook.

Anchoring in Tasmania is relatively easy; the thick mud provides excellent holding, but a deckwash system (or a crewmember with a bucket!) is advisable when the anchor is pulled up. MAST provides courtesy moorings, as do some of the sailing clubs.

Navigation is easy with good charts, the major hazards being submerged rocks and shallows. Be aware that the fish farms sometimes ‘lose’ large items in storms; so sailing at night is risky after such a weather event.

Anna Caroline is a steel Bruce Roberts 44, originally built in Nelson, New Zealand

Even in summer it’s important to keep an eye on the weather. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology offers local forecasts. The weather can change rapidly in these high latitudes, so cruisers need to be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. The volunteer rescue services broadcast the weather forecast regularly on VHF. The reception is good, except for Bathurst Harbour on the south-west coast.

Provisioning is relatively easy on the north and east coast. On the west coast only Strahan has some facilities. Hobart is an official port of entry, so all customs, immigration and biosecurity facilities are available. You will need a valid passport and visa before you arrive.

About the author

Wietze van der Laan and Janneke Kuysters left the Netherlands in 2013 and have sailed half way around the world with their Bruce Roberts 44 Anna Caroline. They cruised the Australian shores for a year before setting off to explore Indonesia.

The post Sailing Tasmania: Bucket list cruising across the Bass Strait appeared first on Yachting World.

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[newstfionline]

Headlines

Russia and Ukraine Involved in Black Sea Naval Standoff (Reuters) Russia and Ukraine accused each other of breaking international law on Sunday after Russian border guards tried and failed to stop two Ukrainian armored artillery vessels circumnavigating Crimea en route to a Ukrainian port.

Indian Troops Kill Six Militants in Kashmir (Reuters) Indian troops on Sunday killed six separatist militants in a gun battle in the disputed region of Kashmir, the army said, as its forces stepped up operations in one of the bloodiest weeks of fighting this year during which 23 people have been killed.

More Than 100 Injured in Aleppo in Insurgent Gas Attack (Reuters) Shelling by insurgents wounded more than 100 people in a suspected toxic gas attack in Syria’s Aleppo, which a health official described as the first such assault in the city.

Death Toll From Uganda Boat Cruise Accident Jumps to 29 (Reuters) At least 29 people died when a cruise boat capsized in poor weather on Saturday in Lake Victoria, Uganda, the deputy police spokesman said on Sunday.

UAE Seeks Rich, Educated Foreigners With Long-Term Visa Scheme (Reuters) The United Arab Emirates will offer long-term visas to rich property investors, senior scientists and entrepreneurs in an effort to support its economy and real estate market, which have been hurt by low oil prices.

EU Leaders Seal Brexit Deal, Urge Britons to Back May (Reuters) European Union leaders formally agreed a Brexit deal at a Brussels summit on Sunday, urging Britons to back Prime Minister Theresa May’s package, which faces furious opposition in the British parliament.

Voters to Decide on ‘Swiss Law, Not Foreign Judges’ Proposal (Reuters) The Swiss vote on Sunday on a proposal to give Switzerland’s laws clear priority over international law--a move supporters say would reinforce its sovereignty but which critics claim would deeply damage its ties with the rest of the world.

Former Australian Judges Call for National Anti-Corruption Body (Reuters) Dozens of former Australian judges published an open letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday calling for a national anti-corruption body to restore public trust in the country’s democratic process.

Taiwan Rebukes Ruling Party, Emboldens China-Friendly Opposition (Reuters) Voters in Taiwan have delivered a strong rebuke to the island’s pro-independence ruling party in local elections, emboldening the China-friendly opposition, one of whose main figures says he will now reach out to Beijing to forge more friendly ties.

Earthquake at 6.1 Magnitude Strikes Off Colombia Coast, EMSC (Reuters) An earthquake measuring 6.1 magnitude struck off the Colombian coast on Saturday, and while there was no major tsnaumi threat, there was a possibility of tsunamis along the nearby coast, the European earthquake monitoring agency EMSC and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

Sri Lankan President: PM-Related Investigations to Continue (AP) Sri Lanka’s president on Sunday assured non-interference in ongoing investigations into abductions, killings of journalists and other crimes allegedly committed by those connected to the new prime minister and his Cabinet.

