Off to join the Rally!

27 June 2016

We left Bundaberg at 5.30am, determined to make a good start to our efforts to make Cairns before we missed out on too much of the mustering info and camaraderie. 

The sea was still lumpy after the big easterly, and the wind was still 18-20knots. 

We made reasonable time, in what was an uncomfortable first day /night back on the water!  We eventually ducked in behind Great Keppel island for a bit of rest and respite, after doing 150 miles.

Not the most comfortable anchorage….rolly as can be!

Typical pre-departure chaos

Great Keppel rolly anchorage

The next morning we set out for Island Head Creek, 54nm away, which had been our original goal the previous day. This time we knew we had to get there in time, because another low, with northerly winds would be arriving during the night.

Passing Port Clinton on the way to Island Head Creek

We ended up motor sailing most of the way in gentle winds, and a strongish counter current. On arrival, we were thrilled to meet up with Heidi and Wolfgang, from Kanaloa, whom we had last met in Fiji.

Kanaloa

Himba from Kanaloa

Island Head Creak has a tricky little approach, but offers excellent protection in almost all conditions. This was just as well because during the night the winds still reached over 28kts in our protected anchorage. Heidi has encyclopedic cruising knowledge, having done 4 circumnavigations, and many hours were shared discussing routes and plans!

The next morning, just before we left, Wolfie came over in their dinghy bearing hundreds of all their Indonesian, Malaysian, and Indian Ocean charts… having decided they would be of more use to us now!

Leaving Island Head Creek

It was happy /sad farewell, as we once again set off, this time to Middle Percy Island, where after a good  days sailing we anchored in Rocky Shelf Bay. 240 miles done and another 400 to Cairns! Time for another early start and a big push through to the Whitsundays!

Approaching South Percy

Rocky Shelf Bay, South  Percy

We started off with a nice gentle breeze, which then died away, forcing us to resort to Lord Perkins once again. Somewhere off MacKay, Lord Perkins screamed and died. Water pump seized. 4 knots of breeze, 25 miles to go. We managed to do about 13, ghosting under the asymmetric alone, doing between 2 and 3 knots. 

Then the wind died completely, and the tidal currents took over. The ebbing tide sets south, and we were being pushed 33 degrees off course into the bulk carrier anchoring field. Of even more concern was the bulk carrier doing 13.5 knot coming straight for us 5 miles away. 

AIS shows how close the ship was and the ships anchored below us

Only after my 3^rd call, using his MMSI number, speed, course and closing speed, did he eventually respond, and change course! Very scary indeed.

At 11pm, we launched the dinghy and lashed it alongside. We wound up the little Tohatsu 8hp, and managed to make 3knots for an hour or so, until the current slowed us down to 1.3. By 2.30 am we had reached a point 1.3 miles off the breakwater, in about 11m of water, and the wind had picked up to 12 knots on the nose, and our little tug could no longer make headway! We decided to drop the hook and anchor, even though it was in a prohibited anchoring area.

A quick scotch, and to bed for 3 hours sleep before daylight. Daylight saw us anchored in the path of another incoming bulk carrier! The Pilot boat came up to us, and after explaining our predicament, said in true Aussie fashion, “no worries mate, I’ll just tow you half a mile out the way! Lift your pick, and lets go!”

The ship we were obstructing

So 20 minutes later, we were anchored again, now out of the way, and waiting for VMR (Volunteer Maritime Rescue) to come out and tow us into the marina, where we had made a booking. Although kindly and well meaning, the volunteer crew were complete green horns and actually made a complete hash of a very simple tow in. Thankfully, conditions were so calm, that we managed to get into our pen without any damage!

Trying to locate our berth in the marina!

Then it was all about confirming that it was only the water pump, looking up the Perkins part number, and trying to source a diesel mechanic with the skills and tools to fit the new pump, if we could find one!

Then we learnt that the next day was a public holiday, in MacKay. I persuaded the mechanic, Dale, to phone through the part number to the local Industrial supplier, and bingo! We were in luck. Dale agreed to pick it up at 8.00am on the Friday, and start the job when he got back!

Then Mary told me about her heart palpitations that were getting worse! And that made all our mechanical and sailing problems  completely irrelevant.   See next blog “ Mackay- time for big decisions!”