Across the Gulf of Carpentaria

We had a lovely sail from Seisia, for the first couple of ours, then turning south into the gulf we were hard to windward with rain squalls up to 30 knots. It was rough! Even as we anchored at Cotterrel River it was still blowing 20 knots. Phew! I think we have earned a beer or two.

Duet and Nomad Davina

It was a very rock n roll anchorage with the weird tides in the gulf and little protection from the wind and swell so none of us had a good night’s sleep.

The 3 Crews

Mapoon offered a better anchorage and after waiting for low tide and checking for sea-going geckoes we all had a long walk on the beach, only a few buffalo prints and old scats on the sand, but plenty of rubbish.  It was good to stretch our legs because the next leg of the trip will be 48 – 56 hours across the Gulf of Carpentaria to Gove Harbour (Nhulunbuy).

A weather planning meeting with Duet (Nigel and Kerry) and Nomad Davina (David and Tina) was convened and we planned our start time with the morning high tide.  We hoped to average 6 – 7 knots which would get us there in daylight hours.  The IridiumGo allowed us to message each other, especially if we were out of AIS range.  ref: https://www.clientsat.com.au/heatwave/  shows our tracking.

We set off with double reefed main in light SE winds, sailed until 1500 then let out a reef and motor sailed as the wind had died.  Before dark we reefed again and kept around 6 knots for the night.  Half a moon and lots of stars gave us light until 0230, then it was pitch black.  The Southern Cross set to our south and the wind turned ESE increasing to 25 knots.  By then the seas were getting bigger and rougher and waves washing across our transom. 

Big Waves Astern

It began to get light at 0600and the wind eased again.  Day 2 and we had soon worn out the game of “I Spy”: something beginning with “W”.  Miles and miles of water and not much else, until Peter spotted 2 White-tailed Tropicbirds, a new species for us!  They circled the boat several times, calling their “kek-kek-kek” to our delight. No, didn't get photos :(

As we neared the NT border schools of flying fish zoomed past flying from wave to wave, some ending up on our trampolines.

The inevitable brown booby came over to check out a resting spot on our solar panels, then brought a few friends along.  Thankfully they didn’t hitch a ride this time (solar panels don’t like bird poo).

Brown Boobies circling

Our Gulf crossing stats:  Mapoon to Gove Harbour – 53 hours;  total motoring time – Port motor 2.1 h and Starbord motor 1.8 h; max speed 9.8 knots; average speed 6 knots.