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| Our passage through the Endeavour Straits |
Our current position is 10 53.647S and 138 27.881E
This puts us at about three quarters of the way across the Gulf of Carpentaria.
So far, it's been absolutely perfect sailing conditions; a fairly flat and calm sea with winds hovering around 15 to 18 knots. Ideal except, of course, that they are right up the backside (where else?). It's two in the morning and I'm enjoying the calm conditions under a beautiful waning Gibbous moon.
We left the small town of Seisia yesterday afternoon after Paul had spent the morning with Pete in the hopes that he could install the new fan belts before we left. Sadly, they didn't arrive as promised so regretfully we had to leave him behind. The weather window to cross the Gulf was just too good to miss and we simply couldn't hang on not knowing when they'd arrive. In a typical Aussie outback manner, the guys were told, "if you can't go today, go tomorrow" but what the chap wasn't saying was "or the next day or the day after that". Now it appears that the belts won't arrive until Friday. Hopefully Pete can fit one himself and be on his way by that afternoon. We now have no means of communicating with him so will only see him again once he arrives in Darwin.
Our current destination is a small bay on the west side of Cape Wessels, a projection of islands poking northwards from the west side of the Gulf. This will probably be one of only two stops we'll make along the route - the other being just before turning southwards to Darwin where we'll probably have to wait for time and tides to help us down. Taking heed of tides and currents are crucial here, as it would be impossible to sail against them when running in the wrong direction. If you get it right, it makes the trip a pleasure. Let's hope we do.
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| Running repairs |
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| Sunset at Cape Wessel |
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