| Round the sharp bit - Cape York |
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| Made our exit from the Escape River, bashing into 25 knots on the nose, and less than a metre under the keel. Held our breath and braced ourselves as Destiny rode the 2 metre swells, and waves crashed over the bow. Were very relieved to turn left and head for the Albany Passage, a narrow tidal channel between the mainland and a sizeable island just before Cape York. We were travelling alone, Fontana was a couple of days ahead, we left Diva, Wraith and Odyssey in Flinders, and Shine, Anda and Patti at Morris, though we joined the chatnet on HF 8125 at 7pm to compare notes. We're amazed how much confidence people place in other people's waypoints!! The Albany Passage turned out to be very interesting, with ruined settlements and a pearl farm. It all passed too fast to take in, we were doing 8 knots over the ground with just a poled out headsail! When we popped out the other side we got our first glimpse of Cape York - THIS IS WHAT WE SAW |
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| We rounded the island off the tip of mainland Australia at 1.00pm on 28th May 2001. Weren't game to go between the island and the Cape, you can see the gap left, there are two submerged rocks and a helluva rip!! After nearly running aground, we anchored right off the end in a deep hole with strong tidal currents surging and rushing around us. Getting in and out of the dinghy was a challenge which stretched my arms 2 inches! |
| Pulled Mallard up on the beach keeping a wary lookout for "snappy handbags" [crocs] and climbed the little mound at the end which is covered with cairns built up by visitors over the years. Some rocks in the piles carry messages and poems, needless to say, we added a couple. Duck was set on trying to hit a golf ball across the gap, and only got halfway. Jude duffed hers, it hit a rock and came back to hit her on the shoulder. Must be a moral there?? Second go was more successful! There's an aboriginal run Wilderness Lodge we visited for a cold beer, but they'd run out of rum! The locals delighted in telling us tales about the antics of Gary the resident croc, which had us scurrying back to the dinghy when we realised the tide was rapidly advancing. That night the Cape was lit by a near full moon, the Milky Way was out in force, and we felt good to be alive, and another milestone achieved. Yes, Cape York is a very special place. Up-anchored next morning at high tide as we didn't want another encounter with the sandbank, and made the short trip to Thursday Island in 25 knots, with headsail only in just under 5 hours. Anchored on the opposite side of the channel to TI in a sheltered anchorage in the lee of Horn Island alongside Fontana, Sarenity and Narena, a lone german in a Bavaria 46 Bigge, and a pale blue spanish 3 master Pegasus. Duck decided we'd take Mallard across the highly tidal, often rough, shark and crocodile infested mile wide channel instead of taking the civilised ferry! We made it, but got soaked on the way back. Good one Duck! The trip was worth it as we loved TI. Great atmosphere, happy go lucky place, with at least one taxi per person! Had a teriffic counter lunch at the Torres Hotel, the northern most pub in Australia while, Duck copied the chart on the wall onto a paper napkin, which inspired me with confidence!! Had Ray and Eve, and Vicky and Trevor from Sarenity on board for sundowners, and were entertained by two huge mackerel in training for the fish olympics,, leaping 8ft straight up in the air and belly-flopping back into the water : 10 : 10 from the Australian judge! |