Sailing south
Simanderal
Michael Hughes and Ger White
Mon 29 Nov 2010 03:19
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We had a lazy morning yesterday--didn't up anchor
and set off until 0900!
And then a slow sail under genoa through the Sandy
Straight down the west (inside) coast of Fraser Island--lovely to sail in calm
waters with a gentle breeze pushing us along--as well as the tide!. I was told
we would inevitably go maground at some point--our departure was timed so we
would have a rising tide in case we had to get off. However we managed
down--resorting to engine for the shalowest parts--without touching bottom
shalowest point gave us a foot of water below the keel!! The bottom is of course
sand--Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world---so going slowly no
damage would be done if you touched bottom.
Given the forecasts--another front on its way in 2
or 3 days--we decided to make the best of the weather window and headed offshore
round the southern end of Fraser Island--it's now Monday and we're well on our
way south, passing Tweed Heads shortly, then Byron--Australia's most easterly
point--planning to arrive Yamba in the Clarence River early tomorrow
morning.
Mixture of sailing and engine over last 24
hours--very fast sail part of last night--heavily reefed as wind rose--but it
then fell to nothing this morning, so now motoring--expect the wind to kick in
soon--it seems to in the afternoons.
All well on board
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