Leaving Great Keppel Island Tomorrow

Friday, May 18, 2012


After spending a few days on the boat rolling around in the bay, fixing projects, reading books (read Girl on Fire and Mockingjay the two sequels to Hunger Games..great reads!), and enjoying the scenery, we decided to venture to shore today for a hike.  Today is the first day the wind has calmed down enough where we felt like going outside.

Even so, by the time we got to shore I was soaking wet from dinghy and wind wave spray....oh the joy of sitting in front.  We met up with Ingi and Burt on Boree, and another couple Peter and Jaclyne on Ahu.  The folks on Ahu had been here last year and knew their way around the Island.  The six of us walked up the beach and over a small saddle to the other side of the island where we had lunch at a restaurant at a small backpacker type resort.  The food was good and the cold beer outstanding.

Still Party Pretty

After lunch we explored this commercial side of the island.  It's quite lovely, but much of the resort area is currently closed down.  Too bad.  It's a beautiful spot with fabulous white beaches.

We understand that there is a proposed development for more units, golf course, and marina on this side of the island, but there is some wrangling go on between the developers and the environmentalists.

Part of the Island is National Park and the other part of the Island is private/commercial.  Hope some compromise can be worked out.

We've enjoyed our stay, but tomorrow at 0730, we're continuing our journey north.  We are headed toward Pearl Bay, but may stop before that at a couple of other bays of interest.  Follow our progress on SPOT.  We'll turn him on when we leave.

All is Well with the 2 Sail R's on SV Worrall Wind

Arrived and Anchored at Great Keppel Island

Great Keppel Island - Hook Is Down -Time for a Nap!

Latitude: 23 09.360 S                          
Longitude: 150 57.101 E

Day 4, Tuesday, May 15, 2012:  

8:30 a.m. Dropped the hook in 18 feet of sandy bottom with good holding at mid-ebb tide. Expect to lose another 4 feet under us before the low. The bay is quite large, water is clear enough to see lots of fish swimming under the boat. Currently there are seven other boats in the bay with us. The wind is blowing about 12 knots from the south in the bay. It was blowing 18-20 before we got in the lee of the island. The wind generator is providing us with good power today.

You can go to Google earth and key in the latitude and longitude above and get a fix on our location. For the most part, it's been a good sail. Had a great wind last night that blew us right up the course line.

Great Kepple will be a good place to rest up for a few days after three nights at sea. The hills are green with trees, no palms yet, and a wide arching beach. From here up to the Whitsundays it should be mostly day hops from dawn to dusk. I'll post a few photos maybe later today after a nap.

All is well with the 2 Sail R's on SV Worrall Wind.

Day 3 - Gave Lady Musgrave a Pass Today

Day 3 - Sunset as we head to Great Keppel Island

Monday, May 14, 2012

End of Day 2:

We continued motoring as the wind just wasn't strong enough to move us along. Our main was double reefed into the night in the event the wind picked up. As the evening progressed, the winds and waves did start to pick up. Our peaceful night on Day 1 was followed by a wild ride on night 2. There were no clouds, but up to 28 knots of wind across the bow, some swell coming from the east and six feet wind waves from the west rocking us to and fro.

We decide to spill some of the wind from the sail to heel less and continue to motor slowly to stay on our course and to help keep the boat more stable. I moved from the stateroom in the back to the sea berth mid ship, sleeping in bits and pieces. The wind was howling, the boat was creaking and groaning, so I put in my ear plugs.

Day 3 Begins:

Seas are a bit rough - Can Barely See Island in Lady Musgrave Reef

About 5:30 Russ woke me up telling me our engine alarm was going off and the engine was overheating. I staggered up to the pilothouse to see how I could help. First we obviously needed to turn off the engine, but that entailed me, stoppimg the engine (pushing a button and turning the key - the easy job), while Russ belly crawled across the engine as quickly as possible, to close the exhaust and engine thru hulls so we wouldn't syphon any water into the engine. After three previous engine de-waterings, we've been there, done that, and didn't want to do that again.

We got our gear on and went outside to adjust the sails. We were slammed with a couple of swells that drenched us as we made our way to the fan tail. After pulling out some jib, and setting up Hydie ,we came back in so that Russ could do some trouble shooting. The good news, there is no water or leaking coolant in the engine room. The problem is most likely the new impellor Russ installed. It doesn't seem to be able to reprime itself after a deep heel and the thru hull sucks in air, creating an airlock and preventing the cool water to circulate and come out. So in these extreme rolls, the engine is going to need Russ to help reprime. We need the engine to get into Lady Musgrave's narrow channel and to navigate around the coral heads.