Islamic State Claims Market Bombing in Pakistan (AP) The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for suicide attack at an open-air food market that killed at least 35 people in northwestern Pakistan.

[yattacharterapp-blog]

M/Y PLAN B is a beautiful global cruiser for adventure seekers. PLAN B can take guests to some of the most remote places for those that want to take the path less travelled or perhaps want to find some of the best secluded areas. Originally launched in 1973 as HMAS Flinders as research vessel for the Australian Navy, charged with mapping the Great Barrier Reef and the waters of Australia’s coast. The interior transformation has brought PLAN B from a rugged ship to a modernized, urban decor inspired world cruising yacht with an exterior featuring the most beautiful Polynesian and cultural accent pieces throughout. PLAN B has circumnavigated the globe 3 times since the completion of its refit and has taken guests to some of the most unreachable corners of the ocean in comfort and safety. Fun, Fast, Sporty, an amazing yacht all round. The captain and crew are looking forward to welcoming you on board this stunning vessel. So don’t miss the opportunity to charter this superb yacht. Take a look at the app and book this Yacht asap #yatta #yattacharterapp (bij Havana, Cuba)

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 9.28

48 BC – Pompey disembarks at Pelusium upon arriving in Egypt, whereupon he is assassinated by order of King Ptolemy XIII. 235 – Pope Pontian resigns. He is exiled to the mines of Sardinia, along with Hippolytus of Rome. 351 – Constantius II defeats the usurper Magnentius. 365 – Roman usurper Procopius bribes two legions passing by Constantinople, and proclaims himself emperor. 935 – Duke Wenceslaus I of Bohemia is murdered by a group of nobles led by his brother Boleslaus I, who succeeds him. 995 – Boleslaus II, Duke of Bohemia, kills most members of the rival Slavník dynasty. 1066 – William the Conqueror lands in England, beginning the Norman conquest. 1106 – King Henry I of England defeats his brother Robert Curthose at the Battle of Tinchebray. 1238 – King James I of Aragon conquers Valencia from the Moors. Shortly thereafter, he proclaims himself king of Valencia. 1322 – Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor, defeats Frederick I of Austria in the Battle of Mühldorf. 1538 – Ottoman–Venetian War: The Ottoman Navy scores a decisive victory over a Holy League fleet in the Battle of Preveza. 1542 – Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo of Portugal arrives at what is now San Diego, California. He is the first European in California. 1779 – American Revolution: Samuel Huntington is elected President of the Continental Congress, succeeding John Jay. 1781 – American Revolution: American forces backed by a French fleet begin the siege of Yorktown. 1787 – The Congress of the Confederation votes to send the newly written United States Constitution to the state legislatures for approval. 1821 – The Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire is drafted. It will be made public on 13 October. 1844 – Oscar I of Sweden–Norway is crowned king of Sweden. 1867 – Toronto becomes the capital of Ontario, having also been the capital of Ontario's predecessors since 1796. 1868 – The Battle of Alcolea causes Queen Isabella II of Spain to flee to France. 1871 – The Brazilian Parliament passes a law that frees all children thereafter born to slaves, and all government-owned slaves. 1889 – The General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) defines the length of a metre. 