Once again we planned to set off at 6 am and we awoke to fairly still conditions, no significant breeze and menacing skies. Nevertheless we decided to head off and motored for the first few hours with a bit of light rain, but the seas were not up, so it looked promising. The breeze picked a bit from the SW and we put out the headsail to save some diesel. We saw a few more whales along the way.
An hour or so later the story had changed significantly. We found ourselves in 15 -20 knot SW winds, torrential rain and some thunder and lightening. Visibility was about 100m. Our progress steadily slowed from around 6 knots to less than 3 knots.
Looks like we might get some heavy rain !
To approach Hunter Island we had to cross a large area of shoals, which looked less and less like a good idea, given the foul conditions and poor visibility. Cooinda who were leading, the way, ( they have a reliable depth sounder), called in on the VHF, suggesting we abandon any thoughts of going to Hunter Island and head back out into deep water and head to Hexham Island, where we had anchored before and was reasonably comfortable in a howling southerly.
The torrential rain continued most of the way to Hexham, where we arrived at around 2.30pm, saturated and ready for a hot shower and change of clothes.
Listening to the radio after we arrived, we discovered that heavy rains right up the coast started last night and continued most of today. Mackay had 140 mm, the Bruce Highway is closed near Proserpine due to flooding and we must have had more than 100mm ourselves. It was later confirmed that yesterdays rainfall broke all previous records.
It rained lightly for most of the rest of the afternoon after we anchored, appearing to fine up at sunset.
Sunset at Hexham Island
We stayed on board and had pizzas for dinner, which were very good, cooked in the gas oven with home made base.
Tomorrow the forecast is currently SE/NE winds at 10-15 knots with possible isolated showers. The reality could be anything but that, although the showers look assured. If it half reasonable we will head further south to Pearl Bay.
Conditions overnight were bumpy with a persistent NE swell, not a great night for sleeping.
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