Sailing around Australia; Whether it's the weather

21/2/2015  Whether it’s the Weather

After spending a week at American River on Kangaroo Island it was time to start thinking about the next leg of our sailing adventures aboard Easy Tiger. Deciding whether it was the right weather to go was a critical decision.

Picking the right weather for each stage has been the most important part of our sailing around Australia adventure. Mostly we get it right which means that conditions are in our favour and we have a comfortable, safe ride. But, sometimes we get it wrong and that spoils everyone’s day.

To find the weather forecast that is the most accurate and localized for the area we want to sail in can be overwhelming. There are dozens of weather forecasting web sites including Willy weather, Seabreeze, Bouy weather,  Accuweather and even one called "Skippysky", to name a few.

To be better at picking the weather we have made a list of the forecast conditions that we are prepared set sail in.

First on the list is that the forecast predicts no more than 20 knots of wind.  As it says on the weather bureau's (BOM) site, wind can be up to 40 percent stronger than the average forecast. That means that 20 knots could easily be gusts of 28knots or more. Winds that strong could make it a wild ride.

The next piece of our criteria is that we want no wind in the direction we are headed. So if we want to go southeast and the forecast mentions winds from the south east, we stay put.

Seas and swell are the next parameter. 3 metres is enough to cope with. Again, the BOM site says that as their forecast is an average, actual swell heights could also be 40% higher than forecast. That means a 3metre forecast could easily be 5 metre seas.  That would raise the heart rate!

Our study of the weather  starts with a quick look at the coastal waters forecast  for both our departure point and our destination. We find this by logging on the Bureau of Meteorology’s home page and using the  clickable map. This gives a basic weather forecast for a reasonably local area. The basic forecast will give wind, seas and swell conditions forecast for the next three days.  It’s quick and easy to use.  It is updated twice daily. We simply compare it with our checklist, if our conditions aren’t met we have another day to do other things.

If the local coastal waters forecast seem to meet our criteria for both our departure point and our destination we will then “dig a bit further” by scrolling down on the BOM site to “Meteye”.

Meteye gives both wind and swell / seas forecast for the local areas via another "click on" map. This can be time forwarded in three hourly increments to give weather forecasts up to seven days ahead for the nearest weather station to the planned route. If Meteye shows favourable conditions as well, we then log on to “Bouy Weather”.

The Bouy Weather website premium subscriber's version offers a seven day basic forecast from the closest weather station to the point you click on. Unfortunately Bouy weather only reports for the morning and afternoon for each day. What you will see is a green flag for ideal conditions, yellow flag for not such ideal conditions or red flags for dangerous conditions. Each flag is accompanied by a short forecast giving wind direction and speed. 

For a more detailed cross reference or double check, we will also log on to the Predict Wind site. We started out subscribing to Predict Wind as they have a nifty satellite communicator that allows us to get their weather forecasts anywhere any time. Plus, their satellite communicator allows us to send basic emails anywhere anytime.

The Predict Wind premium service  has a weather router tool included, which allows one to type in parameters such as boat performance in certain wind types (boat polar), the destination and the preferred date and time of departure.  The Predict Wind weather router will then display a plotted course with three other alternative departure times and the various courses for you to choose from. By clicking on any part of the plotted course on display, you can see what the wind conditions are forecast to be at any point of that route, along with the swell and your predicted boat speed at that time.

For inexperienced sailors like myself, becoming a student of the weather has been a real learning curve.  Whether it is the right weather to be leaving safe haven and tackling the next leg of our sailing adventure is without doubt the most important decision we make on Easy Tiger.

At American River wiring for a lull in the south easterlies, so that we could go south east to Robe.

Sailed past the Penneshaw hotel where we had a nice lunch a few days before

Total glass out. Even the birds enjoyed the calm conditions, and the offcuts of tuna we fed them.

