Current Position: 11 32.831’S 146 24.312’E; Local Timezone: UTC+20 SOG: 5.6 kt COG: 267; TWS: 16 kt; TWD: 137; Distance to Waypoint (R1, Raine Passage, 262): 138; Total Miles Sailed: 8521 nm; Engine Hours: 173 Estimate Fuel: 54+12+50
Comments: I noted in a previous entry that …. Easterlies = dry/light winds. Southeasterlies = wet/strong winds. Yesterday (the 15th) was the first day in a while I wasn’t hit by a squall. The winds were also lighter and blowing more easterly. Unfortunately, that meant I could not keep my 261 course towards R1. It also meant sailing at a near run and reduced SOG. Sunset was at 18:00. At 19:45 I was about to step in the cockpit when I saw something moving. I turned on the cockpit lights. It was a seabird (brown feathers, silver cap, dark brown bill, and dark brown/black tipped wings and tail) having a rest. He didn’t seem to be anxious to leave, so I left him to his business. It is 20:00 and I have only made 25 nm towards R1 (5.4 kt average speed, but on a course of 250). I downloaded a new GRIB at 20:30. It is not looking promising for an arrival at R1 on Thursday. At 1:00 I am still averaging 5 kt on, although I am drifting N driven in part by the current, which is now from the S. The bird is still in the well of the cockpit, making a mess. I tried to shush it off, but it seems determined to spend the night. By 2:30, the wind had veered and strengthen and I was doing 6.0 kt towards R1. I got up at 6:00. The bird had been there all night. I realized that even though the cockpit well was only 14” high, the bird couldn’t get the lift and/or was confused how to get out from underneath the bimini. I picked it up – it did not seem at all concerned – placed it on the toe rail. It paused a minute, then flew off. It was drizzling. I had noticed that too several hours earlier. It did not feel like a squall. The wind has become more southerly but was not stronger. It is 7:30 and I have 180 nm to go to R1. It will be sunset at 6:15 tomorrow, so I have 35h. I would need to average 5.3 the rest of the way to be able to anchor before dark. Eggs were “on sale” so I made myself a breakfast burrito. I had purchased two dozen eggs at the supermarket the day I left Port Vila. They were placed in two separate plastic egg crates (I learned my lesson from a previous accident). One crate was kept in the cupboard at room temperature and the other was put in the fridge. I was surprised to find the ones in the cupboard were moldy. I had never seen that before. Eggs might go bad after a few months at room temperature, but I have never had them grow mold, especially after less than two weeks. I am left with 3 eggs. I have been studying Ken Hellewell’s book “Torres Straight Passage Guide.” It is his course through the GBR that I intend to follow. The author suggests it is not particularly challenging to navigate the course at night. I have studied the course from R1 to the anchorage inside the Great Detached Reef. The course does not come within 4-5 miles of any obstacle until the passage into the horseshoe-shaped reef, which is nearly 2 nm wide. It is possible to drop the anchor just inside the reef in 100’ of water or motor 5 nm to a shoal on the E side and drop the hook in 48’. Even if I were to arrive after dark, it might be safer to be out of the waves and current inside the anchorage. The stormy weather this morning may actually be a godsend as the boat is moving briskly, currently over 6 kt towards R1. In a few hours, for the remainder of the passage, I will have a 0.25-1 kt current behind me. I am once more optimistic that I will make the anchorage by dusk tomorrow. Another consideration is Biosecurity is open M-F 8:00-16:00. Ideally, I would arrive at Thursday Island Sunday. This is a possible schedule: Current to Great Detached Reef Thursday, to Collette Reef (50 nm) Friday, to Wyborn Reef (50 nm) Saturday, then to Thursday Island (35 nm) Sunday. This would allow me to navigate all the reefs and commercial channels in the daylight. It would also give me plenty of time to negotiate the complicated route into Thursday Island. The distance sailed towards R1 in the last 24h was 267-138=129 nm, which is better than I expected. The total distance sailed was 8521-8383=138 nm (129/24=5.8 kt avg.). If I have another 26h at least as good as the past, I would be at the Great Detached Reef tomorrow night.
