Elizabeth Bay

We are still at Elizabeth Bay as ever since we arrived there has been a strong wind warning and we have been having over 20 knots and sometimes over 25 knots at anchor. The anchorage is sheltered from sea action but not from wind. However, there is a wind driven small chop, so much so that we cannot launch our dinghy because we would get soaked if we tried to go anywhere. So we are getting stir crazy on the boat.
We've had a change of plan for our departure from here. With these strong winds the entrances to the Hole in the Wall and Cumberland Strait are probably quite messy and so we have decided to go south west to Inglis Is. where we would anchor before going up Brown Strait on the ebb. Should work except that the Inglis anchorage only has a mention in one cruising guide to the effect that the NW coast of Inglis "should" offer some reasonable anchorages. It is about 25 more miles but should be good sailing because this way we stay in the lee of islands and mainland all the way to the western side of the Wessels and then we can wait until later this coming week for lighter winds for the dash across the top to the Goulburn Islands. These schemes for getting west without getting too beaten up have been occupying our minds constantly. We were going to leave this morning but the winds are still high so it looks like Sunday which would then put us at the northern end of the Wessels by mid to end next week when we should be able to head west to Goulburn. That's the plan so let's hope it'll work. In the meantime we continue to swing around the anchor! Jean made a Spelt Flour loaf of bread yesterday which came out well and is now in the freezer!
Cheers and love from us..........
Jim and Jean

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