Australian-first expedition finishes in Fremantle

After 67 days at sea, dodging more than 1500 whales and 134 turtles, travelling 10,100km, using 7500 litres of fuel, catching 52 fish for dinner and suffering 57 sandfly bites... two brothers travelling ‘over the top’ of Australia in a rubber ducky to raise funds for prostate cancer finally arrived home last week. 

The Honda Over The Top Expedition began from the Sydney International Boat Show on 1 August 2011 and finished at the Royal Perth Yacht Club on 6 October.

Brothers Peter and Phillip Jenkins called an 8.6m rigid inflatable boat, commonly referred to as a ‘rubber ducky’, home for eight weeks during their Australian-first adventure – a fundraising and public awareness
event created by prostate cancer survivor Peter.

“Too many Australian men die each year from prostate cancer… it’s one of the most common cancers in men in Australia, second only to skin cancer, yet it’s rarely spoken about,” Honda Over The Top skipper
Mr Jenkins said.

Reflecting on his amazing adventure, Jenkins said the most difficult part of the expedition was the 17-hour Gulf crossing from Weipa to Nhulunbuy (Gove) in the Northern Territory.  “It was 17 hours of massive 5m choppy, confused seas with a large part of the crossing in total darkness,”he said.

“It was the same day Darwin also declared a catastrophic fire warning due to the extreme winds, which reflected the tough ocean conditions… it felt like we hit a brick wall every couple of minutes.” Jenkins said the most amazing part of the adventure was the “spine-tinglingly beautiful” Kimberley region.

“I had a similar feeling when we pulled into port at the Royal Perth Yacht Club, having completed the journey and increased public awareness of prostate cancer in the process,” Mr Jenkins said.

“We’ve had national and international media coverage and spoken to thousands of people along the journey – which was the whole point of the expedition.

“If we’ve made a difference to one life, then the whole challenge has been worthwhile… and we know we have certainly achieved that!”

All funds raised through the Honda Over The Top Expedition go to Cancer Council Australia for prostate cancer research.

Matthew bought a little Timber Mirror Dinghy that was built in 1968.  The owners gave him some paperwork and when sifting

through, found some beautiful poems written by the previous owners. 

Soul Aweigh
 
An east’ly breeze is all I need,
To send by thoughts to sea,
Whether via the north or south,
The salt tang rouses me.

Some Viking spirit lingers on,
Within this ageing breast,
And stirs a youthful yearning,
To plane from crest to crest.

The tiller firmly grasped in hand,
The decks agleam with spray,
The sheets and sails ataunto,
And heaven is here to stay.

A friendly bark from ‘Captain Bligh’,
To trim or dry the dish,
Then back to dreaming for the crew,
As free as they could wish.

No petrol fumes to blight us,
No phones or twenty strings,
Just pure delight, with gulls in flight,
Above our canvas wings.

Then suddenly, I feel a nudge,
I’m not out on the bay!
“Your cup of tea is getting cold”….
My boat has sailed away.

   Written by Margaret Fitten