Departed Percy

Where Next?
Bob Williams
Sat 13 Jul 2019 02:59

Noon position: 21 26.8 S  150 05.1 E
Course: NW  Speed: 3 knots
Wind: SE;  F2-3, light to gentle breeze
Sea: slight   Swell: negligible
Weather: sunny, mild
Day’s run: 16 nm

Yesterday was a quiet day preparing for an early departure this morning. We enjoyed Shipwreck and Beck’s company one last time with mead and nibbles in the way of sun downers in Sylph’s cockpit and then it was an early night. Indeed, we went to bed so early that I found myself awake and sleepless at one a.m.  After tossing and turning for a while, I got up and went on deck. There was a bright gibbous moon shining, a light breeze and calm seas.  “Bugger it!” I thought, “Let’s weigh and be gone.”

I hoisted the anchor in by hand and set sail as quietly as I could so as not to disturb Kate who was still asleep in the V-berth. We made our way between the other moonlit yachts at anchor and by 0200 we were running square before a light south-east breeze.   But, by 0300 we were becalmed and drifting. Astern, I watched a number of other early rising yachts depart the anchorage, all choosing to motor. They quickly overtook us but I was determined not to disturb the peace and quiet of the night, nor Kate’s dreams.

We have worked the light breezes and have managed to make sixteen miles towards our destination of Scawfell Island, still some fifty miles away.  There is a strong wind forecast for the early hours of Sunday morning and we would like to be snug at anchor before it arrives.

The wind is starting to freshen. Sylph is making good four knots. I think we have a good chance of getting in before the worst arrives.

All is well.