Pan Pan, Pan Pan, Pan Pan.

  Pan Pan, repeated 3 times, is an international marine distress call second only to Mayday. On Sunday morning we felt it appropriate to issue a Pan Pan as it had become apparent, in the early

hours, the boat was taking water.

  We were 100 nautical miles into the Gulf and received no immediate reply. A response was finally received from Coast Watch Adelaide, of all places. They notified Central Marine Rescue in Canberra of our circumstance, and monitored our progress.  

  Each of us packed a small bag containing personal effects in case we could not manage the water and needed to take to the life raft. (This now had a certain appeal).We had a drill.

  I felt we had hit something earlier in the evening.

  The leak did not worsen, as we initially feared; we anchored in Gove at 2 am Tuesday morning.  

Thankfully the weather had been kind.

  We will slip the boat in Darwin. (I don't think I will unpack my small bag yet!)