Day 17 Monday 20th April, 2009
Today was spent tidying up ship and welcoming Alan Paul aboard for our leg across the Great Australian Bight to Port Lincoln.
Day 18 Tuesday 21st April.
Left Esperance for Lucky Bay on a course out of Esperance Bay between Limpet Island and Black Island to Murray Rock. Then a course between Cap Le Grande and Murray Rock and Cliff Island. Outside Ram Island and straight into Lucky Bay by early afternoon.Another beautiful spot with the claim of having the whitest and squeakiest beach sand in Australia.It was there we also saw kangaroos nestled amounst seaweed banks on the beach eating fish heads and totally unfazed by our presence.
Day 19 Wednesday 22nd April.
Travelled from Lucky Bay (departed 7.15am) inside Rob and Roy Islands, outside Tony Island and inside Outtrem reef. Sth of Conwall Island, York Islands, Lizard Island and SouthTwin Peak Island. Inside ie. north of York Rock Mart Rock and Sial Rock, south of Ward Bank and Frodd Bank. To Goose Island to anchorage at Middle Island.Arrived approx 3.30pm. put down 2 anchors CQR and admiralty and set position on both chart plotters to determine any drag.Around 7.00 pm a brisk front (SW) came through and pushed our vessel sidewards even though we were in a seemingly protected bay. It is a well used bay and even shown in the FSC Cruising book. Whilst we were in the process of retrieving our anchors (it all happened very quickly and it was pitch black outside) we quickly discovered that we were being blown onto a rocky shore. Alan and Peta were manning the winch and retrieving the second anchor (on rope) and using torches and a spotlight were directing Ron at the helm. We would go astern to move away from the rocky shore then put her full ahead to retract and retrace our course into the bay. But every time the vessel immediately headed back toward the rocks and shoreline. We tried probably 5 or 6 times (We were all too stressed to count). Finally by reversing into deeper water we managed to go ahead and get out of the bay. By now the wind I estimate was between 30-40 kts and it would have been an impossible task to reanchor in that ba. We decided to set sail immediately for our next destination Ceduna.
The seas were now picking up and Ron went forward with safety gear to secure both anchors which were merely pulled and left on the deck due to the dire emergency. Such a simple and quick processin the marina is a surprisingly difficult task on a pitching and rolling deck. Thank goodness the dinghy was on the davits as we had not gone ashore. Most of the rest of the night Ron plotted courses to the east to take us with the wind and waves and away from the myriad of islands around the Esperance area. Our plans to go toIsraelite Bay were cancelled as it was giving us only marginal distance to the east and we reckoned in the dark that it was not a good idea in the storm. Also the old adage came to mind "if in doubt - keep out". It was a dreadfully bumpy night with some pretty high wind gusts (50 + kts) (later confimed as 60+ kts gale force).
Thursday 23rd April
The long rough night ever so slowly melded into dawn and a new day of awareness of the reality of the harsh environment in which now found ourselves.
The seas were running high with hugh swells which Finesse was managing (on by now auto-helm) with an amazing denterity. The hull design of this vessel said all about her pedigree. Her ability to rise above the wave crests and immediately sink into deep trough only to tackle the wall of water of the next swell was a credit to her design. It was hard to estimate the height of the waves. The period between crests seemed to be only a few seconds andnot the slow motionof a swell with a long period as encountered when we came around Cape Leeuwin.
Finesse was given a challenging course to pursue. Our destination could not be a direct line to Pt Lincoln or even Coffin Bay because the swells were on our beam (right angles to the side of our boat). So the course was one of getting as much east as possible knowing that our continbual pounding by the swells was knocking us off course sending us northwards towards the coast. We were probably only around 70-80 nm fron the coast at any one time on a course which pointed us more towards Ceduna. (later we decided on Streaky Bay as it was a better track for us).
The ability of Finesse to have her stern to an amazing wall of water,(the face of the swell) and to rise and to correct her couse more along the face of the swell as we rose up the face of the wave was amazing. At the top of each swell the effect of wind and choppy wind waves would sometimes affect the ability of the helm to get back to the correct course heading and our alarm would sound indicating we were off course. The ride down the back side of each swell also had the effect of slewing the bow around to follow the wave direction which again placed her stern on to the next wave. Occasionally a set of swells would cause her to actually surf down a swell. An exciting rush of speed but with a terrifying rush of thoughts going through your mind.
