Prepared by P.J. Carter, expedition organiser.
While it cannot compare with many recent overseas expeditions, the Sir Joseph Banks Is. (SJB) expedition represents a quantum step in the development of sea canoeing in S. Aust. It was the first S. Aust. sea kayak exp. to a group of offshore islands without support craft or other back-up.

Expedition members were Peter J. Carter, John Cully and Joe H. Lamb. All are teachers and hold office in the S. Aust. Canoeing Association. Peter and Joe hold ACF Instructor Award and John is a trainee Instructor.

Preparation
The expedition was originally conceived some years ago, and actual planning and preparation took several months. The people and organisations listed below were asked for information, charts, permission to  camp etc. However surprised or sceptical they may have been, they were most helpful and cooperative, and to be thanked for their assistance.

Harbourmaster, Port Lincoln
 Capt. D. Kemp
 Dept of Marine & Harbours
 Port Lincoln. 5606.

Port Lincoln Yacht Club
 Sec/Manager
 Denis Harcourt
 Box 628 P.O.
 Port Lincoln. 5606.

National Parks & Wildlife Service
 Ranger in Charge
 Box 866 P.O.
 Port Lincoln. 5606.

Bureau of Meteorology
 Regional Director
 Box 421 P.O.
 Norwood. 5067.

Lessee, Spilsby Island
 Mr P. Jacobs
 Co Mr N. Jacobs
 32 Cardiff Rd
 Port Lincoln. 5606

Tumby Bay Caravan Park
 Managers
 R. & J. Tucker
 Tumby Bay. 5605.

Another contact in Port Lincoln (PLC) is Noel Holmes, Health and Welfare Centre, Oxford Tce, Port Lincoln, 5606. Noel is Duke of Edinburgh Award organiser in the area.

Charts
Expedition charts were prepared from the following:-
 Aus 134 Approaches to Port Lincoln
 1:250 000 SI 53-11 Lincoln
 1:100 00 6128 Spilsby
 Port Lincoln Yacht Club Charts
 Australian Pilot, Vol 1.

Aus 776, Williams Is. to Winceby Is. is more recent than Aus 134, is more detailed, and should be used in preference.

Tides
Tidal ranges are 1.2m (springs) and about 0.7m (neaps), with maximum flow about 1 knot. We were told that when tidal flow and winds conflict a nasty chop results. We experienced no problems with tides at any stage, but tide heights could affect landings in some places.

Intended Expedition Plan
 Day 1 :-  Tumby Bay - Reevesby Is, via Winceby Is.
 Day 2 :- RBY - Spilsby Is.
 Day 3 :- SPY - RBY
 Day 4 :- RBY - TBY
 Contingency landing site,  Massena Bay
 Day 5 :- Circumnavigation of Boston Island. PLC

TBY was chosen as base because it is closer to SJB than PLC which is 25nm from SPY. In case of bad weather, the expedition was to remain in Boston Bay and PLC.

Equipment
All three expedition members used Nordkapp sea kayak, the type used for exp. to Nordkapp, Spitsbergen, Greenland and Cape Horn. All three carried ‘Chimp’ pumps, spare paddles, flares etc beside camping gear and food and water for at least 8 days. There were no serviceability problems. Also carried was a 1 watt transceiver on 27.89 and 27.88 Mhz for contact with John’s wife at TBY or one or other of the 27 Mhz networks in the area. We were unable to make any contact at all, and only heard distant and unintelligible CB chatter. This raises the whole question of radio for sea kayak expeditions. 27 Mhz has proved to be of no value to date, and as publicised last summer, subject to CB interference. Possibly equipment of 5 watt power would be of some use, but then the marine frequencies 2182, 4125, and 6215.5 Khz would be more valuable. The ‘Callbuoy’ equipment sounds ideal, and is used in the UK, but is an expensive and bulky device. An alternative for emergency use only would be a 121.5 Mhz ELB.

