Alongside Robe

Where Next?
Bob Williams
Mon 18 Dec 2017 09:10

Position: 37 09.67 S 139 45.01 E
Alongside Robe
Wind: NE; F3 – gentle breeze
Sea: calm Swell: nil
Weather: overcast, warm
Day’s run: 78 nm

The wind remained fair though shifted a few times requiring three gybes during the course of yesterday afternoon and evening. At midnight we dropped the pole and came onto the wind to enter Guichen Bay. At a bit after two in the morning we tacked so as to clear South Reef and make for the entrance to Robe Harbour, a small salt water lake (Lake Butler) that has had a channel cut through the beach so as to create an all weather fishing boat harbour. The channel is narrow and protected by a short hooked breakwater. As we approached I handed sail, started the engine and cautiously closed the entrance. The night was dark with an overcast sky and a new moon. As we entered the channel a cray fishing boat was coming out with spot lights all round. They might have helped the cray boat’s skipper see his way out but the did nothing to help me see my way in. I had to turn my head away and shield my eyes with the palm of my hand so as not to be blinded. As the vessel passed I caught a glimpse of a deckhand waving cheerily.  I waved back not so cheerily, muttering rather unpleasant things about his skipper to myself.

At 0315 we tied up alongside the visitor’s marina and I retired below for what remained of the night.

All is well.