More Swell.

Where Next?
Bob Williams
Mon 8 Jul 2019 03:16

Noon Position: 22 55.3 S  150 54.6 E
Course: North  Speed: 7 knots
Wind: SE;  F4,  moderate breeze
Sea: moderate   Swell: E 2.5 meters
Weather: sunny, mild
Day’s run (noon to noon): 60 nm

We approached Great Keppel Island towards sunset but did not make it around its north-eastern point and into the anchorage until well after dark. As we sailed into the bay on the island’s north-western side, we were greeted with a myriad of lights of boats at anchor.  I took this to be a good sign that the anchorage would be tolerable and looked forward to a peaceful night’s sleep. On the down side, the anchorage looked a little crowded for a night time approach with distances being difficult to judge. As a consequence, we ended up in a less than ideal position.  However, the swell didn’t seem too bad and Sylph’s crew looked forward to a solid night’s sleep. Anchor alarm set, all turned in relatively early after a tiring day’s sail.

But come 0100 and Sylph started to roll.  I suspect the wind had eased so that Sylph tended to align herself beam onto the small swell that was wrapping around the northern headland of the island. The rest of the night was less than ideal for a good night’s rest. 

At 0700 my alarm went off. I stuck my head out of the companionway hatch. It was a grey and drizzly morning and Great Keppel didn’t look so great to my bleary eyes. Eventually, after the crew had steeped themselves in several cups of tea and pored over the weather forecasts, it was decided that we would be better off continuing north. Thus, at 0945 we weighed anchor and set sail once more.  Next stop – Middle Percy Island.

All s’well.