Departed Tin Can Bay
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Noon Position: 26 01.6 S 153 14.9
E We slipped the mooring at 0530, motored past Mary Lee, gave her a short toot on the fog horn, then turned Sylph's bow to the north to exit Tin Can Inlet and find our way out to the open sea. As we motored away from Mary Lee, I saw a hairy paw extend from her cockpit in the way of a wave farewell. Fair winds Mark and Mary Lee. I look forward to when next we meet, hopefully a snug harbour somewhere other than Tin Can Inlet. We crossed the Wide Bay Bar in calm conditions with only a slight swell breaking in places over the shallowest its parts. The recommended track over the bar changed earlier this year and the new track took us over a shoal patch of 3.5 meters, which, despite the benign conditions and being at the top of the tide, caused me a moment of concern as some waves built up and threatened to break. I certainly would not want to be crossing the bar in anything but very calm conditions with this new route. At 0830 we were back into deep water and I was able to relax as we resumed our course to the south. As mentioned yesterday, the forecast is for the wind to remain light for the forenoon with a NE breeze filling in later in the afternoon. Consequently we have motored all forenoon waiting for sufficient breeze to set sail to and it would appear it has at last arrived. I have just hoisted the big red code zero and shut down the motor. Currently the wind is barely sufficient for Sylph to maintain steerage way but as long as we can keep Sylph's head pointing roughly in the right direction I will be happy. The plan remains unchanged, to continue sailing as long as we have a fair breeze, which looks like being up until at least Friday afternoon. We will see where we are by then and what the forecast looks like then decide whether to keep on going or to seek harbour. All is well. |