Passing By - So Much Salt on Windows We Can Hardly See

We heave to on the leeside of Lady Muskgrave Reef, where we wait for the low slack tide around 10:00 a.m. In the meantime, we make a radio call to the boats inside the reef to ask the conditions. One boat has just left, and another boat answers back and says they too are leaving. Too much wind and chop. They are just waiting for the sun to come up higher for better coral head visibility and the chop isn't helping.

So we look at each other and say "Pass". Given the wind and wave conditions, narrow entrance, coral heads we might not be able to see, boats exiting, and a temperamental engine cooling system, we decide to sail around and change directions to Great Kepple Island, another 18 hour sail. We are not thrilled with another day and night on the sea, but we decide that's the best alternative.

The wind and seas are expected to calm down later in the day, and they do. We are now close enough to the shoreline that we are finally within cell and Internet range, so it's time to send this off.

It's almost time for Russ's watch. It's 12:41 p.m.

All is well with the 2 Sail R's on SV Worrall Wind

Day 2, Scarborough to Lady Musgrave

Mother's Day Sunset

The wind and sea were negligible last night. The sky was clear and filled with stars. Our bow wake twinkled with fosforescente stars of the sea. We motored and slept well when not on watch. The moon rose about 11:15 p.m. It came out of the eastern sea like a wine glass half full of golden red lava, and paled two a wheat gold as it rose higher in the sky. The air was cool but not cold. Absolutely a gorgeous night.

Russ got the running lights fixed just before dusk, and magically the radar started to work on its own accord about the same time, so going into the night knowing our systems were working took the stress off and we could just enjoy the evening. We had baked pesto-mozzerella portobello mushrooms for dinner and dark chocolate for dessert. No wine while we're sailing though....oh the hardships of the sea.

It is now about 2:00 p.m.on day 2, another cloudless sunny day about 68 degrees. The wind has come up to about 14 knots, the motor is off, Hydie our windvane steering system is keeping us on course as we track north at about 4.5 knots with three sails up. We have a head current pushing the bow eastward and slowing us down a bit, but we hope to make it up when/if the wind picks up this evening. We still plan to arrive at the reef tomorrow morning.

Russ is taking a siesta. I slept until 8:00 this morning...it's Mother's Day! I don't remember what we were doing last year on Mother's Day, but 2 years ago, we were spending our first full day on Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands after a long Pacific crossing. Exciting times. Our son and daughter-in-law were with us. Mother's Day is so much better when the kids are actually around. I know my Mom feels the same way. Love you Mom!

That's it for now. We are about 12 miles offshore and still getting sporadic cell coverage, so will try and post this on the Internet.

All is Well with the 2 Sail R's on the Sailing Vessel Worrall Wind

Casting Off and Leaving the Safe Harbor

2 Sail R's, Roz and Russ at the Beginning of 2012 Sailing Season to Whitsunday Islands

Day 1:
We cast off the bowlines at 7:35 this morning, May 12 2012 after our usual restless night of pre-journey jitters. We worked from dawn to dusk yesterday, taking down sunscreens, washing the decks, tying down gear, stowing away loose objects, stuffing cuboards with sponges and rolls of paper towels to keep things from rattling, fillong the water tank, and checking systems.

Out the Scarborough Channel

The morning dawned without a cloud in the sky or a breezy ripple on the water. We are currently motoring and finding that some of the systems working yesterday are a bit problematic this morning..both depth sounders started and stopped (one is now up and the other still down) AIS wasn't working but is now with a reconfiguaration, and the radar isn't working at the moment, our green running light seems loose, and this and that. Should have this all figured out by lunch, we hope.

Swimming Beaches - Protected by string of shark nets off the coast with yellow buoys

Day 1 Sunset

We went out to dinner with Burt and Ingi on SV Boree and Brian and Jodon on SV El Regalo at the Morton Bay boat club. Burt and Ingi are headed north a day behind us. Brian and Jodon have sold their boat and will be headed back home to Texas after a few momths of travel in Australia. So happy sails and happy trails to everyone as we go our different ways.

If you want to follow our progress, click on Find Me Spot in the left column of the blog under Where in the Worrall???. We are currently motoring and headed to Lady Musgrave Reef which is about 240 nautical miles away.