Calculations showed that we averaged 6kts between Middle Island and Streaky Bay but there were times when the vessel reached 9kts with waves pushing her. We averaged 7kts from Middle Island unit Friday 24/4 10.30pm.
Sometime Thursday night into Friday morning there was an almighty bank as yet another wave knocked us. Later on Friday the first time that the winds and waves had abated sufficiently to harness up and check upon deck(as we had been confined to the wheelhouse) Ron found the bimini cover madly flapping, the plastimo rescue harness rope trailing in the water (minus the harness part), the remnants of the dinghy rope, no dinghy to be seen and a mangled stern ladder with oneside actually pulled out of the vessel damaging the wood work.
My rough calculations show that our position would have been approx. 33 degrees 40 minutes S and 126degrees E when we lost the dinghy. (Approx 80 NM due south of Twilight Cove).
Later we found the boarding platform (duckboard) to be damaged and a Plastimo safety floating light attached to the orange life ring to have taken water and rendered useless.
Sadly the dinghy our lovely new Aquapro 3.1 metre RIB with the deep V aluminiun hull, new Yamaha 6HP outboard, new fuel tank, dinghy cover, anchor chain and rope all gone. Given the time we spent researching to get the best possible dinghy for our trip this was dissapointing but not life threatening.
It isnot surprising that my expectations of anything "Plasitmo" will be well down my list of future choices for safety equipment. What if someone had gone overboard - the harness could not even handle the conditions without a person holding on and if the lifering had been needed at night the light was no longer working.
The first position fix I took was mid Friday morning when I could stand long enough at the chart table to record our lat & long.
Friday 24th April.
At 10.30am we were at 33 degrees 12.48 minutes S and 128 degrees 31.41E. Still in very heavy seas and occasionally taking water under the ortside sliging cabin door when a rougue wave would push us sideways and another wave would quickly appear before we could regain our intended course with the result of Finesse being thrown heavily onto her port side and taking water onto the side deck. The immediatae righting of the vessel or even a rock to the starboard would see water flow under the bottom area of the door into the main wheelhouse because the water trapped between the cabin and the hull did not have time to escapeout of the scuffer holes.
Saturday 25th April.
The strong winds continued mostly around 30 kts plus into Saturday still with a hugh swell. Swell height was hard to estimate but conservatively I would say greater than 10 metres possibly some around mast height 16 metres.
Position Sat 25/4/09 at 9.25am WST was 32degrees 54.29 minutes S and 131degrees 54.57 minutes E.
Our calculations showed that we would reach Streaky Bay (some 20 NM closer than Ceduna) sometime around 1.00-2.00am Sunday morning. We were very tired, Peta had been confined to her hunk with sea sickness. Soon after leaving Middle Island Alan Paul and Ron had tried to take an hour or two in shifts both day and night so that one could try and sleep. Sleep was almost impossiible with the raging sea conditions with violent lurching and the occasional side knockdowns when water would enter. Every new sound was treated with caution and the nights were so long.
We slowed the engine revs to slow us down and managed only to drop a knot of speed. Our jib which we had partially set on Friday was still working hard and helped keep some stability in our very rocking environment.
We reached the Cape Bauer light north of Olive Island and throttled back in the still rough and windy conditions but not the huge swell out at sea.
Unbelievably theengine stalled. Ron attempted to re-start it still believing we had sufficient fuel in the tanks. The engine started but within seconds stalled again. With the help of Peta and Alan, Ron changed the main engine primary fuel filter, bled the air out of the system and to everyones great relief the otor started and continued to run. We managed toboil water for teas and for Ron a double streanth coffee then Peta and Alan bedded down while Ron crept the vessel at 1-2 kts on a couse towards the first leading light beacon.
I omitted to say that just as the engine had restarted with the new fuel filter the wind suddenly gusted to 30-35 kts and the jib started pulling us up to 5-6 kts towards some large reefs and sandbanks. Again we rallied into action and bought down the jib, we did earn that hot drink.
Sunday 26th April
Dawn finally come and we quietly motored down the channels and into the beautiful bay where the townsite of Streaky Bay is situated. We winds were still quite strong and we had trouble anchoring (again) on the weedy bottom. We tried 6 or 7 times and finally a local identify called BUGS came to our assistance and told us to pick up a fishing boat mooring, which we did.
Ron went to bed, totally sleep deprived whilst Peta and Alan started the unenviable task of tidying up Finesse.
