A bit of disaster
We were up early (about sunrise) for the long day's sailing down to Jervis Bay.
The forecast was for light winds at the start picking up later in the day.
So, as expected, we motor-sailed for a few hours before being able to kill the engine as the wind went to the expected 10-15kts.
We were towing the rubber ducky- something that we vowed never to do in the open ocean but we got a bit lazy and this caused things to come unglued later on.
We were moving along nicely, intermittently reading whilst also keeping a good lookout. Initially, the Autopilot worked fine in the light winds with the repaired motor behaving itself. Later we put on Flinders, the wind steering mechanism which is one of the most worthwhile things on Pastime. A big plug for the manufacturer Cape Horn who not only make a superior product but who also provide fantastic support.
Then came the message over the radio- Securite....priority strong wind warning. The new forecast said 20-30kt winds had already arrived further South around Ulladulla. This iscalled forecasting after it actually happens....
Well, that's not too bad, but we decided to change course for the Crookhaven River which we could reach before Sunset rather than going through or near the dangerous Banks Shoals closer to Jervis Bay. We still had a 52NM journey with a further 19NM to Jervis Bay.
Then we heard "Australian Warship calling....". Someone had decided to do live shelling (ie shooting large ship's guns) off Jervis Bay. We had checked earlier in the day and nothing was scheduled then. This would have necessitated a very large detour for us and we would have been into Jervis Bay after midnight. Thus, the change-course decision seemed to be vindicated.
Well, the Bureau forecast was sort-of right. It did get to the wind speeds predicted and then dropped back. We resisted the impulse to put up more sail and just as well. Before we knew it, we had constant winds from 33 to 39kts. Fortunately it was not gusting higher because this is the low end of gale force anyway.
Coastal Patrol Crookhaven advised that the Bar was getting rougher. It was not a good time to enter with the tide ebbing and meeting big swells rolling right into the entrance.
We had our hands full and could not make out the entrance leads but Penny picked us up on the chart plotter and got me (David) steering the correct course for entry.
Things were moving fast and we kind of forgot the rubber ducky which had tracked behind us very well. Getting the mainsail down was a chore but for once the autopilot behaved and the fixed motor kept us into the by now very big waves in shallowish water. In retrospect, we should have dragged the rubber ducky on board and deflated it.
We came roaring in with the waves breaking. They were about 4metres and fortunately though steep, only a few broke. Then a big bang- I looked behind and the dinghy painter (a stout one) had broken. The instant thought of "turn around" was countered by "No- we'll be broached and rolled over".
So, we continued on safely into the river but with no rubber ducky and no easy way to get ashore.
People are keeping an eye out but now the wind has gone to the South, it will be blown back to Sydney. Unlike our old rubber ducky (which is at home) our name is not on this one, so "goodbye rubber ducky".
Coastal Patrol kindly lent us their mooring and also authorised us to raft up to their rescue boats to get ashore. We tried this at high tide but got briefly stuck in the mud. So the water is too shallow to get to their boats or to the fishing wharf or the public wharf.
So, it is forced liveaboarding for now until we get another rubber ducky.
The Southerlies will be here for another day so we will hopefully move down to Jervis Bay in a day or so.
Best Regds,
Dave (& Penny)
