Motoring off Gabo Island

Where Next?
Bob Williams
Fri 25 May 2018 02:40

Noon Position: 37 31.4 S  150 02.2 E
Course: SW  Speed: 4 knots
Wind: SW – F3 gentle breeze
Sea: slight  Swell: SE 3 meters
Weather: sunny, cool
Day’s run: 36 nm

I awoke to the alarm beeping at half past midnight.  I climbed out of my warm bunk, dressed, put the kettle on the stove, turned the computer on and checked the weather.  Conditions still looked favourable for our attempt on Bass Strait.  Mug of tea in hand, I went on deck and finished clearing away the few odds and sods that still needed clearing away, such as stowing the ‘charlie noble’ (heater chimney) and sealing the chimney vent.  Meanwhile, Kate was stirring below (though The Cat was not).  I shortened in the anchor, raised the mainsail in the light air, started the engine, weighed anchor and motored slowly out of Snug Cove into the smooth sea of Twofold Bay.  I then turned Sylph’s bow out towards the ocean’s clean clear horizon once more.

Once out into Twofold Bay we found breeze sufficient to shut down the engine and sail for the rest of the night.  Now, however, the wind has dropped off and the large swell has Sylph rolling and going nowhere so we are giving the BRM a bit of a run.

Kate steers, I study, and The Cat sleeps. It would seem that we have a couple of new crewmembers.

All is well.