Change of strategic plan

Another change due to this pesky weather. We were going to leave at 0400 today for Morris but the weather hasn't abated and so we have re-examined our whole strategy. One thing for sure is that going back (to Cairns) is not an option - if you think going with these winds is less than ideal, try going against them!!
Last night neither of us got much sleep listening to the wind howling and the bullets hitting us side on as the tide was holding us for a while at right angles to the wind. Hardly restful getting up every so often to check our GPS position to make sure we hadn't dragged. We haven't dragged anywhere since we got the Rocna so fingers crossed that that continues.
We have decided that maybe tomorrow or the next day (Tuesday) we will be able to get to Morris Is. as there are indications that the winds might lessen by then. The high that's causing all this is slow moving over the Great Australian Bight and is 1031 Hpa which is quite intense. NZ probably needs some sunshine by then so let's hope it moves over there real soon!!
Morris Is. is 59 nautical miles from here so we can make that in a day if we leave early. Then our plan is to sail overnight and get up to Mt. Adolphous Is. in one hop. This is a further 189 miles and is just north of Cape York. Apart from the weather, the other difficulty with this coast is that there are only a few indifferent anchorages north of here with the exceptions of Morris and Margaret Bay. This latter is 98 miles north of Morris and then another 91 to Mt. Adolphous. So, if we decided we didn't want to do the one hop to Mt. Adolphous we could stop there but 90 odd miles is still outside our ability to achieve in daylight. If this coast had reasonable anchorages every 20 or 30 miles it would take a lot of pressure off but we just have to make do with what we have and plan accordingly. Another thing for sure, we will be heartily glad to have made it to the top, away from this coast and around Cape York into Seisia. We will still have 800 miles to go but across the Gulf of Carpentaria and from the Wessel Islands to Port Essington comprises over 60% of that and those passages will be non stop which will eat up the miles. At least there there isn't any Barrier Reef to worry about, whereas here it does produce navigational challenges. Having said that the Barrier Reef provides protection from oceanic seas but the inner reef is only 10 miles from the coast in parts and there is a major 2 way shipping channel following this inner reef dogleg track. So, a good lookout is essential (behind as well) because large ships follow this channel and there isn't much room. At least we have our trusty AIS receiver which gives advance warning of other vessels. It is mandatory for any vessels over 300 tons to carry an AIS transmitter which gives their name, course and speed.
Jiveen - thank you for your message of support and news of you, Jenny and Theo. Perry and Tracie's baby is due at the beginning of October so that will be a milestone as well. By then with any luck we will be in the South China Sea! We'd love to be part of the tree planting (!) but sending the money will be a problem until we get to Darwin.
Cheers and lots of love from us............
Jim and Jean xoxoxo

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com