Sunday - 19/08/2012
Weather predictions determine that we sail today with winds
getting up to 15 to 20 knots and possible 20 to 25 knots being on the reef is
no place to be. The good part is that we do get a good sail out of the wind, at
first light the wind from the SE at 10 knots is enough to get us underway.
After sunrise we had breakfast and whilst Nancy cooked I got
the boat ready for sailing. Breakfast over we weighed anchor. Nancy had a
little problem with the anchor this morning, we were held fast as usual with
this anchor and usually when the length of chain in the water equals the depth
of the water I have to drive the boat forward to release the anchor. This was
no different this morning, however, when the anchor was up it had a large piece
of coral on it and Nancy could not get it off so I had to go forward and get
rid of it for her.
(The coral hooked on the anchor, it was quite heavey)
We motored away from the reef and the bommies area before
hoisting the mainsail and unfurling the headsail, the wind had picked up slightly
and we sailed off shut the engines down and set course for the Gloucester
Passage 50 NMS away.
Nancy made another cup of tea and put the radio on my
favourite Sunday morning show, Australia All Over with Macca. I trimmed the
sails and we were off at 7.5 - 8.5 knots this varied as we sailed during the
day but from weighing anchor at the reef to dropping anchor at Gloucester
Passage was 7 hrs 15 minutes so we averaged over 7 knots for the day with the
wind dropping away in the last few miles due to the mainland and islands
blocking it.
The sail across was good
but as the tied changed to wind against tide the seas stood up a little
more and it was near a beam on sea and the wind then picked up and we had a
reading of 28 knots so we furled the headsail turned into the wind and put a
reef in the mainsail set the course again and unfurled the headsail leaving
four turns on the furler, it did not slow us down much as we went from 8.2 to
7.7 knots. It was a little lumpy but a good sail.
As we approach Gloucester Passage some 3 NMS out I could see
four yachts in front of us and two others coming up the coast from Airlie Beach
so it looks like a few have the same idea as us.
We selected an anchorage out the front of Monte's where the
party week begins, the Shag Islet Cruising Yacht Club rendezvous commences on
Thursday this week. The reason for coming early is one the weather determined
that we sail and two to get a good anchorage. Last year there were more than 80
boats here and over 300 people. Some people fly in to Airlie Beach and drive
here for the event because it is too far to sail in the time that they can
spare. They say this year will be bigger.
There are a number of anchorage areas around here and so far
looking at them all there are possibly 18 club members already here.
We could not anchor in the spot we had last year as another
yacht was too close to that spot and nearby is a large bommie (coral head) just
below the surface of the water that not many people are aware of. Once anchored
the first thing I did was grab some cord and a small foam float, went ashore
and found a large rock then dinghy over to the bommie and mark it with the
float so no one will hit it.
There are quite a few yachts arriving this morning so it
should be a good week all we need is the weather to clear up again with the
wind yesterday came the clouds and rain today.
The Shag Islet Cruising Yacht Club is a fun club, anyone can
join you don't need to own a boat, we have well over 1500 members some from
overseas. The one major rule of the club is that you not allowed to take it too
serious, it is a one of membership fee $48, every member is a Vice Commodore
there is no Commodore we are all equal, all money raised is given to Prostrate
Cancer see the website. http://www.sicyc.org/sicyc/sicycwebsite.nsf/Main%20Navigator?OpenPage
Cheers
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