9th December

22 21 N
73 01 W

Weather: cloudy, wind 15 to 25 knots E to ESE, waves 4 to 6 feet

17 MORE SLEEPS, HAVE YOU BEEN NAUGHTY?

After a dreadful night where Gerry ended up trying to sleep in the quarter berth after rolling around and us bumping into each other for the best part of the night and Priss unable to decide where she wanted to try and sleep so she full on attacked me without provocation, Gerry was up and about at 5.30am. I was awake but still trying to go to sleep when at 6am Gerry asked me to get up and throw on any old clothes as we were leaving immediately! I reluctantly got out of my pit and threw on the first things that I could lay my hands on, Gerry was out in the cockpit and started the engine up before I made it as far as the companionway stairs. Having not slept very well, Gerry had once more looked at the weather forecast, it hadn't miraculously changed or improved overnight - we were still due to get increasing winds to 25 knots or more from the east and accompanying wave action and swell from the north, so he had made the call to move once more - back to where we had left yesterday afternoon!
As I steered the boat Gerry hauled in the anchor as usual, we were somewhat surprised to find that the anchor chain was snagged on a couple of unmarked coral heads. It came free easy enough and we had no damage so they can't have been too big, but they were there! At 6.20am with the anchor up and turned towards our track back the rolling finally stopped, what a relief! At this point the wind was only 5 to 10 knots E and the waves were less than 2feet. We put up the jib and staysail in the hope of getting some wind power, it worked until we got to Devils Point where we had to turn eastwards putting the wind on our nose and making it impossible to keep flying the sails, so away they went. The wind was also whipping up the waves, we had a 4 to 5feet swell with quite a short interval between each wave, this caused us to pitch and our trip continued uncomfortably similar to being on a rocking horse that was out of control! Priss had joined us in the cockpit and had looked longingly at her wet food bowl so I capitulated and gave her a packet of food which she almost inhaled in her hurry to eat it, we were pleased to see that she at least had her appetite after such a horrid night. As we motored on the wind increased and the waves got worse, Priss vanished below deck a couple of times but always went to her food bowl when she came back out. I passed the comment that either she was starving hungry or she had vomited up everything and was on her second round, as you can probably guess it was the latter and Gerry discovered it once again! Poor Priss, is there no end to this torture?
We haven't returned to quite the same anchorage, it's in the same general area in Abraham's Bay but this time Gerry picked a spot well away from the coral heads but closer to the reef which boarders the bay. We were into anchoring mode with Gerry at the bow and me steering when he suddenly yelled, very urgently, into the headset for me to "go forward, QUICKLY" - an unusual anchoring command but I did just ask instructed without question. Apparently, the anchor was down, the bridle was not yet attached; the wind was so fierce against the boat that there was such a great load on the anchor chain that it overcame the windlass clutch and additional chain began to pay out at a steady pace. By motoring ahead the strain came off the chain allowing Gerry to tighten the clutch and stop the chain paying out. Finally we were safely anchored but just to make sure Gerry dove the anchor to check that it was well set and not caught on anything, all was well so we shut off the engine and instruments and made some well earnt muffins and coffee. We then had showers and changed our "any old clothing" for something a bit more comfortable. Gerry had a nana nap whilst I loaded yesterday's blog and moved photos from the camera to the computer, ready to upload when I next have internet. We are at least 3 miles out from the town so the chance of any internet is non-existent and there is no way we are going to dinghy in just to get internet!
Our prepped dinner from yesterday is looking good for tonight as we at least aren't rolling even though the wind is getting to the predicted 25 plus knots.
We have just had a moment of excitement, it rained for all of a minute, not even enough to wash down the deck but it sent us into "close the hatches" mode momentarily, they are back open again now!