11/06/2008, Gulf of Carpentaria
We left Seisa at 0700 to approach the Gulf of Carpentaria. Conditions were good with about 10 knots SE and flat water. A few monos had left earlier some as early as 0530 and the small flotilla in Seisa was disippating. But it did give us some boats to chase, which we did. We went out through Red Banks to clear the shoals before the Gulf. Good conditions for the morning and we were sailing with Main and Genoa before changing just to MPS in the afternoon. Caught a big mackeral mid morning to refill the freezer. At dusk it was still light winds 8 - 10 knots so we needed the MPS but as inevitably happens not all that long after dark the wind and a cross swell built up and we had to drop the MPS and go back to just a genoa for the evening. Wind speeds picked up overnight to 25 - 30 knots and a lumpy side swell and the confused seas the Gulf is famous for! Early this morning, after overnighting, sent the generator going to recharge batteries and chill the freezers and fridges and went down for a kip. Only to find two hours later a cooling water hose had blown off the generator where it enters the exhaust and had been happily pumping 18 litres per minute into the boat! A big bailing job was one way, but not the best, to start the morning! Today, the second day in the Gulf we are continuing to run under Genoa alone and the seas have settled a little. The wind has eased back to 10 - 15 knots which is hurting our speed under genoa alone. We are just about at the half way mark at noon between Seisa and the Wessel Islands our next destination. Good radio reception this morning on Sheila net, but have lost contact with the other boats we were "sailing with" yesterday. Mostly they are going to Gove so are going further south than us. Hoping the wind will stay in so we don't need to change sails, and getting ready for another long night! All well except for the few "boating" happenings that occur from time to time.
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Comments [2]
09/06/2008, Seisa Bamaga
A leisurely day today with a 0930 start from Escape River to get to Albany Passage near the tip to catch the flood tide at 12.48! This way you pick up several knots of tide to race through the narrow passage and around the tip of Cape York. Cockatoo was in company with us as we entered the passage only to find a ship steaming through in the opposite direction! We were prepared to share and there was room for all of us as we passed through gradually picking up the tide and speed as we went. Then onto Cape York at an ever increasing speed of 9 knots just under the Genoa. We decided then to take the more risky (but adrenalin rush) passage between York Island and the tip of Cape York - the uppermost point of the Australian mainland. Well it was a narrow passage and an exciting one as thirty knots of wind and several or many knots of tide rushed us into a narrow channel which we opted to motor through in case we had to stop, which still would have been difficult as it whizzed us into the narrow channel, turned us around the tip and spat us out back into the other side of the Cape! Then fast flat water sailing with 25+ knot winds, flat water, sandbars, reefs and rocks as sped across the Cape area and down to possession Island which we navigated inside of and around the beach which was good fun. We picked our way out the channels having to avoid the many sandbars and breaking rocks in the area to run down alongside the reefs to Siesa a fantastic anchorage and a great warm shower where we caught up with Sue and some of the seafarers that we had been in company with but will be leaving in the morning as we head to the Wessels and they head to Gove. Already about six boats left today, one we had been carrying a delivery for left only one hour before we arrived and we saw them sail away as we spoke to them on radio! but nobody likes to turn back once departed so we will catch up with them later.
Back in phone range - made a number of calls and will leave to cross the Gulf in the AM.
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08/06/2008, Cairns
Well we decided to have a "lay day" yesterday, and how lucky we did! It was a strong wind warning so we vacillated and didn't go, but to our good fortune. Firstly we found (and fixed) a problem with the HF Radio - some faulty connections, then we found and fixed a leak that was rather troubling, but our crowning joy was from Paul and Tracy from Cockatoo who dropped over late afternoon to say hello. Paul mentioned he was an auto-electrician,,,,,,,,to which I said, "you should never say that - do you know anything about autopilots". Well after a couple of oysters and a glass of water Paul said where is it, we spent the next few hours of his time diagnosing and VERY cleverly substituting FET's and Diodes, until it all worked again. How lucky were we, it would have meant hand steering all the way to the top and across the Gulf probably all the way to Darwin until I could get a new unit for it.
Today then, Sunday 8th, up at 3.30am to leave at 4 right behind Cockatoo heading towards Escape River near the top of Cape York. Twenty five plus knot winds and flying only the Genoa gave us good speeds - and to our great joy - the autopilot drove the whole way!!!! perfectly !!! We had a quick trip arriving at Escape River entrance at about 1400 . Today there was a nice swell and a very quick trip running downwind all the way.
Escape River is pleasant we are well tucked away past the pearl farm, but there are lots of Pearl mats and buoys to avoid on the way in!
So far so good, and thanks to Good Samaritans who have eased our way forward.
Tomorrow all going well we head up and through Albany Passage as we pass our way around Cape York.
The weather is pretty ordinary at present, full cloud cover, twenty plus knots of breeze, but warm and tropical.
Catch you in a day or two.
