Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Communication and Excercise go hand in hand...


The problem with trying to post a regular blog is that more often than not we don´t have any internet. This is why today we find ourselves sitting on top of a hill waving our computer around in the hope of picking up a signal! We could of course spend more money on more electronics and have email onboard but as we are still learning how to use what basics we have got then for now a walk to the hill is fine. Besides we need the excercise!!

Talking of which yesterday the Basanti crew and ourselves thought we would take a stroll to the Steep Point Lighthouse. Its not far says Jerry, 6 miles said Phil {as the crow flies he later tells us}. We took water, biscuits and coffee for morning tea and Basanti wisely took lunch. I would like to say it was a pleasant walk but lets just say I’ve had better. 4 hrs of walking on very sandy 4wd tracks which seem to go uphill more than down only to get to the end to see the most boring lighthouse ever. It stood all of 30ft high a very plain rectangle metal box. Occassionally a 4wd would pass us full of eager fishermen heading to the TOP of the Zuydtorp Cliffs to balloon fish. You could see the look of amazement as they thought what the blazes are you doing out here walking . As we explained we are off the yachts anchored in the bay below and need the excercise. ‘Ah, I suppose you get cabin fever’ one man remarked! Little do they know that they are driving because they only have 2 weeks holiday to see everything, we are walking because we are on permenant holiday! Besides we dont have a 4wd onboard.

There are many fishing camps on the beach, full of eager blokes up here on a 2 week holiday. Engel Fridges line the back of the dining room tent full of beer which as they drink their way through they replace it with fish to take home to the wife. At night the deep fryers go on powered by the big gen sets parked in the dunes and frez li caught fish and chips are meal of the day. They tell us that there are plenty of fish to catch just throw a line in. We have, but all we catch is undersize snapper that while they are a good ‘pan size’ we feel too guilty and back they go to swim another day. Besides we still have food onboard so we can be picky. Back to the camps, these guys have everything they need and I swear it must take them weeks to pack up all the gear. One camp has towed a spa…yes you read that correctly, up here on the back of a trailer. At first sight we thought it was a bait tank but on asking they pump up sea water into it and at the end of a hard days fishing sit back and relax with a beer in the spa while they watch the sun go down. Hows that for comfy camping!!

DEC have control of the camps sites which are fully booked all year. They are meticulously clean as everything you bring in must be taken out. Fires can only be lit in a container, which you have to bring along with you as well as all firewood which is carried in and back out if not all used. Fisheries patrol the bay and there is quite a thick booklet explaining rules and regulations regarding fish size, bag limit and the do’s and don’ts of fishing in this magnificient marine park. It makes it quite difficult to just go out and catch a fish for tea but at the same time its all very good for the sustainability of our marine life.

We were hoping to move onto Dirk Hartog Island across the bay for a couple of nights and then over to Denham, but a strong southerly has kicked up so we shall stay here in the lee of the mainland until it abates or swings round to the east a little and we can have a comfortable anchorage elsewhere.

Well hopefully when I press send the signal will be in just the right spot and post this to our blog. If not then it can wait until we get to Denham.




One of the many sting rays in the anchorage
Dolphins Feeding




Anchorage at Shlter Bay, Steep Point. Taken from top of hill where we check phone signal.



 

The walk to lighthouse


This is it...Steep Point Lighthouse

The big night sail......

For me, (Jean), anticipation of our next leg from Jurien Bay to Steep Point had been building for a while and tieing my stomach in knots. It meant 2 nights at sea & I don´t mind admitting that I have not been fond of night sailing in the past . That and a fear of snagging one of the many craypots that seem to litter the coast during cray season was not making me feel too easy about this next trip. The first day was forcast for E/NE 10/15 knots turning S/E then E. The swell had died down a little from our previous leg & all was well onboard. The wind died in the afternoon and for a while we motorsailed but then the Easterly kicked in and by 10pm we had 3 reefs in the main and the headsail also reefed, the swell was up again and we had quite an uncomfortable night. The only bonus was that we had a moon to light the way and so far the night horrors seem to have left me. We discoverer a few leaks on deck which we didn’t know about and will have to see if we can find them, not easy as we had such a mish mash of sea water over the deck we can’t tell where the water would have entered. The next day the sun was shining and we could feel the warmth of the sun as we headed north. Second night out we were both finding it hard to stay awake, it takes a few days to get into the swing of night sailing and proper watches. The swells seemed bigger and were coming up our stern making the boat roll. We found it best to take the mainsail down and sail with just 2 small headsails out. Dawn came just as we entered Steep Point, the southern end of Shark Bay. Once through the entrance we were in beautiful calm, clear blue water, white sandy beaches and warm sun shine. As we dropped the anchor we watched it find its way to the sandy bottom. Both had a big smile on our faces happy that we had got what we think is the worst part of our journey over with. We celébrated with a big cooked breakfast, tidied up a little and then had a much needed sleep for a few hours. We had sailed 277 nautical miles in 47.75 hours, an average of 5.7 knots and 5 hours faster than our same trip in ‘97. Time to relax and enjoy Shark Bay and prepare ourselves for the big sail to Cocos Keeling Island sometime towards the end of June.

