So much for the tropical North, last few mornings have required the doona around 4am. Woke up to a cockpit covered with dead mosquitos, they certainly were ferocious last night. Jim called it a pest cemetery.  Today we are headed to Port Essington, apparently quite a scenic area and historical too as it is the site of the first major settlement in NT. It lasted 11 years before failing and subsequently Darwin  was established successfully.

Departed Point David at the Southern end of Croker Island at 8am and very soon passed the seagoing tug Argos towing a barge carrying demountable buildings through the Bowen Strait. It was on the Western side of the mid shoal so we went the same side as them, which seemed more logical according to the chart but counter to John Knight’s local cruising guide.

Arrived at Black Point, within Port Essington, where the museum and rangers station is at 3.30pm but the wind had filled in to 25 kts from the East so the anchorage was untenable.  We went a further mile to find a better sheltered spot between Black Point and Reef Point. That put paid to visiting the museum today but should be able to anchor off and visit it tomorrow morning. Our anchorage on the first night in Port Essington is pictured below, looking back westwards towards Black Point.

The filet steak we had tonight had to be the best we have had on the trip so far. Had another of Al’s bottles of white, thanks Al for leaving them onboard, they have been most enjoyable.