A nearly perfect sail

'Sarf & West mate, Sarf & West'
Pete Bernfeld
Mon 3 Jun 2013 11:30
17:55.98S 146:7.89E
Dunks Island. 2100

Right well I know where I think I am, hopefully Google Earth will confirm! I've anchored a bit further out than I normally do as I arrived in the dark, something I hate doing. Lots of chain down, 30 'hand-over-hands' to reach the bottom then another 120 plus 2 metres for the tide. I'm probably in 9 metres, I'll find out in the morning.

Anyway, anchor up at 0623 and down at 2100. Tradewind sailing in small seas, perfect. It didn't blow quite as much as advertised which partially accounted for the late arrival. It was always a bit ambitious at 60nm.

So, nearly perfect? Well Trouters needs her bottom cleaned I feel and the autopilot required me to reef down a bit in order to hold course. I also missed out on Hitchinbrook Channel. Apparently it's very picuresque but with my one engine it would have taken me a day to motor through. Oh well, next time! I could do with another month to get to Darwin because there are some pretty anchorages I've had to sail past.

Tomorrow? I have a choice at first glance of a 16nm hop to Kent Island or a 63nm to Fitzroy. Hmm, well tomorrow they're talking about 25 - 30kts and the barometer is rising. That should make for a fast trip but I really don't like arriving after dark. In the meantime this is proving a rolly old spot so what with that and a spot of anchor watching in case, a short trip beckons. From Fitzroy I'm virtually in Cairns, which I may give a miss anyway. It's about an hour to motor up the river and on balance i think I'll make for Port Douglas, 30nm past Cairns. I reckon I can get everything I need there and possibly my ex-river neighbour from Brisbane, is there.

Decisions, decisions!

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