1042 hPa High in the West!

Friday, 9 September 2011 - Cairns to Low Isles

We got away about 1130 in a very light NE breeze. We motorsailed the 30 nm to the Low Isles and anchored well in as a strong SE change was expected during the night. The anchorage was good although there was some swell at high tide when the reef was covered.

With a strong wind warning forecast, we spent Saturday here and watched the tourists come in for a snorkel and sunbake before heading off back to Port Douglas. We went for a walk around the island, (about 20 minutes!), watched the bat fish and had a lazy day.

Sunday, 11 September 2011 - Low Isles to Cape Bedford

The wind was still up although the strong wind warning was cancelled, so we headed off early when the wind was predicted to be lighter. The weather men had it right again and we set the spinnaker in about 15 knots of breeze. By 1100 the breeze was gusting up over 20 knots so we dropped the kite after recording 16.3 knots at one stage. By 1400 we had put in the second reef as we had a steady 20 knots with gusts up to 27.

We decided to bypass Hope Island and continue on to Cape Bedford - a distance of 80 miles. The anchorage at Hope Islands is more exposed than Bedford which proved to be very comfortable as we had gone in as close as possible. A strong wind warning was forecast for Monday and with the big high, it did not look like improving over the next few days.

Monday, 12 September 2011 - Cape Bedford to Lizard Island

25 - 30 knots was forecast so we headed off with a triple reef and our jib for the 38 nm to Lizard Island. We had decided to proceed as the seas are much less than would normally be expected further south due to the proximity of the reef.

It was an uneventful sail, dodging cargo ships off Cape Flattery and averaging 8.4 knots for the trip. I took some video in the cabin as it was eerily quiet here as we beam reached along at 10, 11 knots.

We arrived at Lizard at 1100 and anchored in close to the beach with 20 other boats. Print this post