Portland Roads Lat 12 degrees 35.6' S Log 143 degrees 24.6' E (30/05/13)

It howled all night as usual, but we were snug in the anchorage at Morris. Had an unusual occurrence when a large brown seabird with a wingspan of at least a metre and a wicked looking beak landed on the foredeck. He (or she) was persistent because we chased him/her away a couple of times and he/she always came back finally settling on the perspex forehatch above our bed. We wondered whether we should close both small round portholes immediately aft of where he/she had settled but foolishly left them open. Of course later in the night the inevitable happened and he/she shat all over the hatch and deck. Unfortunately as the wind was blowing at its usual 25 knots or so, some of the excrement was blown horizontally at least 3 feet and came through one of the said portholes!! It splattered a bulkhead, landed on our bedsheet and also Jim's leg. That would have to be one of the most bizarre yachting experiences to date. That was around 1 am and the next half hour was spent by Jean cleaning and wiping with the trusty Sphagnum Moss. Got it all cleaned up inside but when we came to pull the anchor up at 6 it was a matter of some extensive deck scrubbing. He/she in the meantime had tried to land on the mainsail furled on the boom but was again shooed off so we didn't see him/her again. Probably thought what a bunch of unfriendly yachties. But he/she did have at least 7 hours much needed sleep courtesy of us!!
We weighed anchor at 6 this morning in the usual gale and hoisted a double reefed main. Thought we'd motorsail for the usual 2 hours or so and then sail the rest of the way. How wrong can you be. The wind lessened and stayed directly astern no matter what course we were on dodging reefs and islands. It rained off and on as well which would have gone down the companionway without our cover that Noel recommended we install. Very frustrating and we finished up motorsailing all the way (60 miles). At times there was a big following choppy sea which caused us to roll our scuppers under. All in all a less than ideal passage up the ship channel. Passed 2 southbound ships throwing spray as they punched into a windy sea. We passed Blanchard and Ellis Reefs to starboard, Parry Rock to port, Waterwitch Reef, Osborne Reef, Sherrard Is., Chapman Is., Cape Direction, and finally Restoration Is. and Rock to port before making the turn to the approach into Portland Roads on the northern side of Cape Weymouth. We were not looking forward to this stop as we had been warned about the rolling and indeed the cruising guides also warned of this. But 60 miles in one day is quite enough so in we went.
Well, it turns out to be a delightful anchorage with a few houses ashore and even a road to the local airfield. The rolling is non existent although there is a little jobble at anchor but much more sheltered than Morris which is touted as being the best anchorage on this part of the coast. It is a picturesque little bay although we can't get in close due to the usual fringing coral reef off the beach. But all very pretty with coconut palms and dinghies drawn up on the beach. If we weren't on such of a mission, it would be good to stay here for a day or two and go ashore but alas we must keep moving. Darwin (still 1000 miles away) beckons. But here we are only 190 miles from Cape York so our first milestone is within reach.
Tomorrow we go to Cape Grenville (Margaret Bay) which is a shorter distance - only 48 miles!
Cheers and love from us - we will sleep tonight.
Jim and Jean

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