1892 – The first night game for American football takes place in a contest between Wyoming Seminary and Mansfield State Normal. 1893 – Foundation of the Portuguese football club FC Porto. 1901 – Philippine–American War: Filipino guerrillas kill more than forty American soldiers while losing 28 of their own. 1912 – The Ulster Covenant is signed by some 500,000 Ulster Protestant Unionists in opposition to the Third Irish Home Rule Bill. 1912 – Corporal Frank S. Scott of the United States Army becomes the first enlisted man to die in an airplane crash. 1918 – World War I: The Fifth Battle of Ypres begins. 1919 – Race riots begin in Omaha, Nebraska. 1924 – The first aerial circumnavigation is completed by a team from the US Army. 1928 – Alexander Fleming notices a bacteria-killing mold growing in his laboratory, discovering what later became known as penicillin. 1939 – World War II: Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union agree on a division of Poland. 1939 – World War II: The siege of Warsaw comes to an end. 1941 – World War II: The Drama uprising against the Bulgarian occupation in northern Greece begins. 1941 – Ted Williams achieves a .406 batting average for the season, and becomes the last major league baseball player to bat .400 or better. 1944 – World War II: Soviet Army troops liberate Klooga concentration camp in Estonia. 1951 – CBS makes the first color televisions available for sale to the general public, but the product is discontinued less than a month later. 1961 – A military coup in Damascus effectively ends the United Arab Republic, the union between Egypt and Syria. 1970 – Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser dies of a heart attack in Cairo. 1973 – The ITT Building in New York City is bombed in protest at ITT's alleged involvement in the coup d'état in Chile. 1975 – The Spaghetti House siege, in which nine people are taken hostage, takes place in London. 1986 – The Democratic Progressive Party becomes the first opposition party in Taiwan. 1992 – A Pakistan International Airlines flight crashes into a hill in Nepal, killing all 167 passengers and crew. 1994 – The cruise ferry MS Estonia sinks in the Baltic Sea, killing 852 people. 1995 – Bob Denard and a group of mercenaries take the islands of the Comoros in a coup. 1995 – Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat sign the Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. 2000 – Al-Aqsa Intifada: Ariel Sharon visits Al-Aqsa Mosque known to Jews as the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. 2008 – Falcon 1 becomes the first privately developed liquid-fuel ground-launched vehicle to put a payload into orbit. 2008 – The Singapore Grand Prix is held as Formula One's inaugural night race, with Fernando Alonso winning the event. Almost a year later it was revealed that Alonso's team-mate Nelson Piquet Jr. had been ordered to crash his car to help bring out the safety car and give Alonso the advantage and win. 2009 – The military junta leading Guinea attacks a protest rally, killing or wounding 1,400 people. 2012 – Somali and African Union forces launch a coordinated assault on the Somali port of Kismayo to take back the city from al-Shabaab militants. 2014 – The 2014 Hong Kong protests begin in response to restrictive political reforms imposed by the NPC in Beijing. 2016 – The 2016 South Australian blackout occurs, lasting up to three days in some areas. 2018 – The 7.5 Mw 2018 Sulawesi earthquake, which triggered a large tsunami, leaves 4,340 dead and 10,679 injured.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 9.28

