Tiare Taporo III at anchor at Cape Upstart Lat. 19 degrees 43' S Long. 147 degrees 45' E

Today was a long day. We left the anchorage at Little Jonah Bay this morning at 0500 in the dark and followed the chartplotter out of the anchorage. However, soon the dawn came up to herald a lovely sunny day. First sun we've seen for over a week!! Very little wind though so we motorsailed (as usual!!) until a respectable breeze came up from the WSW - the forecast was for easterlies. Anyway, it was sailable and we were hard on the wind on port tack doing about 4.5 knots. We had around a knot of tide against us but we were doing ok. Full main, genoa and staysail. However, the wind dropped away to almost zero later so we started the iron sail once more. We sailed past the Abbot Point coal loading conveyor with one ship alongside and 3 waiting at anchor. The wind came back but was dead on the nose so was not much help. We approached Cape Upstart at last and sailed the 5 miles or so to round the cape. Quite spectacular with large rock outcrops but not as spectacular as Whangarei Heads!! And quite shallow of the end of the cape (30-40') - again most unlike Cape Brett or Whangarei Heads. All in all it was a pleasant day but a long one - 55 nautical miles in all.
We had some concerns that with the strange and unforecasted wind we were getting that the anchorage might be somewhat uncomfortable but when we came around the point it was delightfully calm. There are beach baches all along the coast stretching back to the mainland and it is a delightful away from it all spot. Although again we can't help comparing with NZ and here in the summer you have the marine stingers (one of which is lethal and almost certainly would kill you). Even going ashore in the dinghy and stepping out into the shallows is dangerous unless you are suitably clad. Then there are the crocodiles and although we haven't seen one yet, they are around. Mostly in tidal creeks where there are mangroves but they have even been seen out on the islands on the Barrier Reef so you can't guarantee anywhere is safe. So, the bottom line is no swimming!!
Early to bed tonight as tomorrow is an even longer day - 70 miles to Magnetic Is. just off Townsville. We are hoping for better winds. We'll be leaving around midnight tonight - 30 miles to Cape Bowling Green and then another 40 to Magnetic. We are looking forward to seeing John and Chris off "Sara II" when we get there.
Dinner's ready at 1700 (right now) so we can get some sleep before starting off again.
Watch this space..........
Love from us,
Jim and Gina (Jean)
www.tiaretaporo3.blogspot.com

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