That Was NOT What We Expected to Catch! Sailing the Wild Wessels | Sailing with the Jameses (Ep.145)

This week we are setting off from Gove in Arnhem Land and head into some of the most remote island chains in all of Australia — the Wessels. We sail through narrow island passes, drop a line and land a shark, and even spot unmanned vessels patrolling these off-grid waters. The landscape is wild, raw, and absolutely stunning — a part of the country few people ever get to see, let alone by sailboat. We are doing an overnight passage, rounding Cape Don under a starlit sky, entering the Van Diemen Gulf and complete our journey with a smooth arrival into Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory. This leg of the voyage was full of surprises, solitude, and raw beauty — and we're stoked to share it with you. ⏱️CHAPTERS 00:00 – Welcome Aboard! Let’s Set Sail 01:14 – Departing Gove 02:25 – Setting Up the Fishing Lines 04:21 – Thoughts on Gove – A Must-Stop Spot 07:27 – Catching a Baby Shark 08:49 – Anchorage for the Night – Croc Watch Begins 09:29 – Navigating Cadell Pass 15:40 – Spotting Unmanned Vessels 17:11 – Arriving into Darwin 📺 THIS IS SAILING WITH THE JAMESES ➡️ EPISODE 145 🎥 Watch our boat evolve — Major Refit Series ⚓ EXTENDING OUR SUGAR SCOOPS https://youtu.be/70acqzq3yIc ⚓ RECESSING OUR ANODES https://youtu.be/9oi9n1sMJNs ⚓ CUTTING OFF OUR SKEGS https://youtu.be/kU2YbtsfaLI ⚓ SYNTHETIC RIGGING ON OUR ALUMINIUM CATAMARAN https://youtu.be/LU8zSyDujfo ⚓ HOW WE IMPROVED THE PERFORMANCE OF OUR PERFORMANCE ALLOY CATAMARAN https://youtu.be/Qub8_UeCwdg 🚤 NEW HERE? Check out our boat tour: https://youtu.be/RhyaasimV9M Or our previous monohull: https://youtu.be/E5OCEgbGqK4 👇 FOLLOW US FOR MORE 📬 BUSINESS INQUIRIES: sailingwiththejameses@gmail.com 📸 Follow our adventures: Instagram: @sailingwiththejameses Facebook: facebook.com/sailingwiththejameses TicTok: SailingwiththeJameses Our Tender: We're cruising around in a True Kit Discovery 400—lightweight, stable, and perfect for exploring remote anchorages and shallow landings. Check it out here: https://truekit.net/en-au Subscribe for weekly sailing adventures as we continue our journey up the Queensland Coast, through Cape York. #SailingFamily #SailingAustralia #CatamaranLife #BoatLife #SailingAdventure #northernterritory