Trip 22, day 2. A short day sail from Townsville

 Thurs 23rd April,

A cool gentle SSE land breeze made for calm idyllic conditions as Sunrise broke through rain clouds on the horizon. 

Sun breaking through - Port of Townsville

Sunbeams

Sunrise clouds at Duckpond

Magnetic Island Car ferry enters port

Setup the 40W solar panel down aft to trickle a few amps back into the 12v system.

Around 8.30am, called Coast Guard on VHF radio to start a trip-log. Then set course North Eastwards, close reaching at 5 knots under reduced sail (#2 jib and a reef in main) as the wind increased to a strong 20-25knot SE'er. There was a huge very dark rain squall ahead, (which can have winds 40% stronger than forecast) so decided to turn back about 2 nautical miles out and get back to port.

leaving Townsville

Tillerpilot steering

Castle Hill astern

The squall began to overtake Teria. now on another more spirited close reach with spray flying off the bow and over the decks and cabin top. The wind got stronger, so hove-to (with jib backed to windward, tiller lashed to leeward) dropped and furled the mainsail. Set off again under the #2 jib alone, still doing 4-5 knots but in a much more manageable, safer and sedate manner.

Motored the final upwind approach into the Duckpond, past moored and anchored vessells and  anchored in the shallow area.   The wind was still howling through the rigging but it was safe flat waters again. Dried out sailing gear and logged off with CG via VHF around 10am. 

Had a lunch of pre-made bread rolls while charging devices up, as 1 amp of solar power trickled in through the grey cloud cover. 

The wind abated but it was a "squally day". Two more rain squalls passed through, one at 2pm and another at 3.50pm. Battened hatches down each time mostly to keep rain out in the 25 knot plus squalls which lasted only 10-15 minutes each. 

A large warship entered port, tug boats turned her around and put her into a snug berth. It was HMAS "Choules" a logistics/supply ship. 

Thought about hauling out and driving home for awhile, but spent another night anchored instead. Learnt a bit more about weather. The BOM "rain" radar on my mobile phone app showed the squalls coming through. On land they are referred to as "occasional showers" by BOM and don't raise an eyebrow, but at sea they are rain squalls with strong winds that could knock a small boat over if not handled well.