There can B only one term to describe the current weather, and that is "UGLY".
The arrival of Cyclone Stan, although not severe! still cre8s strong windz and big C's.
This has also shown how unprepared Galleyat iz to deal with these large tropical stormz . Many maintenance issuez have reared their head during preparationz for Stanz arrival.
Without a generator (that works) on board I'm unable to re-weld the rudder arms that have broken on both sidez of the Yot, replacement bilge pumpz are on order but have not arrived yet. While the constant downpours leave everything saturated to the point that the bedding is now going mouldy.Still one cannot complain when oysterz such as these are just lying around waiting to be "killed by Patrick".
Christmas haz come and gone and with the island in near total shutdown supplyz must be sauced from anywhere they can.
The New Year findz us once again near the very top of Groote in search of phish!With Pinny and Kane joining Chris and myself for a 4 day trip .
Andrew followed a couple of dayz later.
The stormy conditions have once again given way 2 oppressive heat and humidity so even fishing is limited to early morns and late afternoonz. With the searingly warm portions of the day spent in the water at any number of crystal bays that surround the Eylandt.
We headed North in search of fresh fish for Pinny to take back to Perth, and we certainly managed that task.
Emporer, Coral Trout, Nannygai, Cobia, Mulloway(black jews) and Spanish Mackerel all filling the icebox B4 we returned to town.
Kane managed to spear a cray as well so seafood was pretty much the main food source with leftover Xmas ham being the other.
Now Galleycat is back at Alyangula (town) in preparation (wkoa) for Mum and Dadz arrival.
Pinny leaves today with his esky full of quality fillets and the whole process beginz again with the task of sending fish back to Perth for Brother Mark and others.
The post office is still closed which leaves the Yot in a kind of maintenance limbo with the new bilge pumps required sooner rather than later.My power invertor has now also died leaving the Yot without a 240 volt power supply, this hampers a few maintenance tasks with power tools and vacumns no longer working. Not that I use a vacumn much but itz a typical human trait to desire what is not available then not use it once it is!
With the weekend upon us again and perfect weather conditions it seems as though we'll use this period to sort some of the major maintenance issues such as rudders instead of seeking more fish.
We managed to fill the freezers enuf that even once Pinny took hiz fillets, we are still holding plenty 2 sent back 2 Perth.
This iz a significant thyme 4 the Family with Dad and Hayley (Andrewz daughter) both having Birthdays as well as Mum and Dadz anniversary all falling within a few dayz of each other.This is all overshadowed by Mumz medical prognosis leaving a strange mix in the air.
As usual my thorts turn to Cameron at this thyme also with so much of the family present itz constantly on my mind that he is not!
The wheelz are in motion to change this fact, alas I have zero faith or belief in "the system" just a huge void that needz to be filled!
Captain Felix
