Day4. Friday 22/5/26
A dead calm persisted all morning, so remained anchored in the Duckpond and re-heated an dined on the last of the iceboxs' pre-cooked food.
A light seabreeze bagan at noon, so raised sail and ghosted away. Ran downwind along the Strand beach to the rockpool area at 3-4 knots, then gybed and set course for Picnic Bay. The tillerpilot steered in these easy conditions. The route was clear of the Islands ferry lanes for about 5 nm.
On the way over the wind freshened up to 10-15 knots SSE, so hand-steered. Sailed close to Hawkings point then altered course to cut across the ferry lanes (Nelly Bay port) on a fast reach. A Coast Guard securite message on the VHF came through, warning all ships to avoid an inbound bulk carrier in the Platypus channel. So kept clear while the ship, assisted by tug boats navigated through.
After it was safe, Teria kept close reaching into increasing winds (15-20kts) and seas of 1m. Teria is fairly heavy displacement for its size with all the crusiing kit and water bottle ballast in the keel as well. So she's fairly stiff under sail and just ploughs solidly through the waves at 5 knots, there was little spray over the bow, fairly dry at the helm.
Crossed the shipping channel and headed towards a 40ft yacht motoring into the wind with a partly-raised mainsail, (reducing sail/reefing?) but eventually they set sail for Horseshoe bay. Passed a couple of drifting/trolling fisho's as well.
The wind increased to over 25 knots further offshore. Which is about the absolute safe/comfortable limit for Teria with full sail up. So did a U-turn and raced back towards Picnic Bay. Re-crossed the ship channel, bore away to a breoad reach and quickly crossed the ferry lanes . (The 4 ferries were going gangbusters, busy times for them)
Picnic Bay was a total "Lee Shore" so kept going, then beat to windward on port tack towards the Strand. It was a brisk sail and the apparent wind over the bow seemed stronger than before. Was able to close with the duckpond on a single tack.
It's always 'fun' trying to slow down/control the boat when approaching anchored yachts in strong winds when solo. Furled the jib first up which slowed Teria to about 4 knots (no slot effect so about half-power). Once in the calmer lee of the breakwall and about 100m downwind of the anchored yachts Teria was "hove-to" and drifted sideways slowly (Helm impeder holds tiller over), so i could drop the mainsail and furl it tightly. Then it was easy to motor upwind, safely past the yachts and anchor.
Cooked up an omelete and fried meat roll with rice.
It was a Friday which is usually the busiest day of the week in Townsville. The traffic is twice as much as usual, its mayhem on the roads, everywhere is packed to the gunwales ashore. (A good reason the anchor out a night rather than haul out and drive home). The "Ardo" hotel had a big loud party on until late, but it was 500m downwind so ok.
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