In Jervis Bay
Tuesday was spent on the boat tidying up and doing small chores. As mentioned, we were unable to get ashore as the high tied were very low and we just got the keel stuck in the mud any time we tried to approach a jetty or the rescue boats.
Around 11am on Wednesday, the wind shifted from the Southerly which had been blowing and we made our way out of the river. Just as we were about to leave, the "Australian Warship" came on the air warning of live firing in our path. Fortunately, they were going to be more than the regulation 7 miles from us. As we were about to leave, the warship announced that it had moved and would now be right in our path (or we should say- we would be in their path!) Anyway, all was well. We spoke to them and they told us they would be finished for the day before we got there. Hooray!
Off we went and soon had the sails up. Due to the wind direction, we had to tack a lot of the way (zig zagging into the wind). The bonus was that we were only a few hundred metres from the cliffs surrounding Jervis Bay and it was a magnificent sight. Much closer than one would normally go. We had great current with us which was compensated a bit by quite rough conditions as the racing current met the big Southerly swells.
By mid afternoon, we were snugly tied up on a free mooring at "Hole in the Wall"- a pretty and isolated spot right at the bottom of Jervis Bay. Strange to thing that we were back in the ACT!
We got lots of chores done- greasing winches, cleaning and polishing windows, washing, topping up oil, repairing a corner of the canopy where the 35-40kt winds had exacted some damage etc.
Today (Thursday) it became necessary to move to the North end of the Bay due to 25-30kt winds howling down from the NNE. We were able to sail most of the way with just our head sail- getting up to about 6.5kts as the wind rose.
We are now snugly anchored with the wind still howling. Fortunately, we had swapped anchors earlier to a type (Admiralty) much more suited to the weed found throughout this area (and much of Tasmania as well_. Conventional anchors do not penetrate the weed, leading to dangers especially in high winds.
Tororrow we hope to head for Bateman's Bay. There are more very strong winds on the way Saturday. By motoring through light Southerlies in the morning, we should be able to harness decent winds after 11am and sail the rest of the way. A lot will depend upon our forecasting because the Met Bureau agrees with most but not all of this- they think the Southerlies will be much stronger. If they are right, you will find us here still for days yet. We hope not because we would like to buy some bread and other things. That is not possible here.
We have ordered a replacement dinghy which is being delivered to Eden.
Cheers,
Penny & Dave
