Over the Top and South

We left Shark Bay via Steep Point on Wednesday intending to sail to Geraldton a distance of 180 miles. The forecast was for westerly breezes and we made good time sailing overnight. We approached Geraldton at midday on Thursday but the forecast for Sunday was atrocious so we decided to keep going, there were only 200 miles to go to Hillary's. Unfortunately it really is the most horrible section of coast on the whole trip entirely because of the commercial lobster fishery. And now that the commercial season lasts all year, there is no escaping them. It doesn't seem fair that one water user group can be permitted to supersede the interests of everyone else over such a large area of coastal waters. On the way south of Geraldton we passed through a large area of craypot floats, our course passed within metres of four, and we had to deviate around two just as the sun was setting. We spent an awful night under motor worrying about entangling the prop in a craypot line. Its not like there are many other options, the wind is mostly on the nose and the anchorages are not all weather so night sailing cannot be avoided. The floats are impossible to see at night. And who wants to sail 40 miles off the coast to get away from them where the weather can be more adverse? Honestly, we shouldn't have to. On the way past Lancelin we sailed parallel to a 5 mile line of craypot floats spaced at about a cable apart. We also ran over a float and I cut the throttle and the floats appeared from under our stern. The wind came around to the west again and although the wind was very light we turned off the motor and sailed. It felt a lot safer with the prop stopped and I slept better off watch. That night around Two Rocks AIS targets appeared on the display marking the locations of craypots including the quantity. This is an excellent idea and I only wish they had all been marked like this, either that or put a light on all the floats. At 9 o'clock on Saturday morning we were met outside the harbour by De La Mer and Sana II which was amazing. Then we were met at the jetty by Dan and Kat, Mike and Jan, and our daughter and her boyfriend, it was a very happy time for us. Now that we have moved off the yacht, I sit here at my desk writing this and thinking about our 14 months of living on Red Cloud, the all consuming imperative of plotting a course, getting the latest forecast, checking the tide and choosing an anchorage, keeping an eye on the levels of water, fuel and provisions and sometimes the tedium of hoping to get to an anchorage before nightfall for an unbroken night's sleep. We appreciate how Red Cloud took care of us and wonder whether we will ever be out there again, living the dream as they say, and sailing towards a far away destination.