17 August 2021
Melbourne
No more sailing news to report, other than the fact that I’m currently in the process of getting a marine survey and valuation completed for Australian Customs to ensure I DON’T have to pay duty on Chimere’s value.
You might be thinking … that’s strange … he sailed the boat to New Zealand last year and now he’s sailed the same boat back again this year … why would duty be payable?! After all, Australian Customs cleared him OUT and then cleared him IN, both times.
A fair and logical observation … but the fact is, because Chimere has been out of Australia for more than 12 months, her return is considered an “Importation” … for which duty is payable, unless I can prove that I …
1/. Left the country, and
2/. Have returned again; in the same boat, and can provide an official valuation
Now, I have all the correct bits of paper, and will soon have a current valuation from a qualified marine surveyor – despite the required 30-day time limit just happening to coincide with Melbourne’s latest lockdown – but in amongst it all, I’ve been compelled to employ a “Customs Agent” to collate and lodged it all – at a cost of several thousand dollars!
That’s the bit that really hurts, particularly since I’m the one chasing up all the requirements – most of which I already had stored on my laptop!! It feels a bit like a job creation scheme. Anyway … looking on the bright side … “it’s good to be home!!”
Speaking of Home and Lockdowns … I’ve been making good use of my time … locked down as I am, at home … and have just completed a video of the trans-Tasman voyage.
The link is HERE But you will also find it on the Home Page of this website.
I claim no special skills as a “film maker”, having cut and pasted this “production” on my laptop using the rather basic (at least if you are really into this sort of thing) … Windows Video Editor 2021 … but I got a chance to watch it on our big screen TV this morning and I can certainly recommend this if you know how.
The seascapes, the skies and the beauty of the ocean, really came to life on the big screen, so again, if you have the technology to play it through your TV, then it’s definitely worth it – even if I say so myself.
So, thank you again for your encouragement and support. If you haven’t caught up on the photos that have been uploaded to each of the trans-Tasman Posts then just click back through each of the days … or just have a look at the video … they are all in there… and more!
Smooth seas, fair breeze and trans-Tasman Voyage – The Movie
Rob Latimer
NZ2020 