Sunday, May 19, 2013

One week away & where are we??

 
Jurien Bay is the answer. I would love to say that our first week “at sea” has been fantastic but for those of you that know what sailing the West Coast of Australia is like you will understand when I say we have had better times. It hasn´t been picture book sailing & as Chrissie on Basanti said “this was not in the brochure” Anyway we have made it as far as Jurien Bay & it looks like we will be here for a few days as a gale warning has been issued for the coast between Geraldton (our next stop) & Two Rocks (where we were). Yep, we are bang in the middle of it, so sitting firmly tied up until it passes.
We have had a few nice happy hours along the way & already had a visitor from FSC join us for dinner in Two Rocks. The sail from Two Rocks to Lancelin was not pleasant at all. One minute no wind, then wind with rain squalls, swell along with choppy sea making it quite an uncomfortable trip & even Jean was seasick, something that has never happened before. We anchored at Lancelin overnight in a very rolly anchorage & then set sail early the next day for Jurien. That was a pleasant sail for the first few hours but then the wind died and we motores the rest of the way.

Chrissie (Basanti) onboard TToo for Happy Hour
Sunset drinks at Two Rocks Tavern with Chrissie & Phil









We will make use of our few days here doing some boat chores, yes we do have them! and as you can see by the picture the first job was done today. So glad I brought along my little Elna sewing machine!


Monday, May 13, 2013

Cutting the ropes....



We finally left Fremantle on 12th May, Mothers day & whilst we feel we have cut the ropes that held us in the pen the umbilical cord that attaches us to our home, family & friends in Freo is being stretched to the limit. No doubt it will finally snap when we settle into cruising life & get used to the idea of leaving you all behind!



 Ben, Kate & Royce followed for a while on 'Kwila' which was lovely, I think Ben wanted to make sure we headed North finally.
Don't get too excited though as we only sailed  or should I say motored as far as Hillarys Yacht Club a short 15nm up the coast where we tied up & promptly went to the bar for a drink. As you can see from the photos & the fact that the wind generator is not turning there was no wind when we left, but still quite a swell left over from last weeks front that came through. Friends sailing further up the coast report very large swells still, strong easterlies & uncomfortable seas so we are happy to take it slowly & wait for the right weather. We are in company of Chrissie & Phil on Basanti & so we have someone to discuss weather & route plan & of course share happy hour with.









Tomorrow we leave for Two Rocks a whopping 25nm sail !

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Still tied up at Fremantle Sailing Club & happy to be here...

I have just finished baking my first cake in the new oven & it looks pretty good to me! That's what you do when you can't get off the boat due to bad weather. Of course the proof is in the eating but that will not be untill we are under way. We, or should I say Jerry, decided that leaving last weekend was not going to happen a) we still had a few jobs to finish & b) bad weather was due this week. So while I sit here tucked up down below listening to 40 knots of NW wind howling throught the rigging, the boat listing to starboard  sheet rain making it impossible to see the jetty let alone disembark for a walk up to the club, I can only say good decision Captain Jerry! Winter has arrived in WA. The good thing is that these low pressure systems are usually followed by a big high which will give us a few days of SE winds to head north. There's one due on Friday but it will take a few days for the seas to settle to a 'sailable' state before we move on.
In the meantime we can sit here in cosy comfort & read a few manuals to try & figure out how all the new electronics work & maybe just one slice of cake with a cuppa will be alright after all I can always bake another!