June trip 2024, Day 1.

The weather forecast looked good so launched Teria on Sat 8th June, early afternoon at Ross River. 

Ramp B launching

Car-trailer park

Ross River motor out

Favorite tea towel - Also a cabin window curtain

Ramp B lee pontoon wasn't too busy, but being a weekend with lighter winds meant allot of power boats were already out although plenty of cars/ boat trailers were parked at the recreation boat park, it was still only about half full (Its a big facility, run by city council). ( Could have tried the coast guard boat ramps at Ross creek in town (Run by Port of Townsville), it's good but bet it would have been 110% full, with cars up on the grass nature strips)

At the mast raise spot, seaward of the port bridge, there were allot of boat wakes rocking Teria about. A shoulder injury had kept me landbound for ages but had finally healed enough, so was happy to be able to rig up between boat wakes, and held on when they rolled Teria around. Good weather weekends are not good times to go out, couldn't get away from the "hell swarmers" fast enough. It's a good motivation to launch/retrieve only on Monday to Fridays in future, if possible.

Rigging up spot - Ross River entrance

Motored out into a 10-15 knot eastery and unrolled the jib only, to motor-sail leisurly over to the Duckpond anchorage not far away.

Motor-sailing

Townsville port

Townsville port - Mt Stuart

This trip was a test run for 3 new things aboard. A tide watch, Trangia 25 cooker, and fully fledged ST1000 tiller-pilot with it's extended arm.

The combination of tide watch (and tables) and fishfinder was great for selecting the best anchoring position. Very little chance of "drying out" at low tide anymore.  Found a shallow spot inshore of the anchored fleet of crusing yachts, near a couple of cruising ecatamarans and a motor cruiser (the "2-foot draught club"). It was closer to the protective rock breakwall and further from any wave action. 

Tested the Trangia 25 stove in galley box in cockpit. Used the gas burner mode, which was very fast to boil water and re-heat pre-cooked food. The gas can be turned down and there was excellent flame/heat control from the gas valve. It was outside the cabin because didn't want to risk gas getting inside/staying in the bilges (explosion hazard)

Safe anchoring depth, fish under

Tide watch, Spring tide low but rising.

Crescent moon at sunset