48 BC – Pompey is assassinated by order of King Ptolemy XIII upon arriving in Egypt. 235 – Pope Pontian resigns. He is exiled to the mines of Sardinia, along with Hippolytus of Rome. 351 – Constantius II defeats the usurper Magnentius. 365 – Roman usurper Procopius bribes two legions passing by Constantinople, and proclaims himself emperor. 935 – Duke Wenceslaus I of Bohemia is murdered by a group of nobles led by his brother Boleslaus I, who succeeds him. 995 – Boleslaus II, Duke of Bohemia, kills most members of the rival Slavník dynasty. 1066 – William the Conqueror lands in England, beginning the Norman conquest. 1106 – King Henry I of England defeats his brother Robert Curthose at the Battle of Tinchebray. 1238 – King James I of Aragon conquers Valencia from the Moors. Shortly thereafter, he proclaims himself king of Valencia. 1322 – Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor, defeats Frederick I of Austria in the Battle of Mühldorf. 1538 – Ottoman–Venetian War: The Ottoman Navy scores a decisive victory over a Holy League fleet in the Battle of Preveza. 1542 – Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo of Portugal arrives at what is now San Diego, California. 1779 – American Revolution: Samuel Huntington is elected President of the Continental Congress, succeeding John Jay. 1781 – American Revolution: American forces backed by a French fleet begin the siege of Yorktown. 1787 – The Congress of the Confederation votes to send the newly written United States Constitution to the state legislatures for approval. 1821 – The Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire is drafted. It will be made public on 13 October. 1844 – Oscar I of Sweden–Norway is crowned king of Sweden. 1867 – Toronto becomes the capital of Ontario, having also been the capital of Ontario's predecessors since 1796. 1868 – The Battle of Alcolea causes Queen Isabella II of Spain to flee to France. 1871 – The Brazilian Parliament passes a law that frees all children thereafter born to slaves, and all government-owned slaves. 1889 – The General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) defines the length of a meter. 1892 – The first night game for American football takes place in a contest between Wyoming Seminary and Mansfield State Normal. 1893 – Foundation of the Portuguese football club FC Porto. 1901 – Philippine–American War: Filipino guerrillas kill more than forty American soldiers while losing 28 of their own. 1912 – The Ulster Covenant is signed by some 500,000 Ulster Protestant Unionists in opposition to the Third Irish Home Rule Bill. 1912 – Corporal Frank S. Scott of the United States Army becomes the first enlisted man to die in an airplane crash. 1918 – World War I: The Fifth Battle of Ypres begins. 1919 – Race riots begin in Omaha, Nebraska. 1924 – The first aerial circumnavigation is completed by a team from the US Army. 1928 – Alexander Fleming notices a bacteria-killing mold growing in his laboratory, discovering what later became known as penicillin. 1939 – World War II: Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union agree on a division of Poland. 1939 – World War II: The siege of Warsaw comes to an end. 1941 – World War II: The Drama uprising against the Bulgarian occupation in northern Greece begins. 1941 – Ted Williams achieves a .406 batting average for the season, and becomes the last major league baseball player to bat .400 or better. 1944 – World War II: Soviet Army troops liberate Klooga concentration camp in Estonia. 1951 – CBS makes the first color televisions available for sale to the general public, but the product is discontinued less than a month later. 1961 – A military coup in Damascus effectively ends the United Arab Republic, the union between Egypt and Syria. 1970 – Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser dies of a heart attack in Cairo. 1971 – The Parliament of the UK passes the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, banning the medicinal use of cannabis. 1973 – The ITT Building in New York City is bombed in protest at ITT's alleged involvement in the coup d'état in Chile. 1975 – The Spaghetti House siege, in which nine people are taken hostage, takes place in London. 1986 – The Democratic Progressive Party becomes the first opposition party in Taiwan. 1992 – A Pakistan International Airlines flight crashes into a hill in Nepal, killing all 167 passengers and crew. 1994 – The cruise ferry MS Estonia sinks in the Baltic Sea, killing 852 people. 1995 – Bob Denard and a group of mercenaries take the islands of the Comoros in a coup. 1995 – Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat sign the Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. 2000 – Al-Aqsa Intifada: Ariel Sharon visits Al-Aqsa Mosque known to Jews as the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. 2008 – Falcon 1 becomes the first privately developed liquid-fuel ground-launched vehicle to put a payload into orbit. 2009 – The military junta leading Guinea attacks a protest rally, killing or wounding 1400 people. 2012 – Somali and African Union forces launch a coordinated assault on the Somali port of Kismayo to take back the city from al-Shabaab militants. 2014 – The 2014 Hong Kong protests begin in response to restrictive political reforms imposed by the NPC in Beijing. 2016 – The 2016 South Australian blackout occurs, lasting up to three days in some areas. 2018 – The 7.5 Mw 2018 Sulawesi earthquake, which triggered a large tsunami, leaves 4,340 dead and 10,679 injured. 2018 – On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, the international project Tree of Peace was established (September, 28). One of the trees was planted personally by Zuzana Čaputová, President of the Slovak Republic.

