Cape Nelson

Where Next?
Bob Williams
Fri 18 Nov 2016 02:08
Noon Position: 38 31.3 S 141 39.4 E
Course: West Nor’ West Speed: 3.5 knots
Wind: South West, F3 – gentle breeze
Sea: slight Swell: South West 1.5 meters
Weather: cloudy, mild
Day’s Run: 80 nm

I was expecting a weak front to pass through late yesterday. I had been keeping a close eye on the barometer and the cloud patterns ahead. At 1700 the barometer was down to 1010.5 Hpa, there was a line of clouds looking rather frontal and intimidating, the air was warm and the wind was starting to back. I got the staysail up and put a reef in the main and scanned ahead for white tell-tales of wind whipped water. I donned foul weather gear … and waited.

The wind freshened a bit and backed into the west sou’ west. I furled the jib and put an extra reef in the mainsail and at 1900 we tacked onto a north westerly heading as the wind backed further into the south west, but no sign of the front. I was suspicious but the barometer was definitely on the rise and by 2100 I had shaken a reef out of the main and unfurled some jib. By midnight we were back under full sail heading west sou’ west, close-hauled to a gentle breeze and sailing into a relatively relaxing night.

During the night the wind freshened a little and as a consequence we have made a satisfactory day’s run of 80 nm. This morning the wind has backed a little further into the south and now that we are off Cape Nelson we can bear away a little making for a more comfortable ride.

Robe lies 120 nm ahead. My sister and her husband will be visiting Robe for the weekend so maybe, if the weather allows, we will pull in to say hello.

All is well.