Heading North 30 55.87S 153 10.85E
Aurora_b
Mike and Liz Downing
Sat 22 Jun 2013 05:07
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Left Newcastle yesterday morning to continue the journey
north. The New South Wales coast can be difficult and there's always the
possibility of getting stuck in port somewhere. So when the forecast of 5-10kt
winds yesterday suggested there could be 24 hours of motoring, we decided
better that and make progress than perhaps having to wait another week for
favourable winds. As it happens we had 16 hours of motoring, but spread
throughout the day and apart from the start, it was all motor sailing. The
start was interesting. We had planned to leave a day earlier, but on
calling Port Control discovered the swell outside was 5 to 6 meters (the
marina is quite a way in land and you have no idea what the sea conditions are
like). One of their pilots then came back (by helicopter - they use
helicopters rather than boats) and confirmed that it was 5 to 6 metres several
miles offshore. That was enough for us to decide we really hadn't seen much
of Newcastle and another day to see a bit more would be a good
idea! It was a pity as the 10-20kts of wind forecast would have made for a
good sailing day. Catching the bus from town to harbour entrance we watched the
waves breaking against the shore and were pleased with the
decision.
Leaving yesterday the swell was down to 3 to 4 metres
and the wind was down to 5kts or less. The coast here is shallow and in the
first 10 miles yesterday it was no more than 150ft. So we weren't too
sure what 4 metre swells would be like - how steep would they be? Motoring
out, the swell was on the beam and every so often all that could be seen
was a wall of water coming towards us, but apart from a bit of a roll
Aurora B lifted up to each one and gently went down the other side. On
ocean passages you expect a minimum of 2-3 metre swell, but that's
normally in water 12,000 feet deep.
The first 24 hours was mixed sailing - the 5-10kts
forecast wind turned into 25kts and a churning sea for a couple
of hours, but it was from the south, so behind us and with both genoas
poled out we flew along at 7 - 8kts. Then the wind dropped and
the way forward was barred by a big thunderstorm system. Sailing
slowly (3kts) with little wind we were glad not to catch it up as the
lightning lit up the sky. Luckily it moved just offshore and stayed there
all night, leaving an open 5 mile corridor next to the shore where the
skies were clear and the full moon lit up the way ahead. But it was so
cold, even with 2 fleeces and all our foul weather gear on.
So far today it's be lovely sailing - 15-20kts
from the southwest so the windward pole is up again and we're making good
progress against the current. The seas are still up - 2 to 3 meters most of
the time with the occasional much larger swells (they come in 2s and 3s),
but the sun is shining! (It rained or was overcast all of yesterday.)
The position above is our noon position today (Saturday). Since leaving
Newcastle we've covered 137 miles. No pictures below as sending this while at
sea and the comms are too slow and costly.
We have seen some wildlife! It's the season for
the humpback whales to migrate north, we've seen a few breaching a fair way from
us. Also lots of seabirds including albatross.
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