[chrisframeofficial]

Australia evicts cruise ships.

With people across the globe in various forms of mandatory lock down, cruise ships are being laid up around the world, and popular cruise ports such as Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Southampton are now full of static cruise ships.

But Australia’s ports are noticeably empty of cruise ships, following a nation-wide eviction of cruise vessels from Australian ports.In Mid-March, the Australian Government banned cruise ships across the nation.

The ban was announced at the same time as Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison instructed all travellers arriving into Australia to enter into a mandatory 14-day isolation period.

On 1 April the situation escalated when, in an unprecedented move, the New South Wales Police – who have jurisdiction over Sydney’s cruise ports – ordered P&O Australia’s Pacific Explorer to leave the harbour.In response, P&O Australia President released a video statement to express his disappointment and dismay, highlighting that P&O employs many Australians, and are the only line to have been permanently based in Australia.

For those of you who are interested see the full video: https://youtu.be/Af1oWtHll6Y

Pacific Explorer is by no means the only Australian based cruise ship to be caught in limbo. P&O’s Pacific Aria, which has been based in Australian waters since 2015, recently left Melbourne with her scheduled destination listed as Jakarta. Pacific Dawn is now slowly sailing up the east coast of Australia heading for the Bismark Sea near Papua New Guinea.

Carnival Spirit has been at anchor off Gladstone in Queensland and is expected to leave local waters in the coming days. View: https://youtu.be/09qsXmYMl9Y

Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth was scheduled to commence a circumnavigation of Australia in April, the first time the ship would circle the continent. However at the conclusion of her 15 March Tasmanian voyage, Queen Elizabeth was temporarily withdrawn from service as Cunard entered a voluntary cruising pause.In the weeks since, the ship has spent much of her time at anchor off Gladstone, in the company of other Carnival Corp ships.

In early April, the ship made a brief visit to Brisbane where she was refuelled before sailing northbound. While it is expected she will head towards Asia, her exact destination is not yet known. Queen Elizabeth is sailing with only her crew aboard and no one aboard has any medical concerns.

Cruise ships have been a challenge for governments around the country. In New South Wales, the Ruby Princess is at the centre of a criminal investigation, while in Western Australia the cruise ship Artania has been a topic of controversy due to a number of unwell passengers and crew aboard the ship.

The cruise industry has been an important part of the Australian economy, with the CLIA estimating that cruising added 5.2bn to the Australian economy supporting over 18,000 jobs, with 3.5m total passenger visits.With cruise ships being effectively evicted from Australian waters, it remains to be seen what long-term impact this will have on cruising in Australia once the current crisis passes.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 9.28

48 BC – Pompey is assassinated by order of King Ptolemy upon arriving in Egypt. 235 – Pope Pontian resigns. He is exiled to the mines of Sardinia, along with Hippolytus of Rome. 351 – Constantius II defeats the usurper Magnentius. 365 – Roman usurper Procopius bribes two legions passing by Constantinople, and proclaims himself emperor. 935 – Duke Wenceslaus I of Bohemia is murdered by a group of nobles led by his brother Boleslaus I, who succeeds him. 995 – Boleslaus II, Duke of Bohemia, kills most members of the rival Slavník dynasty. 1066 – William the Conqueror lands in England, beginning the Norman conquest. 1106 – King Henry I of England defeats his brother, Robert Curthose. 1238 – King James I of Aragon conquers Valencia from the Moors. Shortly thereafter, he proclaims himself king of Valencia. 1322 – Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor, defeats Frederick I of Austria in the Battle of Mühldorf. 1538 – Ottoman–Venetian War: The Ottoman Navy scores a decisive victory over a Holy League fleet in the Battle of Preveza. 1542 – Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo of Portugal arrives at what is now San Diego, California. 