Sailing Around Australia; Hopping to Kangaroo Island

American River, Kangaroo Island, South Australia

16/02/2015 – Hopping to Kangaroo Island

Our arrival back on board Easy Tiger after six months of working, holidaying and visiting family was exhilarating, exciting and frightening all in one.

We were exhilarated to be back after a series of delays, including Leanne fighting off Dengue fever and an airplane with a broken door.

While we were away our friends and prospective catamaran owners Ian and Susan had been keeping an eye on Easy Tiger for us. They had found the art of sundowners (drinks on board at sundown) to be quite to their liking and had come to chat with many other boaties in the marina. We offered and they accepted to come with us on the hop to Kangaroo Island.

It was so exciting to be now back into our sailing adventure. We had to immediately get back into the routine of being in “sailing” mode. Twice daily we check the weather, looking for winds to be mostly behind us and between 10 and 20 knots.

The weather gods smiled on us, presenting favourable conditions for a couple of days, at the end of the first week we were back, which would suit our hop.

Now the fright stepped in. As we hadn’t done any sailing for the past twelve months we were not quite sure of how we would fare. We used to have a good system between each other, but after so long everything including teamwork gets rusty.

Our nervous excitement energy was put to good use we planning our hop. It is a touch over 70nautical miles from North Haven Marina to American river. We normally allow a cruising speed minimum of 5 knots. That is by the time we allow for no wind, against some current one of our Yanmar engines at ¾ throttle will push us along at 5 knots. This meant that the hop to Kangaroo Island would take us around 14hours or so.

The next step we try to take is to plan to arrive in daylight and on a high tide. With these factors taken into account we planned to “throw the ropes” and depart at 3.00am.

Then it is off to the shops for provisioning. As we don’t know how long we are going to be in a given place, we normally provision for three or four weeks at a time.

Also, we prefer to stay in the best protected anchorages. This does not usually equate to having services or stores easily accessible. Plus we have no idea as to when the weather will be right to move on.

Our departure day came in a blur. As planned we did cast off at 3.00am and slipped quietly out of the marina.  Past the rock walls and out into a glassy ocean we motored.

I sat looked at the lights of Adelaide sliding by for the next few hours. Planes appeared, first as stars, then bright flashing lights until they landed and melded into the myriad of twinkling colours.

There was only the deep throbbing of the port motor, punctuated by the odd dolphin puffing as they broke the surface nearby. The serenity is what I will always remember of our cruising sailing adventures.

Dawn brought with it the predicted wind. We deployed the main sail and the multi purpose sail made for these light conditions.We  were able to kill the engine, making our planned speed easily under sail. Well, for 2 hours anyway.

Southwest rain squalls that were not predicted set in.  A quick sail change from the multi purpose to headsail was done albeit by a rusty and novice like skipper.

As we crossed Investigator Strait, the wind came up to 25knots from the south west, but Easy Tiger galloped along at 7 knots with just her head sail in use. We had one motor going just to help against sideways drift.

Once we were inside the Eastern Cove at Kangaroo Island, Ian produced a Blue vein trolling line. He had 2 fair sized Snook on board in quick succession. Great for us, not so good for him as he is allergic to seafood!

Arriving in American River at Kangaroo Island right on our planned ETA also reminded us of why even cruising sailing is an adventure. Winds and conditions were certainly different to the forecast of all three services we use. We also reminded ourselves that having a routine is so important as are checklists to ensure each eventuality is at least considered.

Very quickly after our arrival and attachment to a swing mooring, we had the crab pots in the water and caught some good sized sand crabs for dinner.

We found that the inhabitants of Kangaroo Island must be from a long line of sheep farmers, because  we were “fleeced” the next day by the car hire place. $154 per day for a hire car! Plus they only give you 100klms. Any more than that and it’s 28 cents a kilometer if you don’t mind. That might seem alright until you work out that it is 50klms just to get back to the boat. We are used to hiring bubble cars for about $30 a day unlimited k's.

