11:9.11S 132:8.46E

Position at 0810, 03/07/13

The timing was right with respect to the tides to continue to Darwin however I felt it would be wise to have a break and a solid eight hours (or so) sleep. This is probably the roughest solo trip I’ve done, or certainly the longest continuous rough weather that I’ve tackled alone. I’ve been through worse but it lasted hours rather than bloody days!

The boat handled it OK although I do need to tighten the rigging up a bit. I’ve also needed to run the ‘Emergency Elektrikery’ two hours a day, using one litre of petrol per day in doing so which doesn’t bode well for the next stage of the ‘cruise’, namely the Indonesian rally.

Off at 1000 tomorrow for Darwin. 140nm still to go. IF the wind continues as it has or similar then this should take about twenty eight hours, however if the wind does die down then I don’t know. Motoring in here today for an hour the engine behaved itself but then I didn’t really gun it, it remains an auxiliary motor not a passage-making one. With a bit of luck I should carry a favourable tide through the Dundas Straight and in daylight. The ‘fun’ will start after that but on paper at least all bar the last six miles of the trip should be off the wind although the Dundas Straight itself will be a bit closer than comfortable perhaps.

 For once I’ll leave an anchorage with the main up. I have a feeling that I may need it for balance if nothing else.

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