BLUE WATER RALLY - CORAL SEA - AUSTRALIA DAY 6 AND 7
19.22S 153.00E Tuesday 5th August Day seven - 6.30am leg
time (plus 11 UTC) and all is well…….frustrating but well. The
wind came round to the stern….. up went the Twistle…… the
wind went round to the beam……down came the Twistle…..out went
the genoa…….the wind ceased altogether…….in came the
genoa…..on went the engine……..up went the
temperature……..off went the engine……but we think we may
have a solution for the overheating problem and it may just be an air lock as
now the temperature gage is back to normal! Well we are just over midway, although Exactly this time tomorrow we should be at the Hydrographer’s
pass – entry through the Barrier Reef – but still over a hundred
nautical miles from Mackay. The distances are so immense and even though we
feel we have almost arrived it will the morning of the 8th before we
pull into the marina, or rather the quarantine dock. We have been told to
expect an Australian coastguard flying overhead to check our credentials and
our yellow (quarantine) and courtesy flags should be flown in readiness. Last night we saw three ships (come sailing by, come sailing by), all
pretty much on a collision course, so we must be in the shipping lanes now
– ‘Crimson Polaris’ and ‘Chi Wan’ came up on our
AIS system – a marvellous inexpensive device which instantly gives you
the name of the vessel, its speed, course and MMSI number – brilliant
really as you can then call them on channel 16, by name, and ask them their
intentions. Crimson Polaris came back to us immediately and offered to alter
course, crossing us on our starboard side at nearly 20 knots and just two miles
away. We have seen so few vessels at sea this past year that three in a row is
quite an excitement! This morning there is a massive monster on the horizon,
probably the biggest boat we’ve ever seen – actually resembling an
island so huge is the silhouette – could it be military? Zippy thought they saw
killer whales yesterday and Baccus reported hitting a large shark which then
proceeded to retaliate and attacked the stern of their boat – they
finally despatched it by pouring chilly powder down the heads! And we had two more
passengers hitching a lift last night; Tonight you brought a friend with you A double pleasure – you were two Tired birds who could fly no more You rested here – or were you four? First she circled round and round Making sure she knew her ground Landing once, and twice and thrice Skinny guard rail gripped like vice Her large webbed feet a quivering Little brown body shivering But then she signalled all was fine And down you flew to join the line Amazing you! So sleek and proud With yellow beak and markings loud She sidled wobbling down the rail Frightened by the slapping sail But reassured by your quiet poise You preen yourselves; ignore the noise And clutching on for your dear lives As darkness falls and sunlight dives To another hemisphere: you sleep To save your selves and the souls you keep. |