February 2011 e-newsletter

Welcome to our first e-newsletter for 2011.

The following cruises options are now available:

· 3 day Bynoe Harbour

· 4 day Tiwi Islands

· 7 day Cobourg and the Tiwi Islands

· 14 – 21 day Kimberley (private charter only – 3 couple max)

· 14-30 day Indonesian adventure (Maluku Province – private charter only – 2 couple max)

· Private charters to a location of your choice from 1 to 28 days

Contact Peter at sail@arafurasailing.com.au for more information about 2011 cruise dates and rates or book early for your 2012 adventure, and receive 2011 rates. Check out our website for more information on www.arafurasailing.com.au

SPECIAL OFFER FOR JUNE AND JULY 2011

Book a 14 day Kimberley or 7 day Cobourg private charter in June or July 2011 and
receive a 10% discount off our advertised prices.

Cruising the Maluku Province of Indonesia

The last couple of years, in late September/ October, we have sailed north of Darwin to Saumlaki (capital of the Tanimbar Islands in the Maluku Province of Indonesia). Saumlaki is only 2 days sail north of Darwin, with many cruising options available elsewhere in the region, which is east of East Timor.

The weather is quite moderate and the sailing conditions have been excellent.

Our main focus in returning each year is a commitment to assist several schools with computers and other teaching resources and further develop relationships with the local people.

Sailing options available after visiting Saumlaki include cruising the Tanimbar Islands, the Kei Islands, Banda and Ambon with the possibility of visiting any of the 100s of islands along the way. There are active volcanos, beautiful white beaches, world-class snorkelling/diving, a myriad of villages and wonderful friendly people to visit and experience.

This year we will have an Indonesian sailing guide join us for the extended cruising from Saumlaki, to ensure our guests get the most from their experience.

We are looking for people who might share our interest in community engagement/development projects but also have a sense of adventure, as 2 cabins (max 4 people) are available for our annual cruise.

Depending on destination preferences these cruises can range from 14 to 30 days, with plenty of time to go ashore, explore and mingle with the local people.

We have some interest already in the 2011 cruise but would be happy to take expressions of interest for 2012 and 2013. Part of your costs will go towards the community projects as a donation.

You can also join us on our blog site at www.arafurasailing.blogspot.com or our facebook page

book now for 2011 and 2012 season

We already have 14 day private Kimberley charters confirmed for both April and May 2011 with early interest for the same period in 2012.

Early in the Dry Season is certainly a great time to visit the region with waterfalls flowing nicely, although it is spectacular country anytime.

We offer unique opportunities for a maximum of 6 friends or family in 3 cabins to share the adventure.

Our 4 day Tiwi Islands cruises are also popular with an opportunity to spend time with these hospitable people and learn a little of the Tiwi culture.

We will again be returning to the Maluku Province of Indonesia in late September/early October 2011 to continue our philanthropic work with local schools.

We would welcome like minded people joining us and a maximum of 2 cabins are available for a cruise that will be between 14 and 28 days.

Following our engagement at Saumlaki with the schools and community we will continue the adventure with visits to villages, snorkelling and fishing with an option to sail on to the beautiful Banda Islands or Ambon, depending on the option taken up.

Great finish to the 2010 cruising season

We

were busy during the July - Oct period this year with some great sailing and some wonderful guests enjoying the adventures.

We completed two 7 day Cobourg/Tiwi Islands cruises, 3 of our unique 4 day Tiwi Islands cruises and then a fantastic trip back to the Kimberley for 14 days in September welcoming back a couple who had last sailed with us in 2008.

We followed up immediately with a 14 day sail to Indonesia where Ellen and I have decided to assist local schools at Saumlaki in the Tanimbar Islands group of the Maluku Province.

This year we donated (with the help of friends and some local Darwin business people) 18 computers to St Paulus Junior High School with many of them also loaded with Rosetta Stone English language software. Our project arose from meeting with local school teachers and visiting several schools during a 2009 trip under the auspices of the Sail Saumlaki Rally, and then receiving a proposal from the school on a priority project.

