Leeuwin captain learns the ropes to pilot ships to Bunbury Port

Bunbury’s pilot boats have a new regular face at the helm after Captain Sarah Robinson recently completed her pilot traineeship.

After joining Southern Ports in January last year, Captain Robinson learnt the ropes during her traineeship while grappling with the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. But this did not deter her from making it to graduation.

With 11 years of captaining the Leeuwin sailing ship under her belt, Capt. Robinson has a wealth of experience on the open water, but piloting was new territory for her.

She said the Bunbury Port marine team had been a great support while she learnt to manage the big vessels she now brings into port.

“The senior pilots were a fantastic support, working together to help me be in a position where I was excited, not nervous, to undertake my first solo pilotage,” she said.

“I was confident I had been trained well, the weather was perfect, I’d had lots of practice and I knew I could do it.”

Bunbury harbour master Captain Les Turner said it was great to see Capt. Robinson complete her traineeship.

“Sarah joined the team as a highly praised marine professional, but with no piloting experience,” he said.

“Our pilots have worked closely with Sarah through her traineeship, accompanying her on over 470 ship movements as she worked through the restrictions of her licence.

“Sarah should be congratulated for her hard work.”