We ended up doing 240klms. We went to the honey farm, the Eucalyptus farm had coffee and a look another anchorage in Kingscote, then lunch in Penneshaw and out for a look at Antechamber bay.

Ian and Susie caught the ferry back to the mainland and reality the next morning.

Leanne and I are now sitting on the boat smiling at each other. Yes this is why we bought the boat. This is why we worked hard and went without a lot of “stuff”.

We are back! Let the adventures begin.

Spot the 2 male penguins!

2 bees and one not 2 bee.

Leanne and future catamaran owners Ian and Sue

Sailing Around Australia; Fever

American River, Kangaroo Island,

South Australia

15/2/2014 FEVER

Members of our sailing family, Eva and Brian on Zofia rang us today to say that it was exactly a year since we had completed our crossing of the Great Australian Bight. While we were surprised that a year had slipped by, we were astounded to think that would mean it had been ten months since we had filled Easy Tiger’s sails and headed out over the horizon.

It wasn’t that we planned a year away from our sailing adventure, it just sort of happened, which I suppose is what adventures are all about.

The first adjournment happened when we got to Port Lincoln. Leanne’s sister Sue was turning fifty and it was decided that her family would travel to Europe to celebrate. One month away from Easy Tiger wouldn’t be too bad and being a winter month of May we wouldn’t miss too much sailing.

No sooner had we arrived back in Port Lincoln, we unpacked, readied and got under way, arriving in Adelaide on the 7^th of July. As soon as we arrived in Adelaide our daughter and our son announced that they would both be in Cairns at the same time. That never happens, so hastily planned trip to Cairns for three weeks was organized and our sailing adventure and Easy Tiger were packed into care and maintenance again.

Three weeks in Cairns with our family all together turned into three months.  Our budget suffered a serious deficit, so I rejoined the workforce in Cairns, which allowed us to stay longer and spend precious family time.

Following Cairns we had five days aboard Easy Tiger, then off to work at Arno Bay. While working in Arno Bay, we got a call from our great friends Stacey and Ian who had booked two weeks in Bali and insisted on us coming with them.

It was a difficult decision to delay our sailing adventure for a further three weeks (after Bali we would go and visit family in Perth and Bunbury). The chance to spend time with our friends did win over and Easy Tiger and our sailing adventure was put on the back burner again.

After work finished in Arno bay we had three weeks on Easy Tiger, then off to Bali.

One of the amazing things about our trip to Bali was that our son Luke joined us. It was so nice to spend time with a wonderful young man and I am so proud to think he is my son. However, I am not sure where he got some of his genes. While we went through a list of activities we could go and do together, such as surfing, go karting, golf etc..etc… he let it slip that he would like to go …shopping!

Worse than that, he would like to go…clothes shopping! As I love spending time or as they say “hanging out” with Luke, I agreed to go shopping with him. Such is his generosity I ended up with 2 new shirts.

That first week in Bali was lovely. Plenty of shopping, a fun night with other friends April, Wayne and their family, followed an action day on Quad bikes for the fellas.

During the second week my thoughts started turning for “home” aboard Easy Tiger. Leanne and I both discussed how nervous we would be about getting under way again, particularly as we would be without the company of Zofia and Urchin from now on.

Then, our Bali villa turned into a sick ward. First Ian had a couple of days of being unwell, then Leanne had a day or so as well. Next it was Stacey’s turn. With 5 days of our holiday left, Stacey was virtually bed ridden.

Not even the promise of the amazing dessert at our favorite restaurant could cheer her up.

Then on the last night half way through the night I woke with an attack of gastro. We were really looking forward to seeing family and then getting home and finally the day had come. We had to be on the plane the next morning at 6.30am, which meant up at 5.00am for the taxi to the airport. Unfortunately I couldn’t make it outside a range of 5 metres of the toilet, so had no idea how I was going to make it to the taxi, let alone the airport or a three hour flight.