1779 – American Revolution: Samuel Huntington is elected President of the Continental Congress, succeeding John Jay. 1781 – American Revolution: American forces backed by a French fleet begin the siege of Yorktown. 1787 – The Congress of the Confederation votes to send the newly-written United States Constitution to the state legislatures for approval. 1821 – The Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire is drafted. It will be made public on 13 October. 1844 – Oscar I of Sweden–Norway is crowned king of Sweden. 1867 – Toronto becomes the capital of Ontario, having also been the capital of Ontario's predecessors since 1796. 1868 – The Battle of Alcolea causes Queen Isabella II of Spain to flee to France. 1871 – The Brazilian Parliament passes a law that frees all children thereafter born to slaves, and all government-owned slaves. 1889 – The General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) defines the length of a meter. 1892 – The first night game for American football takes place in a contest between Wyoming Seminary and Mansfield State Normal. 1893 – Foundation of the Portuguese football club FC Porto. 1901 – Philippine–American War: Filipino guerrillas kill more than forty American soldiers while losing 28 of their own. 1912 – The Ulster Covenant is signed by some 500,000 Ulster Protestant Unionists in opposition to the Third Irish Home Rule Bill. 1912 – Corporal Frank S. Scott of the United States Army becomes the first enlisted man to die in an airplane crash. 1918 – World War I: The Fifth Battle of Ypres begins. 1919 – Race riots begin in Omaha, Nebraska. 1924 – The first aerial circumnavigation is completed by a team from the US Army. 1928 – Alexander Fleming notices a bacteria-killing mold growing in his laboratory, discovering what later became known as penicillin. 1939 – World War II: Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union agree on a division of Poland. 1939 – World War II: The siege of Warsaw comes to an end. 1941 – World War II: The Drama uprising against the Bulgarian occupation in northern Greece begins. 1941 – Ted Williams achieves a .406 batting average for the season, and becomes the last major league baseball player to bat .400 or better. 1944 – World War II: Soviet Army troops liberate Klooga concentration camp in Estonia. 1951 – CBS makes the first color televisions available for sale to the general public, but the product is discontinued less than a month later. 1961 – A military coup in Damascus effectively ends the United Arab Republic, the union between Egypt and Syria. 1970 – Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser dies of a heart attack in Cairo. 1971 – The Parliament of the UK passes the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, banning the medicinal use of cannabis. 1973 – The ITT Building in New York City is bombed in protest at ITT's alleged involvement in the coup d'état in Chile. 1975 – The Spaghetti House siege, in which nine people are taken hostage, takes place in London. 1986 – The Democratic Progressive Party becomes the first opposition party in Taiwan. 1991 – The Strategic Air Command stands down from alert all ICBMs scheduled for deactivation under START I, as well as its strategic bomber force. 1992 – A Pakistan International Airlines flight crashes into a hill in Nepal, killing all 167 passengers and crew. 1994 – The cruise ferry MS Estonia sinks in the Baltic Sea, killing 852 people. 1995 – Bob Denard and a group of mercenaries take the islands of the Comoros in a coup. 1995 – Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat sign the Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. 2000 – Al-Aqsa Intifada: Ariel Sharon visits Al-Aqsa Mosque known to Jews as the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. 2008 – Falcon 1 becomes the first privately developed liquid-fuel ground-launched vehicle to put a payload into orbit. 2009 – The military junta leading Guinea attacks a protest rally, killing or wounding 1400 people. 2012 – Somali and African Union forces launch a coordinated assault on the Somali port of Kismayo to take back the city from al-Shabaab militants. 2014 – The 2014 Hong Kong protests begin in response to restrictive political reforms imposed by the NPC in Beijing. 2016 – The 2016 South Australian blackout occurs, lasting up to three days in some areas. 2018 – The 7.5 Mw 2018 Sulawesi earthquake, which triggered a large tsunami, leaves 4,340 dead and 10,679 injured.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 11.6

