We departed Mauds Landing (Coral Bay) at 2pm on Friday arvo. After days of carefully watching the weather predictions to try to get a nice window to get around NW Cape, I decided this was it. I knew we would still get some pretty strong easterlies getting around the top, but I had tried to plan it so they would be waning by the time we got there (about sunriseish on Sat).
The sail was nice and smooth to start with nice 15kn ESE winds pushing us along at about 5-5.5kns. Another beautiful full moon rose early as the sun was setting. Very spectacular again. I dropped the mainsail just before sunset as the breezes were predicted to strengthen during the evening and especially in the early hours (2am ish) As the evening wore on the winds behaved themselves peaking at about 20kns at times and then dying again. We made good progress up the Cape. Then about 3-4am we started to gradually turn north as we got towards the top of the Cape. This coincided with the predicted strengthening of the winds. It was also my off watch!
I could start to hear the boat begin to pound a bit into the waves, so I came up early and started to furl the heady and trim the sails a bit better to take advantage of and adjust to the conditions. The breeze steadily strengthened to the point that when we were trying to get around the Cape and tack into the Easterly it was probably blowing about 25 and peaking in the high 20's. This combined with the currents made for very confused seas. It brought to mind a cartoon I vaguely recall with Mickey Mouse as the "Sourcerer's Apprentice" with waves jumping up willy nilly seemingly all around the boat. Downstairs Nic was entertaining herself with trampoline tricks in bed - except she was an unwitting participant! There was also a bit of restowing going on with things that had been resting comfortably on the table finding far more comfortable spots on the floor! Anyone who has done a bit of offshore sailing will know this is all pretty normal, but for Nic it was a bit of an eye opener - she handled it all very well, with a good sense of humour!
Now arrived safely in Exmouth. We are planning to head off probably late Monday evening as the weather is predicted to become a bit more favourable (read Bloody Howling Easterlies are expected to stop!). Our plan is to cruise along pretty closely to the coast up to Broome stopping if possible if we start to get too bashed up. That is the plan - but of course Huey may have other plans. We hope to get to Broome by the weekend - but what will be will be - with just over 500NM to get there we have a bit of sailing to do! As I write this the crew is disco dancing around the cabin to "Lady Marmalade" - so spirits are pretty good and ready to take on the challenge.
The sail was nice and smooth to start with nice 15kn ESE winds pushing us along at about 5-5.5kns. Another beautiful full moon rose early as the sun was setting. Very spectacular again. I dropped the mainsail just before sunset as the breezes were predicted to strengthen during the evening and especially in the early hours (2am ish) As the evening wore on the winds behaved themselves peaking at about 20kns at times and then dying again. We made good progress up the Cape. Then about 3-4am we started to gradually turn north as we got towards the top of the Cape. This coincided with the predicted strengthening of the winds. It was also my off watch!
I could start to hear the boat begin to pound a bit into the waves, so I came up early and started to furl the heady and trim the sails a bit better to take advantage of and adjust to the conditions. The breeze steadily strengthened to the point that when we were trying to get around the Cape and tack into the Easterly it was probably blowing about 25 and peaking in the high 20's. This combined with the currents made for very confused seas. It brought to mind a cartoon I vaguely recall with Mickey Mouse as the "Sourcerer's Apprentice" with waves jumping up willy nilly seemingly all around the boat. Downstairs Nic was entertaining herself with trampoline tricks in bed - except she was an unwitting participant! There was also a bit of restowing going on with things that had been resting comfortably on the table finding far more comfortable spots on the floor! Anyone who has done a bit of offshore sailing will know this is all pretty normal, but for Nic it was a bit of an eye opener - she handled it all very well, with a good sense of humour!
Now arrived safely in Exmouth. We are planning to head off probably late Monday evening as the weather is predicted to become a bit more favourable (read Bloody Howling Easterlies are expected to stop!). Our plan is to cruise along pretty closely to the coast up to Broome stopping if possible if we start to get too bashed up. That is the plan - but of course Huey may have other plans. We hope to get to Broome by the weekend - but what will be will be - with just over 500NM to get there we have a bit of sailing to do! As I write this the crew is disco dancing around the cabin to "Lady Marmalade" - so spirits are pretty good and ready to take on the challenge.
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