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SHAW ISLAND...continued |
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The anchorage is one of the best in the area, which is just as well since some really foul weather was on the way. Consequently we remained glued by the anchor to Shaw Island for 10 days, with an aborted attempt at moving to Lindeman Island in the middle.
The sail from the Newry Islands to Shaw was an experience. We started off in the forecast light winds at about 8 a.m. Around 9 a.m. the Mackay branch of the Bureau of Meteorology issued an unscheduled update to the forecast, an extremely rare event (the next scheduled update would have been 3 p.m.). Of course, it was for stronger winds.
We had the full genoa up (headsail) and no mainsail, an easy way to sail. We were on a broad reach (wind aft of the beam), tootling along at about 5 knots. Over the next hour the sea and the wind built until we were rollicking along in rather boisterous conditions. Masala seemed to be enjoying it, so we just let her go – faster and faster.
The waves were roaring in from the side. Every now and then an extra large wave would hit the hull a resounding thump, bounce off up into the air (hooray for 14 tons of steel!) only to have the wind toss the water over the boat, sometimes right over the doghouse and solar panels. At one stage, for the first time ever, a wave came from nowhere and actually broke on the side deck. Although the autopilot was doing a brilliant job of steering the boat, it couldn’t see the waves coming and take evasive action, so I turned it off and had a ball on the helm, angling away just in time to take the bigger waves well aft, where they slipped harmlessly under the hull. |
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Left: proof of the pudding. Masala hit 10.2 knots on the rollicking sail from the Newry Islands to Shaw Island—a new record. |
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Without us really being aware of it, Masala set a new speed record on this sail – 10.2 knots on the surf. The first time we’ve hit double figures. There wouldn’t be too many steel cruising yachts around that could hit this speed, in comfort, and with only one sail up (mind you, it is a big sail, and eventually we had to furl some in). Graham Radford, you are a magician! |
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Still, it was a relief to finally round Burning Point and slip into the lee of magnificent Shaw Island. Later we checked the nearby Hamilton Island weather observations on the Internet, to find that the wind was 23 knots gusting 29. |
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LINDEMAN ISLAND – TEMPORARILY |
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13 JULY. Seemed like there was a break in the weather, and we were dead keen to walk to the summit of nearby Lindeman Island, so we sailed early towards Boat Port, an anchorage on the north-west side of the island and a good place to start the walk.
After the highlight of a new speed record just the other day, we weren’t expecting another highlight so soon. A Fountaine Pajot Lavezzi 40-foot catamaran had left the anchorage some time ago, going in the same direction. Both it and ourselves only had headsails up. Some time later we were astounded to realise that Masala was bearing down on the catamaran as if it was standing still. Within a few miles we overtook the catamaran, and this in light winds with us weighing 14 tons in cruising mode. Go Masala!! So what was the highlight? First time we’ve ever passed a catamaran!! |