All is Well with the 2 Sail R's on SV Worrall Wind

Leaving Tomorrow for Great Barrier Reef

Friday, May 11, 2011

Not sure we will have time to post anything tomorrow (Saturday) as we plan to leave fairly early in the morning.  We are headed to Lady Musgrave Reef which will take us about 48 hours going fairly slowly. It's about 25 miles offshore.  Estimated time of our arrival there is Monday morning.   There aren't a lot of winds predicted until Monday and then some seas as well, so we should be tucked into the reef by then.

Our list with the exception of fixing our little refrigerator has been pretty much checked off.  I guess we will have to make do with the one fridge as our part didn't come in on time.  C'est la vie!  I'll turn Spot on in the morning if you are interested in tracking us.

Happy Mother's Day Mom, and to all of you other wonderful mothers out there.  Cheers!

All is well with the 2 Sail R's aboard SV Worrall Wind

Before and After WW's Bottom Cleaned

Tuesday, May 8 to Wednesday, May 9 - Scarborough Haul Out

Loads of jelly fish and the possibility of trolling sharks in the marina kept us out of the water to dive on the boat and do routine maintenance. We decided to have the boat hauled out for 48 hours for a quick look over, zinc change,  and touch up.  Sure glad we did!

The bottom paint looked pretty good, but needed some touch up here and there around the waterline.

What was really a shocker was the condition of our propeller, bow thruster, and rudder mount.  The critters were having a real picnic.  Almost 1 year to the day, we had had a complete cleanup and bottom job.  The water in the marina in New Caledonia and here has not been the cleanest, plus we have been just sitting and stagnating.  We contracted with the boat yard to do the cleanup work.  Here are some of the before and after photographs.

Bow Thruster Before

Bow Thruster After

Is that the Prop?!  Crikey!

So Encrusted - The Folding Prop Couldn't Open!

Major Case of Prop Constipation

After Pressure Wash

After Prop Speed Sealant Applied

Aaaaah!  Much Better!

Rudder Mount Before

Rudder Mount After Pressure Wash

Rudder Mount After Touchup

While the boat yard worked on the bottom, Russ polished the hull, and I stowed the $800.00 worth of non-perishable galley goods we purchased the day before.  By 1:00 p.m., about 28 hours after haul out we are ready to go back in the water!

This needed to be a quick in and out as our freezer and refrigerator do not work while we are out of the water.....they are a keel cooled system which means the keel needs to be in water.  Additionally, while we were able to sleep on the boat and have electricity, we can't use any of our water and let it drain out because the bottom of the boat needs to stay dry.  So after 24 hours plus, things are starting to warm up and the sink is full of dirty dishes.

We are just waiting now to splash down.

All is Well with the 2 Sail R's on SV Worrall Wind

Count Down. Sailing to Whitsundays...This Week.

We are finishing up our projects, provisioning, getting hauled out, bottom washed, zincs checked, prop cleaned, and anti-fouling bottom paint touched up this week.  Weather and tides permitting, we hope to take off this coming Saturday, May 12, and head north towards the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef.

Once we leave, we will be traveling for about 2 weeks with some overnight passages and day sails to various anchorages along the way.

Needless to say we are getting excited about our trip, looking forward to warmer waters, snorkeling, diving, and entertaining visiting family and friends this season.   At the same time there is always an anxiety of throwing off the bowlines and leaving a safe harbor.   Only a few more days of no-worries sleep, long walks, bicycle rides, and being connected to the Internet.

We'll turn on Spot so you can track our journey.

All is well with the 2 Sail R's aboard SV Worrall Wind.

Land Holiday Is Over, Getting Ready for Whitsunday Holiday

The "Broken Hill" Looms in the Back Ground 
of the Town Broken Hill

Life is tough when you return from one holiday only to get ready for another.  We returned from our land travels on Monday, April 16...unpacked, April 17...grocery shopping and stowing goods, April 18....laundry and boat projects, April 19 Blog day and boat projects.  Worrall Wind was dry and in good shape when we returned.  While Matilda is cooling her wheels in the marina parking lot, we are now in the midst of getting WW ready for her voyage north (cleaning lockers, moving stuff around, putting in a new galley faucet, repairing the bar-b-que, and the list goes on).  We got our bikes out today and plan a little ride, later this afternoon.

We are excited that we will have visitors while we are in the Whitsundays.  Our son and daughter-in-law will be flying into Hamilton Island in early June, and our friends the Brambles will be joining us in early September.  We can hardly wait, but in the mean time we're getting the boat in ship shape and unloading the V-berth, and forward head for guests.  Matilda will become our temporary garage while we are at sea.

