WIND, WIND and more WIND!!!

Thursday Island

G'day All and others,
After nearly a week of really "strong winds" we are once again within range of fone and internet and approaching Thursday Island.
The winds have been that savage that we abandoned our journey to Mt Adolphus Island half way there.
Saner thortz prevailed and we ended up spending the week exploring Prince of Wales Island instead.

COMFY

Shelter from the breeze was the number one priority then it waz just a case of finding fishy locations (wkoa).
We also put a concerted effort into finding mudcrabs in the various rivers we located however no crabz were found.The locals swear there are crabz but we found no evidence.
Apparently they just scoop them on the low tide.
We did manage a few nice trout and emporer to keep us fed.No chance of a dive either on the positive side the water is 31 degrees so a dip is still inviting.

However we need to return to Thursday Island for supplies and medical appointments so we are currently braving the 30 knot winds and massive currents in a fuel burning return exercise. A snails pace iz all we are able to manage but we are moving 4ward all be it slowly!
Once we resupply it'll be a case of finding shelter again, probably Horn Island or maybe behind Thursday.
When we do find a decent anchorage and begin to explore we have found some amazing places.
This area has no end of isolated beaches and islands to visit and some of the more isolated homes look like a scene from a rich and famous reality show.
What a way to live your car is a dinghy and neighbors are nowhere 2B seen.No neibourz mean no fences so why bother with roads.

Frazer and Katie had decided on a temporary move to Thursday Island as therez heapz of work available for both of them, however saner thortz prevailed there as well.
We are just awaiting the arrival of a replacement inverter B4 we head to Seisia 2 do the fibreglass repairz.
With the near constant wind we've made our way back Seisia to begin the repairs.
Rather than wait for the inverter we went looking for a generator instead.Killing 2 birds at once it turned out the welder arrived with a generator big enuf to run a small town.
We parked the Yot on the sand at 4.30 in the morning than back to sleep while the tide did itz thing.
Around 10 am we were on dry sand. Lucas(welderman) waz setting up his welder while Frazer and I removed the left front decking to allow Lucas access to the damaged safety rail.
Bingo what was a hard job just became easy.
Frazer got onto the angle grinder to prepare the fibreglass work, while Katie had the dry stores out to kleen the Port hull.
A big day of work morphed into an afternoon of drinks on the beach parked under the Yot.
Not overly unpleasant!
We didn't get to the fibreglass work but we did repair the damaged main beam below the anchoring area.
This was deemed 2B far more important!
The beam holds the entire yot together and supports the White Flappy Thing up the front.
The damage has been caused by the anchor chain chaffing through the wall of the 5" fibreglass beam.
We ended up with an aluminium water pipe that was split down itz length then fastened to the beam with large quantities of "super sticky stuff" and self tapping screwz to hold the whole thing in place until the "sticky stuff" set.
We held a safety meeting under the bow until the "sticky stuff" had turned into solid polyurethane and the area waz deemed safe!
Frazer and I, then set about refitting the aluminium grating to the bow.
A BIG day with a few more of the storm damages being repaired.
Our eyes are looking towards a new fishing spot to sit out the coming blow.

14ft Lazy local

The mouth of the Jardine River is only 5 miles away so thatz got the vote at the moment.
However you need water in a river mouth to be able to sail a Yot in!
And so the Jardine will have to wait til another thyme, we ended up anchored off Mutee Heads, fishing the evening for a few emporor and GT's. (small).

Itz waz now thyme for Frazer and Katie to head back 2 land and begin their trek South while I set about ordering the last few items needed to restore the Yot to full capacity.
A new teflon glide 4 the dinghy loader and a couple of fuel filters for the outboardz.
I've also started pricing replacement sailz for the 2 destroyed during "the storm".
It wont be long B4 I'm pointing the Yot towards Arnhem Land and I'll need to have the sails fitted B4 I head off on the ruffly 500nm journey.
This entry iz about done, but a couple of thingz rate a late mention, First itz Birthday month within the family with Brother Mark and Andrew both having there dayz already and mine just a week away.
Then theres the croc, my neighbour the 4metre salty apparently had a much larger big brother on the island. He has now been captured and disposed of. So 4metre is Ok but 5  seemz just 2 big for the locals to feel safe.
The Yot iz back at Thursday Island to await the arrival of a couple of guys from Switzerland

Captain Felix