Monday 14 July: Four Mountain Islands
Where Next?
Bob Williams
Sat 19 Jul 2014 21:37
Course: East sou' east Speed: 3 knots
Wind: North nor' east, F3 gentle breeze
Sea: slight Swell: north nor' west 1 m
Weather: partly cloudy, fog patches, cold
Days run: 113 nm sailed, 98 nm made good
Over the last 24 hours we have been gradually pushed south by the northerly
winds and, over the last several hours, by a strong southerly set which I am
assuming is a tidal stream setting through the Four Mountains Island group.
If I am correct than the stream should turn soon and be in our favour, if
not and the set is semi-permanent, then it is going to take a while for us
to work our way clear of the islands.
The wind has not shown any sign of shifting out of the north any time soon.
In the meantime we will enjoy the view. In the last half hour the sky has
cleared and the sun has come out revealing the peaks of Carlisle Island,
laying right in our path three miles to the east of us, and Herbert Island
some four miles to the south east. The pilot tells me that Carlisle Island
is “a mountain consisting of a single, extinct volcanic cone 5,283 feet
high.” Herbert Island similarly is formed by an extinct volcano, which “may
be likened to a truncated cone, the truncated section being the rim of a
crater about 1 mile in diameter. The rim is lower on the N side, and from
well offshore to the N the inside of the crater is partly visible. The
highest part of the island, 4,235 feet, is the S rim of the crater.” Very
impressive!
It is a bit on the cool side, but apart from that it is a beautiful day. I
have given up on my communication problems for now as being outside my
ability to solve. It is sort of nice to be more properly on my own for a
while.
All is well.