New Caledonia to Australia - crossing the Coral Sea
A sequence of daily at sea reports follows....
15 Nov 2007
Departed Noumea at 1630, thru Dumbea Pass 1755, now in open seas heading to Brisbane. Current pos 22 deg 24 s 166 08 e. Wind 18-23 kts from SE. Speed over ground 8 kts under 2 reefed main and staysail. Good sailing. We are keeping an eye on the cyclone to north. We are headed for Brisbane but our contingency plan is to run south and enter at Coffs or Sydney if the cyclone starts moving south down the Coral Sea.
16 Nov 2007
Hi, we are rocking along at between 6.5 and 8 kts depending on gusts. Wind is ESE/SE. Some biggish swells and the odd wave hitting us at a funny angle, but overall good sailing.
B has had a discussion with a fellow Kiwi cruiser who stated that 0000UTC is noon, and she gave him the benefit of the doubt. Now she says he is wrong as there is no such time in the 24 hour clock. 0001 is the first minute after midnight, 1200 is midday and 2400 is midnight. If he had been an Aussie she says she would have discounted straight away but since he seemed a sensible Kiwi she thought she better check before responding.
17 Nov 2007
Galloping along at average of 8 knots with winds from SE, less rolly since we turned at Capel Bank (shallow patch) having passed between Kelso and Capel Banks, nearer to Capel. Expecting ESE tomorrow which may slow us and probably bring back the rolly stuff. Very good run today. Saw first ship, P&O cruise liner, 7 miles off and closing to about 3.5 miles. Called it up on VHF radio, channel 16, but no reply which was a bit disappointing. Believe that many large ships no longer monitor channel 16 or maybe they just don't want to talk to yachts who ask silly questions like "can you see us clearly on your radar", which is what we were going to ask.
18 Nov 2007
Breeze 10-12 knots, have met the East Australian current which has carried us south off course by about 8 miles. Have taken out reefs in main to try and get more speed and claw back some of the southing. However wind is little to ESE to be helpful. Still, making good progress. Sunny and warm. Making for the North East Channel entry at top of Moreton Bay.
19 Nov 2007
Still in/on the Coral Sea en route from Noumea to Brisbane and it doesnt look any different to any other sea !! The same characteristics of wind on water and waves. Have not seen any coral or Nemo's.
As all quiet aboard thought readers might enjoy an insight into what its really like aboard Musketelle on an open ocean passage........ Its a bit 'tongue in cheek' in parts but step aboard for the ride and feel the motion.....
* It takes us both at least 48hrs to get into the rhythm of a passage
* Sleep deprivation is the first thing that hits you and gets you out of kilter
* The next thing is you dont feel all that hungry so with irregular sleep one gets tired very quickly
* The days and nights just mesh into one milieu all on a floating platform that is moving continuously
* Thats the big kicker the never ending motion from which you cannot escape
* Those skills learned as a kid on the jungle gym and at physed classes come into play
* Your hands become as important as your feet as you move crab like around the ship
* If we could run a video of our movements it would be very 'Monty Pythonesque'
* Balancing food can take on chimpanzee tea party similarity
* The cook taking two classic falls without sustaining bodily damage thankfully
* One hand for yourself and the other for the boat is the rule (not one for the plate & other for utensils)
* Time for shut eye we run a 3 hours on watch and 3 hours off watch rotation
* 4 sleeps per 24 compared with one big one at home sounds magic, but don't be fooled
* No nocturnal bliss because the boats always moving & awash with noise banging, crashing & wind howling
* You tend to half sleep listening for noises that alert you to what is happening all around
* You can sense when the vessel has changed direction, slowed or sped up or the sails need trimming
* Below decks its often fuggy, hot and sticky because all the hatches closed to stop saltwater ingress
* No time for conjugal rights as partners pass in the night from off watch to on watch keeping the bunk hot
* Going off watch best get out of your clothes have a bird bath, brush the teeth like normal, which it is not
* Put on a pair of those airline goggles to pretend its nightime and you are a 'Biggles on the Water'
* Now in the bunk which has a leacloth tied along the side to stop you being tossed out by a rogue wave
* Horizontal at last but your clammy body sticks to the sheets as the motion slops your innards around
* From your cranium to the tip of your toes you feel like you are a jellyman on a fairground ride
* In a bad dream your bunk could be likened to a sort of nautical coffin (reboot for another dream)
* When you are awoken its more of the same but hopefully another 20 plus miles closer to your destination
* As they say its the getting there that counts, right !!!
* The 'kerosene canary' is faster & easier but this is cleaner and greener and much heavier on the pocket
Anyone for cruising ?
20 Nov 2007
Landfall Australia
We round the northern end of Moreton Island at 0730 to enter the shipping channel and spend the morning sailing south across Moreton Bay and proceed to the customs dock inside Manly Marina arriving on lunchtime. Phew ! what a pleasure to be in Aust and the prospect of a nice cold beer and a big steak for lunch !! But wait, Australian Customs have to formally enter and clear us, and that takes time and is another story in itself !!
