A Long Night
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Noon position: 24 51.7 S 152 47.4
E Yesterday afternoon the wind continued moderate to fresh from the north and we ran wing-on-wing before it, making good six to seven knots. We passed the port of Gladstone late in the evening and, as with Abbot Point, there were numerous ships at anchor waiting for cargo - I counted 26 on the AIS. South of Gladstone the wind started to ease, our progress slowed, and at 2230 we were rolling around becalmed. The sky was pitch black overhead, a steady drizzle was falling and I could see flashes of lightning off to the west. We were no doubt caught in the influence of a thunder cloud. I rolled up the jib, put a precautionary reef in the main and we motored. An hour later some breeze started to fill in from the east. I unrolled the jib, leaving the reef in the main as the sky was still dark and ominous. By 0230 the wind had backed into the north. I gybed the main and poled the jib out to starboard. At 0345 the wind freshened and backed all the way round into the SW. More sail adjustment - down pole, set jib for a close reach at six knots. And we continued thus for the remainder of the night. Now all the clouds have disappeared, we have a clear blue sky and a bright sun overhead ... and no wind. Once again we resort to the BRM. We have made it to Hervey Bay and with headwinds forecast for tonight I am keen to make it to anchor to get some rest. The entrance to the Great Sandy Strait is still seventeen miles away, and it is a further twelve miles to somewhere with shelter where we can anchor, so we have some distance to go yet. All is well. |