Bad Weather Continues

Sunday 29th August




It rained all night and is still raining. There is a strong wind warning for coastal waters from Cardwell to Bowen with 20-30 knot SE winds and 3 m seas, so we aren't going anywhere.



I set out in the rain to check the crab traps and this time we had better luck, 2 crabs in one trap (one undersized) and a fish which didn't look too inviting in the other. So finally it looks like a feed of mud crab. The traps went back out to see if we can get another.



Another check of the traps in the afternoon yielded another 2 crabs, unfortunately both female (one undersize), so they had to go back. I reset them in the hope we may get some more overnight.



It rained heavily for the rest of the afternoon and evening, the wind still blowing 20 knots + but we are in a very sheltered anchorage.



Monday 30th August



First task is to bail out the dinghy which has about 6 inches of water in it, and then it is off to check if we have any crabs. Unfortunately both traps are empty, so I brought them back to the boat.



The weather forecast is still grim, strong wind warning SE 20- 30 knots. However it is expected to be a bit lighter early, so we decide to leave Hinchinbrook and head to Orpheus Island. Only about 10nm of open water, and 8 nm of relative shelter in the channel. Given our experience coming in and the leads taking us over a shoal, we decided to trust the chart plotter and plotted a course that ignored the leads, as we had 0.4m less tide than on the way in and about 0.5m a least in wave troughs that could have had us bouncing on the bottom on the leads.



It was very rough coming out the entrance but we stuck to our course and never had less than 1.2m under the keel. He open water was really chopped up by the wind and we had a pretty bouncy and uncomfortable trip to Orpheus where we anchored in Little Pioneer Bay. One of the other Coastal Cruising Club members Sub Zero was also there.



The strong winds persisted and it was a very rolly and uncomfortable night. If the wind drops early tomorrow we will make a run for Casement Bay on great Palm Island where the anchorage should be more comfortable. It rained most of the night.



The high point of the day was the mud crab omelette we had for dinner.