Hanse 400e

Hanse 400e

Thursday, August 5, 2010

A rough trip to Curlew Island

Monday 2nd August




Todays passage to Curlew Island is only 30 nm so we agreed on a 7.30 am start. The forecast is for a stiff South to SW breeze 15 to 20 knots.
Mica on the way to Curlew Island (before the wind picked up)



As soon as we cleared our protected anchorage it was obvious the forecast was going to be pretty close to the mark. Much of our trip was to the west and we were sailing at pace across the wind waves that had been whipped up to around 2 m. A pretty uncomfortable sail, mostly on a reefed mainsail, but we made good speed, given the angle we were sailing, and reduced sail. We arrived around 12 noon trying to find some shelter to get the sail down, to no avail. We anchored in a bay on the North of the Island.



Curlew is supposed to be a good anchorage for winds E -SW to 30 knots so we should be OK for tonight as the forecast is now the breeze to abate this afternoon and come back at 20-30 knots early morning. Right on midnight the breeze strengthened quickly to 25 – 30 knots, with gusts around 35 knots. The anchor was well dug in but there was not a lot of protection from the breeze and it was not a good night for sleep.



As the strong winds are expected to continue through tomorrow we will stay here an extra night and head for Mackay on Wednesday if conditions abate.

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