G'day Bootiful Peoples,From the WINDSWEPT coast of Eastern Australia!
I'm currently anchored in the safety of a small rocky outcrop just off the township of Bowen. 200 nm south of Townsville. Wednesday morning I left the boatyard and headed for Breakwater marina to join the Supa-Yacht Wheathersfield.for a C-word (see last blog) trip to the magical Whitsunday Island group. As per anything involving myself and the ocean ,just in thyme 4 the weather gods to turn "NASTY" and when I say nasty I'm not kidding. Townsville copped 120mm rain in 24 hours yesterday
and we've been pushing Southwards into a nearly constant 20-25 knot breeze.Still weather godz aside itz been a really good trip,with lotz of laughs and just a little rough weather to keep U on your toes. The Yacht itself has handled the conditions well however the same cannot B said for the crew! no injuries but we have sent our cargo of "kidz" ashore to continue the journey by car as the conditions are making progress a little slow and uncomfortable for the 3 chris's well 2 chris's and 1 jackie but not knowing which waz which it was easier if they were all chris. We left harbour 9am Wednesday and after setting the WFT's
headed across the bay towards and around Cape Clevland. I'm now further south than I've ever been on this side of this GR8 country. Once around the cape it soon became obvious that it would be a "LONG" trip with the breeze right on the nose of the Yacht and steadily increasing in strength. 2 give you a vague idea you can do this trip in 20/22 hours if you have favourable conditions. No such luck! after 2 days of sailing/motoring we are bruised and battered (not the fish type) and seeking a day of rest and repairs in the shelter of a small outcrop just north of Bowen harbour.
This waz a much needed rest stop with us arriving at last nights rest stop at 2 am! Cape upstart gave us a chance 2 rest for a few short hours B4 pushing out again into the stiff south-easterly. A few leaks in the cabins soon had everything downstairs well and truely satur8ed. Our cargo found the slow progress mundane and uncomfortable and after a rougher 2nd day and the shredding of WFT no 1,it waz decided 2 put the "precious cargo" ashore while we set about the task of refuelling, repairing, resealing and replacing the damaged sail aka WFT no1.
This rough weather has not stopped us eating well however with an easy nibble type chicken and salad platter and also a fresh fruit platter. Plus egg's benedict with smoked salmon 4 breakfast(can't rememba the french name) also a really hearty pasta dish and 2nite we had chicken,bacon and onion sausages served on a bed of mashed potato and butternut pumpkin with fresh silverbeet with garlic and cheese. All topped off with a slightly salty mushroom gravy and served with a lovely 2003 shiraz/ merlot. Not but really considering the conditions are slightly(well alot less) than ideal.
Afta sending the 3 chris's ahead by car Ken, Mary and Myself set about the task of repairs,with the torn WFT no1, the biggest priority. After taking a few basic measurements we looked online 4 a replacement only to realize "incredibly" that we had a "spare" in the forward sail locker, now that's karma! We spent the morning drying mattresses and removing the damaged sail from the front furler b4 heading ashore 2 measure a spare sail we had in a bag. "It fitz I'll never doubt you again!" Tomorrow morning if the wind dropz enuf we'll fit this spare headsail 2 the furler and just might be able 2 get underway towards Cape Glouster. Then on to Hayman Island. Finga's crossed. So for now itz a quite night, to update the blog, answer the emails and missed calls before getting some much needed sleep ahead of what will surely be another day of "nice weather".
A special hello to Mermaid and Big Ash, Carl and also Mr Micheal it's always good to hear from you all. Also a big hello to Miss D and thanks for the invite but I think I'll have to take a rain check on the Masquerade ball much as I'd luv 2B there.
So thatz about it from the land of Galleycat this week, tune in next Friday (or earlier) and I shoiuld be in the Whitsunday Islands.
Ciao
Captain Felix.
