What is our Purpose? Mourilyan Harbour - Australian Border Force

 

Mourilyan Harbour Oct 2020

 Port of Mourilyan which  has an entry that is 

almost unseen from out to sea.

Unfortunately I did not get to take any pictures coming into the  port as  I was processing a large Frigate Tuna that the Capt Teza caught.

Very Happy Capt Teza

Learning the antimony of the fish species

Processing large pelagic fish is a challenge when the yacht is heaving but thankfully the waters were calm on this occasion. 

I am loving renewing my skills in butchery, I did 6 months of butchery as an apprentice and indentured Chef.  These days they just give out a CD, do a demo and you have ticked a box in your trade qualification. Rarely commercial kitchens butcher anymore which is sad for lost skills.  Much like prefabrication in building industry. Learning again is my favorite subject: FOOD and Produce.

I was fortunate that TAFE trade courses in the late 70's and 80's had lots of skills and practice using real produce and materials. TAFE could afford us all to be butchering carcasses, everything we butchered  went to prison or government institution Kitchens.

 

Entrance

So difficult to identify from the sea Capt James Cook missed it on his travels and it was only discovered in 1872 after Capt Moresby of a steam ship carrier who'd been searching for survivors of a shipwreck. These were gold prospecting passengers. They were heading to PNG on a passenger ship named Maria, which sank on a reef off Hinchinbrook Island. The story tells that the Capt and crew of Maria launched the life boats and left the passengers on the sinking boat. 

The passengers were hardened men and very resourceful. They set about making rafts from the ever disintegrating steam ship breaking up on the reef, and they manged to landed just north of the harbour. They were cared for by the local indigenous tribe who wept when they were rescued, according to Capt Moresby's ships log.  

Australia has a fascinating maritime history and I make an effort, particularly in these waters and the top end, to do a little research on those men and women that travelled this coast line by sea vessels.  Even today it is still rugged, remote and extremely beautiful with the mountains touching the sea. 

 I have visions that this little almost secret harbour had scoundrels, pirates and all manner of seafaring   mischief…………………………or so I was told by our  seafaring friend Linus Bagley.

A lugger much like Linus's Yacht

Indeed,  Linus's hilarious pirate story of his sailing days with a larrikin mate who happened to have one eye and a pirate patch, landing their sailing lugger into port, greeted by the harbour master with a please explain conversation that almost put Linus and his mate into the watch house, captured the imagination of Capt Teza to go visit Mourilyan Harbour.  

Obviously, its no secret harbour any more and has a large sugar terminal , the Sugar Storage facility is one of the largest of its type in the world.

The entry was widened with explosives in 1960.

It is also a call in station for the Australian Border Force, who promptly escorted us into the harbour,  watched us anchor and came about along side to ask a lot of official questions to identify us and our purpose…………..PURPOSE................"Sens de La Vie" translated means the "Meaning of Life"

Now is not the time to be funny and witty, Capt Teza………………thankfully because Capt was finding it difficult to hear with Border Force boat motors running along side, I was up deck having just dropped the anchor was able to answer the series of check box questions politely………………………………..

Seriously “What is your Purpose?”………………………..a million things went through my head in a flash……………………one of which, " I am not a drug smuggler."………………which thank goodness I did not say out aloud. For if I was a drug smuggler then I would probably say that I am not a drug smuggler and they would think that I am. 

I did hesitate on the question, “where do you live?”

Asking my self the same question “where do I live?” out aloud!!! That resulted in a raised eyebrow.

Having satisfied the ABF Officers in answers and both of our appearances leaving little doubt.  

I smelt of fish guts and I am sure some of it was in my hair, Capt Teza was just smiling because he had caught a fish and could not wait to ring Linus and say that he also had to "please explain"

Our ages and candid conversation were befitting of two old loves going out for an adventure.

I am sure when they left they were taking bets on 'how long do you think they will travel and last on the sea?'.

It's a comfort to know that the maritime borders are being carefully monitored, drug trafficking by sea has increased since COVID as the other means of transporting drugs into Australia has been restricted.  

I imagine that when they log in the official Border Protection log book which is shared to all patrols along the whole of Australian Coast Border Protection units and the ADF would go something like this:

Patrol Report 29th October 2020

Mourilyan Harbor 17.6022 Degrees S 146.1041 Degrees E

Cassowary Coast  FNQ

Monohull 

SV Sens de la Vie 

Sierra, Echo, November, Sierra - Delta, Echo - Lima Alpha Victor, India, Echo

White Top Deck and hull

44ft Beneteau

2 POB

No Threat other to themselves.

Older couple sailing, if they make it to the Gulf  the Gove patrol should congratulate them.