We will return again in 2011 to again support St Paulus with more resources and have also been approached to help the SMK Imakulata Vocational High School with sewing machines and computer resources. We are confident that we will again achieve our aim to assist these schools and further develop our relationships with these wonderful people.

2011 and 2012 charter bookings

We are now taking bookings for 2011 and 2012.

We already have a private charter to the Kimberley in April 2011 and a 4 day Tiwi Islands booking in June confirmed, so we are looking forward to another exciting year sharing our beautiful remote regions with our guests.

We also have interest in 4 week private charters to the Maluku Province of Indonesia to the north of Darwin for October 2011 and October 2012.

If you are interested in any of our charter options then please contact Peter on sail@arafurasailing.com.au or look for detailed information on Arafura Sailing Adventures on our website at www.arafurasailing.com.au

Ask about our special offers for 2011 and 2012 bookings that are confirmed before 30 November 2010.

Testimonial from a 7 day Cobourg/Tiwi Islands cruise

We have recently returned from a 7 day charter and received this wonderful testimonial from one of the guests. It was forwarded by the booking agent, World Expeditions:

I returned on Tuesday night sailing 7 days on the above trip with Peter of Arafura Sailing Adventures on the Catamaran Sundancer NT.

What a truly inspiring experience!

We visited Victoria settlement on Cobourg Peninsula and Garden Point on Melville Island which were magical events.

At Garden Point we spent the day with the local Indigenous people searching for Mud Mussels and Long Bums after Edward, one of the locals, had collected 2 huge mud crabs and 2 sting ray ( the sting rays he had speared in the shallows ) along this beautiful remote beach.

We were then off in the 4 wheel drives to a water hole to swim, a little cautiously as the locals looked out for a croc which had popped up a week a go.

As all this was happening the locals were happy to answer questions as well as cook the goodies they had collected. We thought the sting rays which may have been a delacacy they may have kept for dinner. One of the ladies made a magnificent damper in the camp fire!!

Then back to Garden Point to look at the Art Work and WOW, resulting in a purchase from all parties as it was so beautiful yet reasonably priced

Peter the Host and Operator was a truly wonderful host and a thorough gentleman.

He is also an excellent cook, with the food being fantastic and catering to all needs even if it meant preparing another meal. Sundowners to munch on were yummy as we watched the sun sink below the horizon as only Northern Territory can turn it on!

Two other events that stood out was firstly the fantastic fishing and varied catches from Salmon to Barracuda to Mackerel and Bronze Whaler and Black Tip Shark in other locations.

Secondly one day about 20 kilometres from the nearest land in 21 metre deep water Peter just stopped the catamaran and we all jumped off the bow and drifted between the hulls to the back of the Cat in beautiful clear water and then got back on. Just beautiful

As you can probably pick up on I would thoroughly recommend any adventure with Peter and his Staff in this case Ben and Libby.

The adventure I was on was great and while some days were long sailing days Peter sailed as often as possible to make the adventure truly an adventure and memorable

SPECIAL OFFER - BOOK NOW FOR YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE

SPECIAL OFFER

2 Cabins remaining on Tiwi Islands cruise – depart Cullen Bay, Darwin late evening 1 September and return to Cullen Bay early evening 4 September 2010. Cabins available from $1750 – 1900 per person share double or $2200 - $2400 single.

Contact Peter at sail@arafurasailing.com.au for more information about 2011 cruise dates and rates or book early for your 2012 adventure, and receive 2011 rates.

Check out our website for more information on Arafura Sailing Adventures www.arafurasailing.com.au

Kimberley cruising - 14-27 April 2010

Some comments from a recent private charter to the Kimberley region

We have all had a wonderful voyage which has been 5 star in every respect. The food was splendid and the service 1st class, our every wish was granted and we appreciated the celebrity treatment.

The crew's collective knowledge of the area enhanced the experience.

Special moments included:

Standing on the boat under waterfalls, drinks in the rock pools, feeding the sharks and standing above the King George River waterfalls with a view never to be forgotten.

Thanks from all of us - Denise and Rob, Nhulunbuy NT Australia