Re-launching and shakedown (trip #15)

The 3 day shakedown cruise went well.

Launched at Barnicle st ramp, Railway Estate into Ross River. It was late afternoon and some strong wind was blowing onto ramp and the tide was ebbing out,

Old Barnicle st ramp

The boat still needed a bit of a mechanical nudge to get rolling off. Its done by driving up a few meters rolling back and slamming the brakes on. Once moving "Teria" slid in quickly.

It took awhile to learn the new motors starting and handling, got away into the river and drifted to set up the motor tilt angle.  The rudder/tiller was shipped and full boat handling control was happening.

(Thoughts: Next solo launch in similar weather, it would be worth trying the other ramps with center-line floating docks and steeper gradients. This might make the launch easier with no chance of being grounded, the rudder could be fitted and engine started while docked)

Did some test runs up and down Ross River. The GPS speed read 5.7 to 5.3 knots, about hull speed (with tide current factor) and it only needed around 1/3 throttle to get there. The Tohatsu Sailpro was very quiet, (when its idling in neutral and on the fore-deck, i cant hear it at all). The sailboat propeller really gripped the water, almost no slippage and minimal revs needed for a noticeable maneuvering effect.

Motoring at hull speed - 5.3 knots

Went out solo for the trip, and anchored overnight opposite the Recreational boat park. Shoal draft allowed going inside all the big moored cruisers, nearer to the mangroves (where all the old pile moorings used to be, the are now all removed by the port authority) Allot of fruit bats were chattering in their mangrove roost, before flying off for the night in search of food ashore. Not as many as before i remember, thousands were killed by heatstroke during an unprecedented heatwave last summer which was hotter and lasted far more days than ever before.

Next morning after breakfast, motored to past the low level bridge, anchored at the entrance sandbar and rigged up, raising the mast and sails.

Rigged and ready

A 20 knot Easterly seabreeze sprung up. Motored out on the outgoing tide. The tide against sea situation resulted in short sharp waves that stood right up. So reduced speed to about 3 knots boat-speed to make it comfortable and stop the spray flying too much. Had only the reefed mainsail up, set it and pointed up to keep the boats heel angle minimal for the 4-strokes oil pickup to work. The Tohatsu putted along quietly at about 1/4 throttle but steadily pushed "Teria" upwind into the quite gnarly sea conditions where the river met the sea. The Ultra long shaft placed the propeller way below sea level aft, so even strong hull pitching had no effect on it (ie Cavitation is a common problem for bracket mounted outboards)

A nasty rocky shore of the ports break-wall lay threateningly downwind to the port side, but kept going until it became safer once hundreds of meters sea room opened up before cutting the motor and unfurling the jib and sailing off  on a close reach away from the danger. Its nice knowing a trailer-sailers keel and centerboard slow the side drift rate down considerably. Safer than a powerboat drifting without a motor.

The miles ticked off as Teria heeled over in the increasingly strong wind the further offshore we got. Lashed the tiller so self-steered under sail and could catch a breath in the dry cabin.  Magnetic Island was well down to leeward and we were on course for NE point on Magnetic (route to Horseshoe Bay)

Townsville astern

Magnetic Island to leeward

Castle Hill and Cape Palleranda to leeward

The wind and sea increased whitecaps were everywhere (later saw 27 knots on weather app) and had too much sail up. But solo, with no harness it was too dangerous to change down the jib size, this involved hanging onto the foredeck, removing #1 jib and hanking on #2 jib, raising it and sailing again. It seemed a bit too risky, so decided to turn around and run for it. The jib was furled, then bore away downwind with only the reduced mainsail up. Running before it reduces the wind pressure on the rig, the boat stays upright and big waves are easier to handle. It was still pushing it though, had to watch out for broaching or crash-gybing.

The course took Teria towards Picnic Bay. Had to do a couple of gybes but in strong wind conditions its safer to do this by rounding up and put the bow through the eye of the wind (wind direction), instead of a normal gybe which turns the stern through the eye of the wind.

It soon became apparent that even Picnic Bay was no haven, the wind blew straight down to the wharf creating a dangerous lee shore. No vessels were anchored there as usual either. So gave that up, motored out upwind and hove-to outside, it was a bit less rough here than further offshore. Changed the jib from #1 to the smaller #2.

Finally had the right sail area set for a spirited reach across the wind towards Townsville!.

