|
DUST STORM NUMBER TWO...continued |
|
BACK to Masala Home Page |
|
BACK to Masala Cruise Log |
|
Once again we used the short southerly window of wind to move north, to Moon Point at the top end of the Sandy Straits, where they open out into Hervey Bay. We got caught by yet another wind shift to the NW. The anchorage became so rough that we had to vacate our cabin in the stern due to the wave-induced pitching. The motion in the centre of the boat is less than the ends, so Leanne slept on the settee in the saloon with the lee cloth up to hold her in, while I slept on the floor on the cockpit cushions. It worked well. |
|
When we awoke next morning we could barely breath the atmosphere, it was so thick with smoke. We climbed out into the cockpit to be greeted by a sunrise more typical of the planet Jupiter than our own Earth. |
|
Right: heavy smoke gives the sun a Jupiter-like appearance as it rises over Fraser Island and an anchored fishing boat. Seen from Moon Point. |
|
Later in the day the dust and smoke started to clear, and we had a great sail up Hervey Bay to Rooney Point at the north west tip of Fraser Island, dodging whales all the way. The three blissful days we spent at Rooney Point were well documented in the First Epistle.
|
|
ANOTHER LEANNE FISHY STORY |
|
Left: Leanne sailing Masala up Hervey Bay |
|
THURSDAY 1 OCTOBER, ROONEY POINT We hadn’t caught any fish since the Whiting at Inskip Point. We tried trolling with lures from the dinghy yesterday, but without success.
Luckily, a large school of Mackerel Scad has decided to reside in the shelter of Masala’s hull. This is too much for Leanne. Out comes the famous hand line with the usual tiny hook. On goes a Soldier Crab (poor little friendly chaps, they are). Into the water. Out shoots the pack of Mackerel Scad. One quick tug and bye bye crab, but no fish hooked. Repeat. Over and over. |