Cape York

Our current VERY NOTABLE position is: 10° 41.327S and 142° 31.395E.

We have made it to the very top of the Australian continent!

However, before I go on, I just have to share a bit more about Escape River. When we were told that there are crocs around and about, they weren't kidding. Crocodiles are REAL, in fact, they're real big! During low tide yesterday afternoon, there were a total of five 'snapping handbags' lying out on the drying mud banks and the one closest to us was a rather large fellow; we reckon about a 4 or more metre specimen.

He chose the one bank that stays dry the longest and parked himself there in the act of, so we're told, 'thermoregulating' or adjusting his blood temperature. I personally think he was there to keep a beady eye out for an unwary cruiser to dip a toe in the water. I swear he had a grin on his face. 

The region is filled with buoys marking large areas for pearl farming but we weren't tempted to dive down to gather some for ourselves. We would have liked to do a bit of exploring along the river banks but the sight of those huge reptiles was enough to put us off. Besides, Paul spent the day helping to get Pete's engine back up and running adjusting home made fan belts, etc. During the night we had a rude 'bump' awakening as Pete's boat had dragged which had us all up and about fending off. No damage but I think Pete stood anchor watch for much of the remaining night.

We left early this morning about an hour after low tide and well before sunrise in order to get sufficient depth of water to pass over the sand bar at the mouth of the river but also to get us up to the entrance to the Albany Passage in time for the flooding tide to help carry us through. And help it sure did. We flew through the passage at 9,5 knots with a poled out genny and a triple-reefed main.

What a treat. It's a particularly pretty pass but all too short as it spat us out at the other end right by Cape York which we rounded to drop anchor on the protected western side. The winds are still howling but the swell is not too bad and, believe it or not, a little sun has made its way through the clouds.

Time for a late brunch and then off to hike to the point for the obligatory photos. The only trouble was, we took our dinghy ashore just after high tide and, several hours later upon our return, it was so high and dry; a good quarter mile struggle to get it back over the sand to find any level of water. We are definitely getting sufficient exercise.

PHOTO GALLERY:

A rapid trip through the Albany Channel with such a small sail

Paul & Pete with anthill

View from the point