Cruising musings

Well, we left Bluewater last Sunday and it is now Friday. We don't seem to have achieved anything much due to this pesky weather which is unrelenting. Apart from yesterday when we made an abortive attempt to leave for Fitzroy, we've been in the Trinity Inlet - mostly well up the inlet where it's quieter and a little more sheltered. On Wed. night we anchored off Cairns CBD with the intention of going ashore there but we felt anxious about the security of the boat anchored in a very strong tidal stream with poor holding. We then left on Thurs. morning but had only gone about halfway out along the channel when we were getting winds of 25 knots (more than 50 kms.) and more so, although we could have made Fitzroy easily, albeit uncomfortably, we started wondering how the anchorage would be for rolling. It's typical of most of the anchorages on this coast - all the way down to Bundaberg - where they appear to be sheltered from the SE, but often the swell rolls around whatever point is sheltering the anchorage and causes an unpleasant roll. So, we turned around and came back up the inlet where we'd been before and wondered what to do next. On the way we explored Smiths Creek where the Cairns Cruising Yacht Squadron is and where we will probably haul out next March. All good to reconnoitre in advance.
Up here is the most sheltered but you can't go ashore because of really thick mangroves, and anyway there's the crocs!! You don't leave the dinghy in the water overnight because there's a good chance that it will be partially or totally destroyed by morning. Crocs also have a love hate relationship with outboard motors where they will come up astern as you are motoring along and attack the outboard. Must give them somewhat of a toothache but who needs that? So we haven't been off the boat for almost a week and getting fairly bored. If it wasn't for the stock of good books we have on board we'd be quite stir crazy by now and probably picking spots of light off the ceiling!! One book deserves a mention - it's a biography of H.G. Wells and a fascinating read. If you get a chance the name is "A Man of Parts" by David Lodge.
There's also the marine stingers whose season is just beginning. One variety in particular has the ability to be lethal. So, generally this coast is hostile and one needs to be very careful. At least it's warm, unlike NZ, although there one generally doesn't need to worry about anything except the odd short lived blow and there's always good shelter no matter what the wind strength or direction. Touch of homesickness perhaps??!!
The GRIBS show no sign of the wind letting up until the end of next week so we've decided to go back into the marina tomorrow and get on with some more worthwhile pursuits and then if conditions are more benign later we'll go out to Fitzroy then.
We heard today of a 50' Beneteau which left Lizard sometime in the last 24 hours to return down here, but after half an hour they decided conditions were too tough and turned back so it vindicates our decision not to go there until we head north next year. The problem generally is that there is nowhere to go around here in these conditions. Anchorages out on the reef are worse because there's even less shelter.
So, it means that we have to go back into the marina. It isn't possible to anchor off as the approach is completely open to the SE which makes it tricky as you need to steer a fairly precise course to avoid going aground on the sandbanks close on each side. We sometimes think we spend too much time in marinas with a consequent insidiously growing reluctance to get out and sail, but it increasingly looks as though most of our next major sailing adventures will have to wait about 5 months. In the meantime we will keep trying and no doubt there will be the odd short lived opportunity, but it looks like being land based for a while.
Cheers from us again and hoping all is well.............
Jim and Jean (Gina)
www.tiaretaporo3.blogspot.com

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