The last morning that we spent out at Jumpinpin, we were treated to a rather photo-worthy sunrise, although one of the crew on board failed to see it due to sleeping in.
We then departed this very calm and flat anchorage and within one hour had 25 gusting 30 knots on the nose for the motor to the Coomera river.
We anchored a mile downstream from the Marina for the night. Clear Horizons were vacating the berth at 0800 the next morning to go across to the Boat Works for some attention to bottom paint and a few other jobs.
We dingied the mile up to the marina and joined the crews from Double Diamond, Vanomous and Clear Horizons for a Thai Meal at the marina. The company was great the food not so much.
Next morning, we motored into the marina and started on the Job list. We had not done a load of washing for the 17 days on anchor so while Kathy started on the laundry, I started on the job of turning the anchor chain around.
It is just on 90 meters long, but over the last 3 years, we generally (except on the very odd occasion) only use 35 meters or less. So the first 35 meters has been scoured and rubbed on sand and rocks continually with the subsequent loss of galvanized coating, the rest is in relatively new condition.
So anchor off (that only took half an hour to free up the rusted on shackle) get the 90 meters of chain off the boat (weighs approx 270 kg) attach the boat end to the anchor, the old anchor end back to the boat around the electric winch.
In the picture, the new good condition end is attached to the 40 kg anchor and the rusty end is lying on the boat ready to be winched back aboard.
Usually, people do this by putting the chain onto the dock and dragging it back and forth in 10 meter loops, give it a clean then reverse it back onto the boat.
I am smarter than that, man handling the chain on the dock is not for me (the anchor was bad enough) so I just lowered all 90 meters to the sea bottom in the marina pen.
After re-attaching the end to the boat, this is achieved via some 15 meters of 20 mm rope that is spliced to the chain end and attached to the vessel Serving two purposes.
1: Stopping you from lowering the entire chain overboard with the winch, anchor and chain never to be seen again.
2: In the event of an emergency when you need to lose the anchor in a big hurry you have a point to cut with a knife, thus releasing the anchor and chain never to be seen again.
By the time the splicing etc was achieved, the chain had been gently resting on (the sea bottom) for over an hour. Not a problem you would think, except the bottom appears to be made of a mix of Baby poo and crude oil. Well that's what the consistency and smell reminded me of as we started to winch the 90 meters back on board, now completely encased in this stuff.
So Kathy would raise a metre, then I would hose it off then repeat, another 50 or 60 times. Next time I will just drag it around the dock like every one else does.
In the afternoon, we dingied over to boat works to the Chandler. The replacement shackle I had to re attach the anchor, which was the same working load and same diameter, was 3 mm smaller and would not fit. So purchase a new one but no 18mm nylon to remake a new anchor bridle with.
As we wandered around the yard, caught up with Double Diamond L440, Vamonos L440 and Clear Horizons L450. Walked past Cat Impi another L440 and a L380 that we had not seen before. Chilli Cat another L440 was being hauled out at GCC marina next door. Lagoons are getting a bit common around here.
I also bumped into Amanda & Neville off of Bosa Nova, who just happened to owe me a bottle of Mt Gay Rum from a bet last year on the US elections. I mentioned the world may well be a better place if I was the loser, but that did not seem to cheer him up any.
Yes
That night I rang the local burger bar up at the shops attached to marina and ordered two Australian style burgers and sweet potato fries. Will not make that mistake ever again $42 and the were barely edible.
The next day, Audra from Clear Horizons took Kathy on a shopping trip (thanks Audra), with orders for a new MFC printer (the one Court in NYC jinxed), 10 meters of Nylon rope for the bridle. Kathy also returned with a new knife block, a decorative lamp and assorted bits of dressmaking equipment.
I call this still a life on aboat.
Today need to re-make the bridle and replace a down-haul line on the mainsail, so that should keep me busy for a while.
Brian on Back Friday, a mate we met back in 2015 is on his way back up from Eden and should arrive around midnight tonight, so will catch up with him and crew tomorrow. Still on target to head North towards the end of next week all being well.