Quite a relief to make it back to "The Duck-pond".  It's Townsville's best open anchorage for yachts. Its close to "The Ville" casino (formerly Jupiter's)  and the "Breakwater Marina" which offers very secure berthing at a price.

"Duck pond" anchorage - Castle hill, Townsville.

Anchored upwind of the the other 30 or so deep keeled yachts in the shallow part of the Duck pond not far from the breakwater wall. Had a huge area to myself, another advantage of shallow draft. This Harbor is good for yachts to anchor off Townsville, the ports breakwall's protect it from most prevailing winds (only a strong northerly would get bumpy). Most go ashore inside the Breakwater marina.

Once recuperated from the rough adventure outside, it was nice to hear the howling wind tucked safely in the flat waters near civilization again. Put the pop-top up and used the bimini as a spray dodger/windbreak. Dinner always tastes good and the city shore lights were a great backdrop. The winds kept going longer than usual even at 9pm it was whistling through. Had one annoying rope tap, took a long time to find it, a loose end from the kayaks lifting handles. No mosquitos or sand-flies out here either.

Lights of Townsville

Awoke next morning to a relative calm, just a light offshore land breeze. So made the most of it and motored out early. Passed a T Colvin (American) designed steel hulled Junk rig schooner, a classic hybrid of east/west tradition and steel. A crusty solid blue water voyaging yacht, the junk rig would be easier to handle/ reef down by a small crew from the center cockpit too. They have long shoal draft keels.  In 1987 i was live-aboard cruising an Endeavour 24 and got to know the owner of a Colvin 47 junk schooner in Sydney. Larry had built her himself on NSW's North Coast, the yacht/ship had the old world charm and practicality of Slocum's spray, easily handled rig and plenty of cabin room for living aboard.

Thomas Colvin designed steel junk rigged schooner. 

The breeze was about 10 knots on the nose, while outside going back past the port. Altered course to let a few fast ferries go by, watched a ship being turned around by tugs and a bulk carrier being loaded with lead-zinc concentrates from Mount Isa mine.

Townsville Port

The Tohatsu made easy work of it, gaining the valuable upwind ground while conditions were still mild. Ross River entrance was also good and safe this early. Once inside, anchored at the sand bar, had breakfast about 8am and de-rigged the mast. The seabreeze started picking up from about 8 am.

The tide was about 2 hours on the rise, so beached Teria (for the first time ever) at the steeply sloped sandbank, so could climb straight over the bow to get ashore. The sand bank although windswept was a haven to many sea and shore birds. While the tide was still low, flocks of hundreds of small shore birds were feeding on the exposed sand-flats, not sure what the prey was but did see armies of small crabs scurrying about for their feed time too. Other birds included a lone pelican, lone egret, some seagulls and terns? The mangroves formed a large forest to the south and protect Ross River and South Townsville from the elements (even in cyclones), they are also huge nurseries for fish, prawns and other marine life as well as haven for fish, large mud crabs and the top predator - salt water crocodiles. So being wary of these, stayed on the high ground of the sand bar and away from their muddy habitat. There was some mangrove die back to seaward of the sand bar but also a little regrowth landwards of the sand bar, nature is dynamic, the whole system would move a bit year to year, maybe the unprecedented February flooding this year cause a bit of damage. (it certainly created a few new sand banks within the river estuary.)

Beached at sandbank, across from Ross haven Marine facility. 

Ross Haven harbor is relatively new being opened a few years ago about the same time as the port bridge was built across the River. The trawler fleet now resides in the new harbor, Ross Haven has a big travel-lift that can haul out large vessels like trawlers or cruising yachts, and has a hardstand there. The new harbor can also berth small ships.

The Port Bridge - 6 m clearance

Ross River - A handful of motor cruisers, Only sub-6m height, monohull vessels can get in here now.

Motored back under the bridge, past the Recreation boat Park and moored motor cruisers and docked allot easier than the first day, bit of practice makes a big difference.

Barnicle st ramp pontoon

The haul out went ok, except it wasn't fun getting the wire hooked on in the cross tide. (another case for the center-line dock ramps)

The tow-handling going home was great. The shakedown went fairly well, no calamities and brushed up on some techniques. The New Tohatsu outboard passed with flying colors and only used a couple of liters fuel. Got a better idea on how much/many provisions, water, fuel and what gear to bring too.