Leanne called a doctor who gave me an injection and a hand full of tablets to take at various times. It helped immensely. I was quite concerned about carrying a plastic bag full of pills given to me by a Balinese doctor through the airport. Being as sick as I felt and I must have looked pale, weak and nervous to any of the customs officials. I was so grateful to make our flight on time, as I was on a mission to get back to Adelaide and get sailing.

Sadly, my first few days in Perth were spent in bed at my mum’s recovering from the gastro. While this was going on we heard that Stacey was still very unwell. Just before we left she had broken out in a severe rash, was running a fever and spent the first night back in Australia, in hospital.

As I got better, Leanne started to falter. A trip to Bunbury for business turned into a bit of a nightmare on the return. Leanne started suffering back pain, restlessness and feeling dizzy, which we put down to being sick of the car or even a bit motion sick.

The next day, she had a fever and worsening aches and pains. The next day she had a rash break out and worsening fever plus headaches to accompany the already worsening pain. We were due to fly to Adelaide and be back on board Easy Tiger in 2 days.

Most people will tell you that when they feel sick, their favorite place to be is with their mum. So we drove back down to Bunbury to stay with Leanne’s mum and dad. By this time Leanne had a serious fever, blinding headache and severe pain up and down her spine.

Early the next morning I took her to the emergency department at Bunbury hospital where they put her on a drip and took blood tests.

After phoning Ian and Stacey, I found out the Stacey was in fact no better either.

I went back to Leanne’s folk’s place and reluctantly delayed our flights and therefore our sailing adventures. We had no idea how long this was going to last or what it was. Our sailing adventure was starting to become a fading memory.

After a few days, with Leanne no better, the emergency department called her to say that they had a diagnosis. Dengue fever.

Dengue fever is carried by a type of mosquito and mainly found in tropical areas, such as Bali. There are several strains of Dengue fever that can attack your organs or thin your blood.  At least we knew now what it was.

Unfortunately, there is no cure. The fever would have to run it’s course, which is very hard to tell someone who has a rash all over their body like a bad sunburn, who is agitated and depressed as a result of this fever.

With Leanne and Stacey no better, five days after the diagnosis, I rang and delayed our flights, and our sailing adventure further.

Bloody fever! I looked at my poor sick wife, my life partner and crew mate. I rang and delayed the flight for another four days.

As our latest booking to fly back to Easy Tiger loomed, Leanne rallied. Her fever seemed to break and she almost resembled her normal self. She said that she thought she would be all right to fly so we confirmed the booking.

My Mum drove to Bunbury and picked us up. I was very excited and eagerly looking forward to getting on that plane. Adelaide, Easy Tiger, sailing adventures here we come.

Emotional goodbyes were had at Bunbury with Leanne’s mum and dad and my mum at Perth Airport. For once we were nearly two and a half hours early for our flight. Leanne’s health seemed OK, but she was very weak. She was obviously pushing through the barrier so that we could get back to our own “home”.

At long last we were on board. Row 1 for us. Unfortunately, because we were so close to the crew that we could here them explaining, first to the pilot, then to the engineers that there was a problem with the aircraft door, that would have to be fixed before we took off. Then the announcement, “ladies and gentlemen, you will have to disembark”.

An hour after getting back off the plane, the flight was cancelled. We would have to re-book. Another delay in getting back to our sailing adventures! It was as if the universe was working against us getting back to Easy Tiger.

Bemused, we rang my Mum who cheerfully came and picked us up. Again. Unfortunately I couldn’t say that I was that cheerful. It is lovely to spend a bit of extra time with my mum, but Leanne and I really yearned for our own space, time and things around us.

Imagine our relief when the next day our plane took off at the scheduled time. Imagine how happy we were to at have our friend Susan pick us up from the airport and our gratitude when she offered us her car for the next two days! Well all that paled into insignificance when, at 10.30pm, ten days after we should have arrived back, we stepped on board Easy Tiger.

Family time in Cairns

Work time at Arno Bay

Holiday time with fiends and son in Bali