Start Loc: Bowen Boat Harbour (20o 01.05'S, 148o 15.35'E)
Narrative: We spent the last 5 nights in Bowen as the winds picked up to a constant 25-30kts. We had fun in Bowen, but it was time to move on. The money we were paying to stay there was not worth the facilities we had (or rather, didn't have). The NQCYC were charging $57 per night, for which you could have the pleasure of walking 600m to the caravan park if you wanted to use a laundry. We ended up berthing at Bowen Marina for $50 per night, but had to provide our own toilet paper and the bathrooms were not cleaned while we were there. That said, we got all our washing and shopping done and spent a bit of time relaxing. Five nights was enough though, so despite the forecast of continuing SE winds at 25-30kts, we decided we would head out and continue moving in the right direction.
Before we left this morning we had to refuel. Yesterday I spoke to Arabon Seafoods (one of two seafood co-ops that have diesel for their trawler fleets that they also sell to the public) and arranged to get fuel this morning. We motored down there after casting off only to discover that all the trawlers were still in, so we couldn't get in. A quick phone call to them confirmed they would be of no help. We then rang the other fishing co-op and they directed us to a spot near there fuel. It turned out to be full of dinghys, but at least there was an empty berth we could use. I went to reverse in so the filler cap was near the jetty, but the wind ended up getting the bow and blowing us towards another boat. It was a fraction too late when I aborted and we were pushing off his dinghy (on davits), and ended up with two bent stanchions - something else to fix! We came around and ended up bow in, but had to raft up to another boat so the pump hose could reach.
Refuelled: 82.00L @ 149.89c/L = $122.90
Economy since 19 Sep: 82.00L for 50 hr 03 min = 1.64L/hr
Economy overall: 280.25L for 157 hr 44 min = 1.78L/hr
After the whole debacle, it was definitely time to move on. We motored out of the harbour at 10:58am and past Stone Island. With SE winds, we were on a broad reach as we sailed north to Cape Edgecumbe, with two reefs in the main and reduced head sail. Once we cleared North Rock, we changed to a NW course which had us running. The main robbed the head sail of wind, so we tried wing on wing but ended up with one reef in the main and no head sail, and stayed that way for the next 30nm or so, past the Abbot Point coal loading facility to Cape Upstart. As we sailed east across the top of Cape Upstart we were on almost a broad reach, so I let a little head sail out as well. We lowered sail as we came around the north west corner of the cape, motored into upstart bay at 5:15pm. It took a few goes to set the anchor, but we made sure it was set properly as the wind is still blowing at 25-30kts.
Throughout the trip, the winds were SE at between 20 and 30kts, and swell and seas were between 2.5 and 4.5m. We covered the 43nm in 6 1/4 hours, averaging 6.88kts over ground. The strongest wind gust I noticed was 37.2kts. We also set two new boat speed records; firstly 9.5kts and then 10.3kts through the water. I was again using the yacht as a 41ft surfboard when we reached these two speeds. I am tired from being on the helm all day in rough seas, but it was not a bad day.
End Loc: Upstart Bay (19o 43.68'S, 147o 45.37'E)
Distance run: 43nm (cumulative: 1252nm)
Engine hours: 2 hr, 13 min (cumulative: 159 hr 57 min)