Overnight off Grand Palm Island

Where Next?
Bob Williams
Mon 16 Sep 2019 05:16

Noon Position: 18 48.1 S   146 44.6 E
Course SSE   Speed 5 knots
Wind: ESE  F4 moderate breeze
Sea: slight  Swell: SE 1 m
Weather: sunny, warm
Day’s run:  63 nm

After another pleasant day’s sail in a light steady breeze, at 2200 we found ourselves in the vicinity of the Palm Island Group. The forecast was for light easterly winds for the night, freshening in the morning.  It seemed an ideal opportunity to have an all night in the bunk without having to get up every twenty minutes or so to look around. So I tacked Sylph in among the islands in up to western lee of Great Palm Island where, at 2255, I rounded into the wind, handed sail and let go the anchor in 30 feet of water. As Sylph took up her cable, I could hear the sounds of playful voices coming from the nearby small township. It felt peaceful. I turned in and slept soundly.

This morning I awoke at 0630, made a cup of tea and immediately set to raising the anchor. I initially hoisted the main with one reef as I was anticipating fresh winds once we left the lee of Great Palm Island, but as we cleared its south-west point I found the breeze a little lighter than expected so a short while later shook out the reef to give Sylph a bit more drive to windward.

But enough sailing talk for now.  We are almost to Horseshoe Bay, Magnetic Island where we should arrive at about 1700.  (The wind vane rudder has just come adrift. Naturally its attached with a tether so it was an easy matter to recover and Sylph pretty much sails herself to windward, so I will fix that problem up tomorrow.)  I will be catching up with the crew of Déjà vu at the pub. A nice cold Corona will be good.

All is well.