19 July 2010
A tough night for us last night. The wind was gusting up to 27knots creating a rough sea. Big rollers buffeted us with the occasional one finding its way into the cockpit. Feeling sorry for myself I sat huddled in the corner in fleece pants and fleece top and wrapped in a blanket to keep warm. I have had very little sleep and am still not feeling well. This is hard.....
No announcement made on the listening watch again. After the end of the silence period Dick called up in his usual public spirited fashion. I replied along with Eowyn. Three boats out of 19 - a poor return I would have thought.....
Day Four
A super fast sailing day. Having cleared the reef we are now in the Coral Sea, within the South Pacific Ocean. And so as we approach the Great Barrier Reef that forms a protective reef for the Queensland coast of Australia, so we near the end of our Pacific crossing our fifth ocean. We have now be sailing for 15months covering over 16,000nm. The only boat we are in visual contact with now is Skylark who is just ahead. The winds and seas calmed a little and gave me the chance for some much needed rest which is vital for they are to increase once more as we make our approach to Mackay. We have gone with a reefed genoa and mizzen ever since we cleared the D'Entrecasteaux reef and still managed a 180nm day's run. Well done Voyageur!
Lunch - An entire packet of bacon between us, four sausages each, eggs and tomato. Dinner - Corn on the cob (of course) / chicken and vegetable stir fry.
Day Five
A night of torrential rain showers last night. We cleared the second reef on our westwards route, Bampton Rocks with 25nm to spare. The pole went back out as soon as David got up this morning as the wind had backed more to the east. Now we are bowling along under sunny skies doing between eight and nine knots. This is trade wind sailing at its best, a wonderful way to end our Pacific adventure. If we can keep the speed up we could just make landfall in Mackay in three days time but with a WARC weather forecast for lighter winds tomorrow, around seven to twelve knots I might just get that extra day at sea. That would be no great hardship, I am so sad that our Pacific crossing is at an end. Feeling much better today especially as we heard our son Scott will come to see us in Mackay. It is now ten months since we saw any of our family.
Lunch - Corn on the cob (just for a change) / Greek salad. Dinner - Cottage pie/Devon custard and rhubarb compote
Happy Landings!
Nearing the Australian Coast sea birds are increasing in numbers particularly early mornings and evenings when they do a spot of fishing. With an excess of fish in the freezer I might be able to help them out on that score. Tonight I watched many different species, swooping and soaring over the sea. It was so utterly effortless and graceful, a pure delight to watch. One in particular looked as if he was making an attempt to land. With a pitching rolling deck this requires all the skill of the best aviator. The landing has to be perfectly timed as they make their final approach, into the wind of course. I was willing him to success and sure enough after many unsuccessful attempts he made it in, settling on the davits on Voyageur's stern. He was followed very shortly after by another, different markings but of the same size. Could this have been a mate? They spent the next half an hour squawking in a language all of their own. No doubt they were congratulating one another on their good fortune in hitching a lift. On through the night they slept with heads tucked under their wing, swaying from side to side with each roll of the boat. It is amazing how they can keep their balance. At dawn one of them took a test flight while the other stayed firmly rooted to his perch and watched but her plan to return was flawed. Voyageur's speed had increased and the landing strip now much less stable. Quite unable to get back on board she began flapping wildly and there was a sharp exchange of squawks between them. That was just the "wake up" call that he needed. They took off together for the flight home. I checked my watch. 7am. Time now to go and wake up my mate too.....
The frontrunners are sailing their socks off. What it means for those who did not achieve the 1nm target of the waypoint I do not know. David and I are very content out here with our sure and steady progress.
Susan Mackay