Benoa Outbound Day 6

Hi everyone,
We are currently motoring at 5 knots towards Dampier at position 19 52.8S 116 46.4E. There is a very light northerly as we motor south.

A small thunderstorm we managed to miss

Last night we encountered a large thunderstorm which produced 25-30 knot winds for half an hour and gave the boat a very, very good wash. Previously it had been covered in salt but is now very fresh! A couple of other thunderstorms passed us by, and apparently there was a lot of rain in Dampier itself (still 100nm away at that time).

This morning we managed to sail for a few more hours until the wind went back around to the north and lightened off. We've been motoring all day and this afternoon we stowed the main entirely to avoid furhter working the joint which is coming apart on the boom. This afternoon we motored past a moored drilling ship and then a gas platform. I believe they feed into the North Rankin A rig which I visited several simes during its construction in the 80s. North Rankin A is further to the west - pity we didn't see it. Mid afternoon we returned "into soundings" - reading the water depth for the first time since last Thursday.

This evening we're continuing to motor south. We appear to be bringing better weather with us since the sky is gradually clearing and the stars are appearing after a day of overcast mid-level cloud. Customs is waiting for us and we have a "date" at 0800 tomorrow morning. Hopefully we won't be late!

Benoa Outbound Day 5

Hi everyone,
It's been a fairly quiet day today with mostly light winds. We are currently at 17 46.2S 116 55.4E, about 170nm north of Dampier. The wind is northerly at 8-10 knots so we're having to zig-zag downwind towards Dampier. Boat speed is between 4 and 5 knots.

Sunset Day 5

Last night winds were quite light during the evening and then died almost completely after midnight. We motor-sailed from 0200 until 0700 when a sailing wind returned. It was good to motor for a while since it recharged the batteries and chilled the fridge. There was an amazing thunderstorm well west of us for much of the night. Lightning was striking horizontally across a large cloud mass many miles wide. Dawn was spectacular this morning, shining on the underside of the clouds left behiind.

Today has been very hot and we've been staying below for much of the time. The wind change from easterly to northerly means our progress has been slowed too. A little frustrating but we expected less favourable winds during the last days of hte passage.

We found another rig issue this afternoon. This time the bolts holding the boom to its forward bracket were coming loose, and one is gone altogether. Happily they don't appear to have stripped out. I've retightened the three remaining bolts and added two lashings to help keep the two items in place together. Very frustrating that the rig refurbishment has caused more problems than it solved.

We're gradually eating up our remaining fruit and veg, which we'll have to surrender to AQIS otherwise. The clearing in process will be expensive, but hopefully it'll be carried out efficiently.

Benoa Outbound Day 4

Hi everyone,
We are having a very nice sail this evening under full main and No 2. Current position is 16 08.7S 116 22.2E. Wind is 8-10 knots from the ENE.

Last night started with quite light winds and with a big flying fish in the cockpit. Iridescent blue and a get me outa here attitude. Eventually we figured out we needed to cover him to calm him down which we did with a towel and could then drop him back over the side alive and well. As the evening wore on the wind strengthened until we had a reef and the staysail up and doing 7 knots.

Today the wind moderated gradually and we only took the reef out at 1800 this evening. At 1430 we were overflown by an Australian Maritime Surveillance aircraft, callsign "cCstoms 55". He passed by only a little higher than masthead height and a few boatlengths off to one side. Twould be nice to be able to buy the photos they take! A few minutes later he called us on VHF and asked the usual questions and cautioned us regarding our arrival responsibilities when we reach Dampier.

First Reef

Heading South

Tonight the sky is almost completely clear of cloud and there's a Spielberg moon (one of those you could sit on and fish from). We can see the "big dipper", Orion, Scorpio and of course the Southern Cross constellations. We can't smell Australia yet but as I said to Customs 55, after they've found us we know it's not too far away!

We have 270nm to run to Dampier.

Trust all's well where you are.