Monday 27th April
Spent assessing damage, tidying ship, taking delivery of a "loan" dinghy per courstesy of Bugs, taking our laundry ashore to the caravan park and having a wonderful meal in the restaurant at the Streaky Bay Caravan Park.
Tuesday 28th April
Engine Hrs 4031.04 (Starting Hrs 3821.63) Hours running to Streaky Bay 209.41 hrs
Distance travelled - Start 2927 NM now 4057 NM = 1148 NM
Added 408 litres of fuel - poly - tank in cage on forklift filled up at the local garage and run down the hill to the wharf where forked onto a 4 wheel railway flattop car and pushed out jetty.Gravity fed through hose into boat tanks.
Spent day from 10.00am rafted up next to Bugs vessell "Foxy Lady" at the jetty. What a character - had lunch at Streaky Bay Hotel.
Gigantic steaks and greatmeal. Checked out the main streets and reported dinghy loss to local policemant SC Sam Frick of Streaky Bay Police Station. He made an incident report and this was later confirmed by Fremantle water Police. Note reported due to identification markings on the RIB should it be found. Noted that the foil on the main sail track had the plastic bolt rope foot smashed in a couple of places.
Wednesday 29th April
Made vessel ready for departure to Sceale Bay. Sampled "razor fish" taken from the sea bed near the jetty. Tasted a lot like "nutty scallops".
Departed 10.15 from Streaky Bay arrived Sceale Bay 4.45pm. The jetty shown on the charts was not to be seen. Tried radio (VHF)to get authority to use a mooring but checked tide chart and found them located too shallow.
Everyone agreed to an early start tomorrow for Flinders Island so had an early BBQ dinner in preparation.
Anchor watch was kept overnight. Quiet night.
Thursday 30th April
Sailed out of Sceale Bay at 5.30am in the dark with a weak tail wind from the north. Reached Flinders Island 2.30pm and set 2 anchors. Uneventful sail with a very low side swell. No wind - no sail.
Many small dolphins raced the boat.
Friday 1st May
Departed Flinders island 8.45 set course of 165 degrees T once clear of Topgallant Isles. This should take us just inside Greenly Island through clear water.
We had originally planned to visit Pearson Island, CoffinBay and Greenly Island but without a dinghy and the inability to get ashore we decided to run straight to Pt Lincoln, also Alan Paul was happy to get home sooner.
Saturday 2nd May
Our course once past Greenly Island took us between Rocky Island and Whidbey Isles, outside Liquanca Island through Thorny Passage between Thistle Is and Cape Catastrophe on the mainland, an easy run in calm waters up to Cape Donington and into Port Lincoln arriving around 12.30pm. Tied up in the private marina and tidied up ship. Had farewell dinner at a marina restaurant for Alan.
Sunday 3rd May
Big sleep in after nosleep Friday into Saturday, late breakfast and trip to airport for Alan per courtesy of Bruce and Bonnie Mariott an Adelaide couple who keep their yacht "Freedom Now" at the marina. They also took us to the laundromat and showed us the wonderful view of Pt Lincoln from a vantage point just out of town. The Mariotts invited us to dinner aboard their yacht and we learned a great deal about their voyages, anchoring tips, weather fax from the HF radio and much more.
Monday 4th May
Today was spent completing the Club Marine Insurance claim form and in obtaining quotes from a wood craftsman, stainless steel fabricator, RIB dinghy supplier, outboard motor dealer, biminbi repairer and a chandlery shop for other missing or broken parts (dinghy anchor rope & chain, wind indicator, derrik straps).
Tuesday 5th May to Monday 11th May
We have spent time exploring Pt Lincoln using our folding bikes and so far have the bimini cover restitched and re installed and a new metal foil track up the mast which will allow us to again use our main sail. Ron replaced the bilge pump and cleaned out the old one. Last Friday we hired a small 4 x wheel drive vehicle and explored the Pt Lincoln National Park, Coffin Bay (a really delightful spot with Coffin Bay Oysters at $13 a dozen) across to Tumby Bay and back again to Pt Lincoln. We celebrated our wedding anniversary last Wednesday 6th with a lovely dinner at the Marina Hotel where we are moored. We also celebrated Peta's birthday on Sunday with a great meal at one of the hotels in town.
Photo 1 - Pelican on Oyster Beds at Coffin Bay
Photo 2 - Port Lincoln home of Makybe Diva triple Melbourne Cup winner 2003/2004/2005
Photo 3 - Tuna Boats at Port Lincoln
Photo 4 - Dolphins at bow of Finesse leaving Streaky Bay