Comments: I noted in a previous entry that …. Easterlies = dry/light winds. Southeasterlies = wet/strong winds. Yesterday (the 15th) was the first day in a while I wasn’t hit by a squall. The winds were also lighter and blowing more easterly. Unfortunately, that meant I could not keep my 261 course towards R1. It also meant sailing at a near run and reduced SOG. Sunset was at 18:00. At 19:45 I was about to step in the cockpit when I saw something moving. I turned on the cockpit lights. It was a seabird (brown feathers, silver cap, dark brown bill, and dark brown/black tipped wings and tail) having a rest. He didn’t seem to be anxious to leave, so I left him to his business. It is 20:00 and I have only made 25 nm towards R1 (5.4 kt average speed, but on a course of 250). I downloaded a new GRIB at 20:30. It is not looking promising for an arrival at R1 on Thursday. At 1:00 I am still averaging 5 kt on, although I am drifting N driven in part by the current, which is now from the S. The bird is still in the well of the cockpit, making a mess. I tried to shush it off, but it seems determined to spend the night. By 2:30, the wind had veered and strengthen and I was doing 6.0 kt towards R1. I got up at 6:00. The bird had been there all night. I realized that even though the cockpit well was only 14” high, the bird couldn’t get the lift and/or was confused how to get out from underneath the bimini. I picked it up – it did not seem at all concerned – placed it on the toe rail. It paused a minute, then flew off. It was drizzling. I had noticed that too several hours earlier. It did not feel like a squall. The wind has become more southerly but was not stronger. It is 7:30 and I have 180 nm to go to R1. It will be sunset at 6:15 tomorrow, so I have 35h. I would need to average 5.3 the rest of the way to be able to anchor before dark. Eggs were “on sale” so I made myself a breakfast burrito. I had purchased two dozen eggs at the supermarket the day I left Port Vila. They were placed in two separate plastic egg crates (I learned my lesson from a previous accident). One crate was kept in the cupboard at room temperature and the other was put in the fridge. I was surprised to find the ones in the cupboard were moldy. I had never seen that before. Eggs might go bad after a few months at room temperature, but I have never had them grow mold, especially after less than two weeks. I am left with 3 eggs. I have been studying Ken Hellewell’s book “Torres Straight Passage Guide.” It is his course through the GBR that I intend to follow. The author suggests it is not particularly challenging to navigate the course at night. I have studied the course from R1 to the anchorage inside the Great Detached Reef. The course does not come within 4-5 miles of any obstacle until the passage into the horseshoe-shaped reef, which is nearly 2 nm wide. It is possible to drop the anchor just inside the reef in 100’ of water or motor 5 nm to a shoal on the E side and drop the hook in 48’. Even if I were to arrive after dark, it might be safer to be out of the waves and current inside the anchorage. The stormy weather this morning may actually be a godsend as the boat is moving briskly, currently over 6 kt towards R1. In a few hours, for the remainder of the passage, I will have a 0.25-1 kt current behind me. I am once more optimistic that I will make the anchorage by dusk tomorrow. Another consideration is Biosecurity is open M-F 8:00-16:00. Ideally, I would arrive at Thursday Island Sunday. This is a possible schedule: Current to Great Detached Reef Thursday, to Collette Reef (50 nm) Friday, to Wyborn Reef (50 nm) Saturday, then to Thursday Island (35 nm) Sunday. This would allow me to navigate all the reefs and commercial channels in the daylight. It would also give me plenty of time to negotiate the complicated route into Thursday Island. The distance sailed towards R1 in the last 24h was 267-138=129 nm, which is better than I expected. The total distance sailed was 8521-8383=138 nm (129/24=5.8 kt avg.). If I have another 26h at least as good as the past, I would be at the Great Detached Reef tomorrow night.