Enough of that, here are some of the last photos we took on our overland journey from Broken Hill, April 11 and 12, to Brisbane.  Broken Hill is a mining community.  It's name derived from all of the broken rubble pulled out of the ground to make the hill.

Lovely landscaping

Miners' Memorial

It's a picturesque little town with "romantic" street names like Bromide, Iodide, Oxide, and the like, but the hill is just plain ugly and stark.

 Hundreds of miners have lost their lives here, not only from accidents, but all the kinds of "osis" diseases of the lung attributed to breathing years of mine dust.

Easy to Feel Small in this Big Country.

The actual town of Broken Hill in the shadow of broken hill is inviting and busy.

After our visit to Broken Hill, we drove out to the Day Dream Silver Mine and took a tour of the mine.

The mine is no longer operational, but an interesting tourist attraction.  To get to the mine, we had to drive on a dirt road for several miles with two gates that needed to be opened and closed along the way.

There was a car behind us that had been eating our dust, so we opened the first gate for them and they carried on, opening the second gate for us.  After eating each other's dust, we introduced ourselves and spent the rest of the afternoon together exploring the mine, driving to Silverton to take the "TEST", and watching the sunset at Mundi Mundi.  Our new friends are Carolyn and Drew from the Blue Mountains in Oz.  We hope to catch up with them again next year when we tour their environs.

Day Dream Silver Mine Photos:

Ready to Go Down

Tight Squeeze.  What do you see Russ?

SILVER!

Silverton Photos:

Mad Max - Road Warrior Movies with Mel Gibson were filmed here.

We took the famous pub's "TEST" and passed....
We were promised a free beer!

We Paid for the Indignity by Donating to a Charity.

Could we drop the balanced potato
 into the funnel tucked into our pants?

Maybe not, but we passed anyway....wet pants and all...
Need I say more?  Notice the size of the free  beers.

Chapel in the Late Afternoon

Mundi Mundi Photos:
Mundi Mundi is supposed to be one of the places on earth where the horizon is so flat, one can see the curvature of the earth.  Hmmm.  Ok.  We couldn't see the curve but did enjoy the cloudless sunset over the desert.

New Friends, Carolyn and Drew

The following morning, we left Broken Hill and Headed for Bourke which is considered the gateway to the Queensland Outback, called Matilda Country.  We arrived in Bourke late afternoon after a long drive.  The drive because of the recent and unusual rains and flooding in the desert was quite lovely.  Mobs of emus wandered about, there were still areas of standing water, and the gently undulating pastel green grasses were beautiful.

Did you know that multiple emus
and kangaroos are call mobs?

The grass was glowing in the afternoon light.

As we came into Bourke, there was a field with
hundreds and hundred of colorful Galahs.

We were on a street near the Darling River, when a woman waved at us and called out, "You're doing what I would love to be doing...traveling."  Since we were a little lost and looking for a caravan park, we asked her for some directions.  Anne-Marie and her husband Phillip are proprietors of the Diggers on the Darling Restaurant, and soon to be event/conference center for Bourke.

We returned the following morning to Diggers (term for WW1 Vets)  for a tour from Anne-Marie's husband Phillip.

Phillip

The Darling Came Up to the Top of the Levy
During Recent Floods.

They have many exciting plans for converting the Returned Service League (Veterans), Hall and the adjacent town hall into a multi-purpose conference center, while still maintaining cultural heritage of the RSL. Looks like hard work.   Currently, the restaurant and deck are open.  We enjoyed a great breakfast here before heading to Moree.  Good On Ya! Anne-Marie and Phillip.  You're doing a great job.  You deserve a little holiday.  No wonder Anne-Marie looks forward to a little traveling.

We took a few photos on our way to Moree,

This is the last cotton-picking photo of the trip.
(Looks like popcorn!)

but since we had come through here and Toowoomba, taking photos at the start of our Waltz with Matilda South, we are now out of photos!  Bet you though they would never end!  We spent an enjoyable afternoon in the thermal pools in Moree on Saturday, and had a great Mexican Fajita dinner and went to the show to see Mirror Mirror in Toowoomba on Sunday.

So that brings up to the present.  We hope to leave for northern islands as soon as the weather looks promising, but have paid up here at the Marina until May 9.  So anytime after that we will be on our way.  Most likely, we will not post much until we leave.   Drop us an email.  We'd love to hear from you.  Cheers everyone.

All is well with the 2 Sail R's on SV Worrall Wind.