Back to Orpheus Island

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. The 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.