The Islands
The group was discovered in 1802 by Flinders, who named it after his patron, and individual islands after places in Lincolnshire. In the past RBY and SPY were farmed, but only SPY is now grazed, and apart from SPY are a National Park. NPWS stressed that we were not to take dogs or pets to the islands. We can assure them that John’s German Shepherd stayed at TBY.

Except where cleared, the islands are covered with low scrub. Apart from lizards, there appear to be no terrestrial animals and few terrestrial birds. There are rabbits on SPY and snakes, black or black tiger (I didn’t turn it over to see), on RBY. We saw porpoises and seals, and the following birds; silver gull (L. novaehollandiae), pacific gull (L. pacificus), Aus. gannet (M. serrator), blackbrowed albatross (D. nelanophris), cormorants (several species), redcapped dotterel (C. alexandrinus),  sooty oyster-catcher (H. fuliginosus)?, Cape Barren goose (C. novaehollandiae), welcome swallow (H. neoxena), and an owl or frogmouth.

In windy conditions seas in the area can be rough. RBY offers the best shelter and landings on sandy beaches are possible on both sides. Landing on SPY is on the beach on the NW shore, which is exposed to the NW. Except for Blyth Is. the other islands are rocky, and landings could be awkward. Blyth is sandy, but very small and ‘owned’ by L. pacificus. We were asked by NPWS to confine camping to RBY. there is an old homestead on RBY which is said to have water available, but we did not check it. There are airstrips on RBY and SPY. The islands are often visited by fishermen and yachtsmen.
 

Meteorological Observations
Weather during the expedition can only be described as superb, and contributed greatly to its success. The following observations are at irregular intervals, and one cannot vouch for the accuracy of the barometer (Carac) or its setting. Radios were carried to receive forecasts.

Expedition Log
DAY 1, 28th August
 Dist 13 nm Time 4.10 Ave 3.1 kn. Light N breeze, smooth seas.
 Departed TBY at 0950. Passed E end of Tumby Is at 1037 and headed 1100M to track 1200M for Winceby Is., invisible below horizon. 1320 -1330 rest and nibble E of WBY then landed N end
of McCoy Bay, RBY. Porpoises in bay. Limpets for afternoon tea, camped in sandhills.

DAY 2, 29th August.
 Dist 10 nm Time 3.00 Ave. 3.3 kn Following wind (10 kn) and slight seas.
 Launched RBY at 0855, headed S along E coast of RBY. Passed between Blyth and Hareby Is. Detoured to greet fishing boat which moved off at our approach, but then had two blackbrowed albatross alight very close. Landed SPY at 1155. After lying in sun, went up to meet only resident of the islands, Mr. P. Jacobs. Were his first visitors for some weeks, as PLC yachtsmen confined to port by weather. Camped in sandhills.

DAY 3, 30th August
 Dist 11 nm Time 3.30 Ave 3.1 kn Light N winds, smooth-slight seas.
 Had expected much stronger winds from forecast, and were considering lunch on Blyth Is., but conditions again ideal. Launched 0850 and headed for Langton Is. After passing E end, detoured to Smith Rock when seals seen on it. They were in playful mood, swimming around and under boats, and jumping out of water. If they only knew the original purpose of kayaks ... Passed between Lusby Is and RBY and landed in small cove on NW of RBY. Cove is not marked on charts, and care should be used on approach at less than high tide due to rocks. Landed at 1225. Spent night in cave.

DAY 4, 31st August
 Dist 11 nm Time 3.38 Ave 3 kn Light N winds, occ 15 kn gusts, smooth-slight seas.
 Launched RBY at 0817, heading 3200M. TBY silos are visible, but are some way behind town. Tumby Is. can be identified by prominent guano patch on E end. Landed at 1155.

Total dist 45 nm Time 14.18 Ave 3.1 kn
We were agreeably surprised by our speeds, but then conditions were ideal, and not difficult at any stage.

On Sept 1st we visited PLC. The planned circumnavigation of Boston Is. was not carried out. We were interviewed and photographed by Port Lincoln Times, and gave Noel Holmes and one of his friends a demonstration of the Nordkapp.

Recommendation
Go and see it all for yourself.