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06/06/2008, Shellburne Bay
After meeting friends and enjoying hospitality at Lizard we left early the next morning for a leisurely sail to Howick Island only 40 miles down wind and a great anchorage there after a meal of freshly caught red emperor had a good sleep. We left early the next morning bound north with a nice breeze setting in and an easy sail. Reached Cape Melville and the base of Princess Charlotte Bay where we considered going the inner route and stopping overnight, but then decided on an overnight sail up the outer route known as the Lads Passage or the Fairway. With freshening breezes we were making good time and dropped the main to sail under genoa only at night. We still were getting speeds of 7 - 10 knots so good progress and easy trouble free sailing. Lots of reefs and narrow passages and lights with a few ships to keep everyone alert!
Carried on this morning past Cape Weymouth then to Cape Grenville to pass Haggestone and Hicks Island and finally drop anchor (after catching a couple more fish for dinner)in Shellburne Bay. Pigs on the beach, silica sands and a good anchorage after coming out of 30 knot winds - which were not all bad as we have covered quite some miles. It has been a great sail and a good run but everyone is a bit tired and ready for an early night before heading off for the Cape early in the morning.
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have a great sail in fair winds
Love from us all
Home to Dubbo today
01/06/2008, Low Isles
Charmar left Cairns on Sunday 1st June, after running under MPS for a short time detoured into Yorkeys Knob to collect the Chart Pack that had been left behind. The wind then was an unusual NWester all of 3 - 5 knots, how can one say, "gusting" to 5 knots!?! - maybe gently puffing to 5 knots! but not a breeze for good passages and it then faded out to a glassy sea with never a ripple and not a whisper of breeze. Ultimately decided rather than just motor on we pulled into Low Isles at about 2100 for a nights sleep and to wait a breeze. Don't want to use all the diesel in the first week! Small leak in the Port Engine Cooling water pump when we shut down so might try to rectify that whilst the weather is quiet. Nice day though.
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01/06/2008, Low Isles
So we arrived at Low after a full days (very slow sail)smooth seas are great but no wind! Spent the night at Low then left under MPS heading north in similar conditions to the prior day. AS the day went on we picked up 6 knots of breeze and started moving forward. Close to evening the wind picked up and we had a great sail through the night from Cape Trib through to, well almost to Lizard the next morning at about 0800. Starting to motor in to Lizard we picked up a rope on the prop. Not good but heh these things happen. Over the side and cleared it off, all should be good. Started the motor everything seized solid with a slight screech. Of course thinking the worst and not able to turn prop or motor figured out the v-drive or gearbox must have pulled a cog or bearing and seized under the pressure. What to do? Well probably head back to Port Douglas slip and pull out the V-Drive and shaft and see what is wrong before resuming the drip. It is no fun punching into it!! Dropped off supplies to friends at Lizard and start heading back to Port. Jason running a fishing line at the time had to retrieve it to overcome an untoward 360 turn due to the issue of running with one motor. The lure snagged onto the bottom of the boat? Over the side I go again! Damn me not the lure is stuck into another rope neatly wound around the shaft - how - who knows but after it comes off everything runs again so we turn around and here we are Lizard! A VERY interesting day!
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27/05/2008, Cairns
Charmar is ready to leave Cairns sometime at the end of May probably will leave Saturday or Sunday 31st or maybe the 1st bound for Lizard Island as the first stop and then around to Darwin.
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pjfjtotg@yahoo.com.au CHEERS Nita.
04/05/2008, Cairns
Charmar currently at Low Isles having farewelled two vessels from Low Isles heading to Darwin. We are bound for Port Douglas for slipping this week
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23/04/2008, Cairns
Charmar pending in Cairns en route to Port Douglas first week in May. A number of vessels in the Sail Indonesia Rally are on the way to Cairns or leaving Cairns in the next few weeks. If you would like to "link"up with us and share some information please contact us by email at white@pixie.com.au
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18/04/2008, Cairns
Not much to do before we are ready to go, a cover, a watermaker and slipping early in May.
We expect to leave late in May at least after the 15th but more likely will be the last week or early in June. As the time approaches it will be governed by weather more than calendars.
Probably a couple of extra crew on board up the coast but that will be determined by the time and other matters at time of leaving.
Preparations are going well at this stage.
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31/12/1969
This is the only photo I manage to get
The delivery back into the water went well but that is all I can say
1 step forward two back!
Boat in water that went well.
Port engine no go - could be major problem may need to go back on hard stand!
Outboard seems a carbi problem - were going to use that to assist moving boat to anchor.
Tied to jetty with wind blowing us onto jetty
All very stressful and it is bl..dy hot! Just exhausted to say the least
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31/12/1969, Penuwasa Kudat
This is the only photo I manage to get
The delivery back into the water went well but that is all I can say
1 step forward two back!
Boat in water that went well.
Port engine no go - could be major problem may need to go back on hard stand!
Outboard seems a carbi problem - were going to use that to assist moving boat to anchor.
Tied to jetty with wind blowing us onto jetty
All very stressful and it is bl..dy hot! Just exhausted to say the least
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