355 – Roman emperor Constantius II promotes his cousin Julian to the rank of Caesar, entrusting him with the government of the Prefecture of the Gauls. 447 – A powerful earthquake destroys large portions of the Walls of Constantinople, including 57 towers. 963 – Synod of Rome: Emperor Otto I calls a council at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Pope John XII is deposed on charges of an armed rebellion against Otto. 1217 – The Charter of the Forest is sealed at St Paul's Cathedral, London by King Henry III, acting under the regency of William Marshall, 1st Earl of Pembroke which re-establishes for free men rights of access to the royal forest that had been eroded by William the Conqueror and his heirs. 1528 – Shipwrecked Spanish conquistador Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca becomes the first known European to set foot in the area that would become Texas. 1789 – Pope Pius VI appoints Father John Carroll as the first Catholic bishop in the United States. 1792 – Battle of Jemappes in the French Revolutionary Wars. 1844 – The first Constitution of the Dominican Republic is adopted. 1856 – Scenes of Clerical Life, the first work of fiction by the author later known as George Eliot, is submitted for publication. 1860 – Abraham Lincoln is elected as the 16th President of United States. 1861 – American Civil War: Jefferson Davis is elected president of the Confederate States of America. 1865 – American Civil War: CSS Shenandoah is the last Confederate combat unit to surrender after circumnavigating the globe on a cruise on which it sank or captured 37 unarmed merchant vessels. 1869 – In New Brunswick, New Jersey, Rutgers College defeats Princeton University (then known as the College of New Jersey), 6–4, in the first official intercollegiate American football game. 1913 – Mohandas Gandhi is arrested while leading a march of Indian miners in South Africa. 1917 – World War I: Battle of Passchendaele ends: After three months of fierce fighting, Canadian forces take Passchendaele in Belgium. 1917 – October Revolution: Troops loyal to the Russian Directorate clash with Bolshevik Red Guards over the control of several bridges in Petrograd. 1918 – The Provisional People's Government of the Republic of Poland is established. 1928 – Herbert Hoover is elected the 31st President of the United States. 1934 – Memphis, Tennessee becomes the first major city to join the Tennessee Valley Authority. 1935 – Edwin Armstrong presents his paper "A Method of Reducing Disturbances in Radio Signaling by a System of Frequency Modulation" to the New York section of the Institute of Radio Engineers. 1939 – World War II: Sonderaktion Krakau takes place. 1941 – World War II: During the Battle of Moscow, Joseph Stalin addresses the Soviet people for only the second time. 1942 – World War II: Carlson's patrol during the Guadalcanal Campaign begins. 1942 – World War II: First flight of the Heinkel He 219. 1943 – World War II: The Soviet Red Army recaptures Kiev. Before withdrawing, the Germans destroy most of the city's ancient buildings. 1944 – Plutonium is first produced at the Hanford Atomic Facility and subsequently used in the Fat Man atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. 1945 – Concerned that her cover was about to be blown, Elizabeth Bentley turns herself in to the FBI and confesses she had been spying for the Soviet Union. 1947 – Meet the Press, the longest running television program in history, makes its debut. 1948 – Deputy commander-in-chief of the Eastern China Field Army General Su Yu launches a massive offensive toward Xuzhou, defended by seven different armies under the General Suppression Headquarters of Xuzhou Garrison, the Huaihai Campaign. The largest operational campaign of the Chinese Civil War begins. 1956 – Dwight D. Eisenhower is reelected President of the United States. 1962 – The United Nations General Assembly passes a resolution condemning South Africa's apartheid policies and calls for all UN member states to cease military and economic relations with the nation. 1963 – Following the November 1 coup and execution of President Ngo Dinh Diem, coup leader General Dương Văn Minh takes over leadership of South Vietnam. 1965 – Cuba and the United States formally agree to begin an airlift for Cubans who want to go to the United States. By 1971, 250,000 Cubans had made use of this program. 1971 – The United States Atomic Energy Commission tests the largest U.S. underground hydrogen bomb, code-named Cannikin, on Amchitka Island in the Aleutians. 1977 – The Kelly Barnes Dam, located above Toccoa Falls Bible College near Toccoa, Georgia, fails, killing 39. 1984 – Ronald Reagan is reelected President of the United States. 1985 – In Colombia, leftist guerrillas of the 19th of April Movement seize control of the Palace of Justice in Bogotá, eventually killing 115 people, 11 of them Supreme Court justices. 1986 – Sumburgh disaster: A British International Helicopters Boeing 234LR Chinook crashes 21⁄2 miles east of Sumburgh Airport killing 45 people. It is the deadliest civilian helicopter crash on record. 1995 – Cleveland Browns relocation controversy: Art Modell announces that he signed a deal that would relocate the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore, which had been without an NFL team since 1983, when the Baltimore Colts moved to Indianapolis. 1998 – The Electric Tilt Train enters service in Queensland, Australia and becomes one of the fastest trains in the country and the fastest narrow gauge train in service. 1999 – Australians vote to keep the Head of the Commonwealth as their head of state in the Australian republic referendum. 2002 – Jiang Lijun is detained by Chinese police for signing the Open Letter to the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. He is later formally arrested and convicted for “inciting subversion of the state power”. 2004 – An express train collides with a stationary car near the village of Ufton Nervet, England, killing seven and injuring 150. 2012 – Barack Obama is reelected President of the United States; Tammy Baldwin becomes the first openly gay politician to be elected to the United States Senate. 2013 – Several small bombs explode outside a provincial office of the Communist Party of China.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 11.6

