The last blog saw us leaving Mackay to head back towards Townsville. The change of direction made a huge difference as we were now able to sail with the wind assisting us and when we got the current as well it felt like we were flying. On the way up we managed to stop at a couple of islands we had missed on the way down and even spent a week in Airlie which seemed like a completely different town to the place we had visited just a mere few months before. Previously everything had been open and the place was heaving with backpackers and other tourists. This time it felt like a ghost town with ninety percent of the shops closed and barely anyone on the streets.
Once we left Airlie it was a few days sail and then we were dropping anchor in the duckpond back in Townsville. It was definitely a weird feeling for us both as we honestly didn’t think we would ever return here, funny how life works out.
We had been discussing the idea of continuing up north and going as far as Cairns and that seemed like a real possibility especially when we saw a couple of advertised jobs that would suit us.
We knew however before we moved on that we needed to make an appointment and meet with the Australian border force office. When we first arrived in Australia we were issued a cruising permit that allows us to sail wherever we like within Australian waters for up to three years. After that time we either have to have left or paid import tax on the yacht. Our intentions obviously had been to leave which is what we were doing before the virus hit. We knew the permit expires in October of this year and we needed to know what our options were, especially as the pacific islands are closed and will be for the foreseeable future.
We therefore made an appointment with the ABF and now know what we are doing. The timeline for our permit is strict, so come this October we either stay and pay or we leave. If we were to leave then we couldn’t return to Australia within a three year period otherwise we would need to pay the import tax. The tax equates to 5% of the valuation of the boat plus 10% gst which roughly equates for us between $20000-$25000. Once this is paid however we could then come and go from Australia as much as we would like (btw: this same equation is the same for us in NZ as well).
We have therefore decided to stay and work. Realising we won’t have enough saved for the payment by October we have decided to keep REAO in Townsville as once that date arrives she will be limited to port and we won’t be able to sail her unless we either pay the fee or sail out of the country. We know the duckpond is safe therefore it makes sense to stay here.
With all this going on I have to be honest and say that yesterday was the first time that both Craig and myself felt really down for the day. Neither of us could break out of our funk mood. This morning however saw the sun come up as did our sunny moods again.
While it’s not the adventure we saw ourselves having, it is still an adventure and we are able to do it together. I have started applying for jobs for us (have applied for five couple management positions already) while Craig is sorting out a yacht broker so we can figure out what our boat is worth and more importantly how much we need to pay.
It’s going to be interesting going forward from here and no matter where we end up we will make it work for us!
Can relate a little to the feeling of going on an adventure only to be stuck – we were meant to have travelled all around Spain by now and be on our way to various other European places but have bearly left the town we arrived in and still awaiting my paperwork which will enable me to travel out of spain around rest of Europe. But with life so often looking back you see the dark clouds have silver linings – always love your positive attitude!