The 7th cruise - Day 1. twighlight sail

The wet season was well and truly over by Sunday 3rd May, forecast was for 10-15 knot SSW offshore winds until mid afternoon then a gentle SE-E sea breeze. Plan was to sail solo, and pickup the family for a twilight sail and dinner.

Launched at 1 pm, a boating family at the ramp kindly held the "Teria" floating at the ramp for a few minutes while I parked the ute and trailer. Once away under power Teria was again in her element, trailer boats are bit like a seal or sealion, they are heavy and ungainly ashore or launching but move almost effortlessly once in the water.

At the rigging up anchorage the local pelicans and seagulls, and even a few fishermen ashore or in small runabouts looked  on at the strange sight of a yacht raising mast and bending on sails.

Wildlife at the rigging up anchorage

Teria sailed off the anchor propelled by a cool 10-15 knot Southerly wind, blowing offshore so the usually rough river entrance was like a millpond.

Gliding out of Ross River before a offshore Southerly wind.

Once outside the unusual wind allowed for a new course to the SE heading for the Cape Cleaveland area on the starboard tack. Rigged up a tiller control line, which allowed me to sit in a comfortable spot out of the sun, with the line cleated Teria self-steered close hauled for minutes at a time, adjustment was needed only when the wind strength changed. The southern shore of Cleveland Bay is a low lying area of tidal mangrove estuaries with little development. The only sign of industry is the Sun Metals Zinc smelter complex a few km inland (originally called Korea zinc).

At 3.30 pm the wind shift happened, first with some doldrum like zephyrs then the seabreeze filled in from the E - NE. This allowed a 4.5 knot  reach towards Townsvilles Strand beach. Then started gybing downwind towards the duckpond, a large yacht was rounding up under motor to leeward of Teria to drop sails for marina entry, so gybed Teria away to avoid them. There are rules like power gives way to sail, but also unofficial ones like the smaller more maneuverable boat gives way if the other boat is undergoing difficult maneuvers.

The Duckpond is a very calm place to free anchor off Townsville. Large break wall's shelter the place from nearly all directions except for Northerlies. It is shallow 2-6 m deep has a mud bottom. Dropped the anchor and sails then phoned to organize the time to meet my wife and daughter at the Ross creek pontoon for a twilight sail.

Motored around the breakwall and into Townsville port along the beaconed channel into Ross Creek. Pulled alongside the pontoon to pickup the family and headed out again for the evening sail back on the duckpond. It's the first time they experienced an amazing sunset at sea and we watched the night unfold. A cloudless sky gave a great view of the moon stars and city-port lights with colorful reflections on the calm waters of the bay. A nice place to enjoy dinner. The anchor light shone bright.

Kayak tows with little drag

Anchored in Townsville's "Duckpond" for the night.

Back at the pontoon the family got back on Tera firma again and headed home. I took Teria back over to the duckpond to anchor for the night. First dropped the pick near the eastern wall with a couple of 40 ft fishing boats with generators. The wind backed to southerly again about 10 pm so re-anchored on the other side near the Breakwater Casino, a quieter a more sheltered place to get a good rest.