355 – Roman emperor Constantius II promotes his cousin Julian to the rank of Caesar, entrusting him with the government of the Prefecture of the Gauls. 447 – A powerful earthquake destroys large portions of the Walls of Constantinople, including 57 towers. 963 – Synod of Rome: Emperor Otto I calls a council at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Pope John XII is deposed on charges of an armed rebellion against Otto. 1217 – The Charter of the Forest is sealed at St Paul's Cathedral, London by King Henry III, acting under the regency of William Marshall, 1st Earl of Pembroke which re-establishes for free men rights of access to the royal forest that had been eroded by William the Conqueror and his heirs. 1528 – Shipwrecked Spanish conquistador Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca becomes the first known European to set foot in the area that would become Texas. 1789 – Pope Pius VI appoints Father John Carroll as the first Catholic bishop in the United States. 1792 – Battle of Jemappes in the French Revolutionary Wars. 1844 – The first Constitution of the Dominican Republic is adopted. 1856 – Scenes of Clerical Life, the first work of fiction by the author later known as George Eliot, is submitted for publication. 1860 – Abraham Lincoln is elected as the 16th President of United States. 1861 – American Civil War: Jefferson Davis is elected president of the Confederate States of America. 1865 – American Civil War: CSS Shenandoah is the last Confederate combat unit to surrender after circumnavigating the globe on a cruise on which it sank or captured 37 unarmed merchant vessels. 1869 – In New Brunswick, New Jersey, Rutgers College defeats Princeton University (then known as the College of New Jersey), 6–4, in the first official intercollegiate American football game. 1913 – Mohandas Gandhi is arrested while leading a march of Indian miners in South Africa. 1917 – World War I: Battle of Passchendaele ends: After three months of fierce fighting, Canadian forces take Passchendaele in Belgium. 1917 – October Revolution: Troops loyal to the Russian Directorate clash with Bolshevik Red Guards over the control of several bridges in Petrograd. 1918 – The Provisional People's Government of the Republic of Poland is established. 1928 – Herbert Hoover is elected the 31st President of the United States. 1934 – Memphis, Tennessee becomes the first major city to join the Tennessee Valley Authority. 1935 – Edwin Armstrong presents his paper "A Method of Reducing Disturbances in Radio Signaling by a System of Frequency Modulation" to the New York section of the Institute of Radio Engineers. 1939 – World War II: Sonderaktion Krakau takes place. 1941 – World War II: During the Battle of Moscow, Joseph Stalin addresses the Soviet people for only the second time. 1942 – World War II: Carlson's patrol during the Guadalcanal Campaign begins. 1942 – World War II: First flight of the Heinkel He 219. 1943 – World War II: The Soviet Red Army recaptures Kiev. Before withdrawing, the Germans destroy most of the city's ancient buildings. 1944 – Plutonium is first produced at the Hanford Atomic Facility and subsequently used in the Fat Man atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. 1945 – Concerned that her cover was about to be blown, Elizabeth Bentley turns herself in to the FBI and confesses she had been spying for the Soviet Union. 1947 – Meet the Press, the longest running television program in history, makes its debut. 1948 – Deputy commander-in-chief of the Eastern China Field Army General Su Yu launches a massive offensive toward Xuzhou, defended by seven different armies under the General Suppression Headquarters of Xuzhou Garrison, the Huaihai Campaign. The largest operational campaign of the Chinese Civil War begins. 1956 – Dwight D. Eisenhower is reelected President of the United States. 1962 – The United Nations General Assembly passes a resolution condemning South Africa's apartheid policies and calls for all UN member states to cease military and economic relations with the nation. 1963 – Following the November 1 coup and execution of President Ngo Dinh Diem, coup leader General Dương Văn Minh takes over leadership of South Vietnam. 1965 – Cuba and the United States formally agree to begin an airlift for Cubans who want to go to the United States. By 1971, 250,000 Cubans had made use of this program. 1971 – The United States Atomic Energy Commission tests the largest U.S. underground hydrogen bomb, code-named Cannikin, on Amchitka Island in the Aleutians. 1977 – The Kelly Barnes Dam, located above Toccoa Falls Bible College near Toccoa, Georgia, fails, killing 39. 1984 – Ronald Reagan is reelected President of the United States. 1985 – In Colombia, leftist guerrillas of the 19th of April Movement seize control of the Palace of Justice in Bogotá, eventually killing 115 people, 11 of them Supreme Court justices. 1986 – Sumburgh disaster: A British International Helicopters Boeing 234LR Chinook crashes 21⁄2 miles east of Sumburgh Airport killing 45 people. It is the deadliest civilian helicopter crash on record. 1995 – Cleveland Browns relocation controversy: Art Modell announces that he signed a deal that would relocate the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore, the first time the city had a NFL team since 1983 when they were the Baltimore Colts. 1998 – The Electric Tilt Train enters service in Queensland, Australia and becomes one of the fastest trains in the country and the fastest narrow gauge train in service. 1999 – Australians vote to keep the Head of the Commonwealth as their head of state in the Australian republic referendum. 2004 – An express train collides with a stationary car near the village of Ufton Nervet, England, killing seven and injuring 150. 2012 – Barack Obama is reelected President of the United States; Tammy Baldwin becomes the first openly gay politician to be elected to the United States Senate. 2013 – Several small bombs explode outside a provincial office of the Chinese Communist Party in the northern city of Taiyuan, killing at least one person and wounding eight others.