Sailing Around Australia; Australia Day

Location; Anchored off Nares Island, Duke of Orleans Bay, Western Australia

As we departed Esperance on our Sailing Around Australia Adventures this morning, with the usual anxiety and apprehension that comes with the start of each leg, I was reflecting on how fortunate we are to live in Australia.

Leaving Esperance at sunrise

We threw the ropes at 0500hrs and sailed into the Recherche Archipelago. The sky was bright orange in the glow of the rising sun, that gave the many Island's a dark silhouette.

With only 6 knots of wind, we decided to motor for a while as this would give "the fisher" a good opportunity to trawl. Not long after Leanne put her line in we put the new fishing rod to the test. Three Southern Bluefin Tuna were hauled aboard in fairly quick succession. The only thing missing today was the victory dance, but of course, Leanne was straight on the phone to her Dad and sister to report the catch. No photo's either, as our fishing guide book says that Tuna must be bled and gutted immediately after capture.

During this gutting and filleting process, dark coloured sea birds started gathering behind our boat. How good they must be at spotting an easy feed. They showed us all manner of ticks, no doubt hoping for a reward to be thrown their way.

Walking on water; neat trick but you don't want to get your wings wet!

Stare into the camera... watch the birdy.

ERR... Foxtrot November you seem to have a problem with your landing gear!

Surprise!

I do like to snorkel, I do NOT like getting my wings wet.

We noticed that these birds were very good at snorkelling. Every so often while floating on the surface they would just dip their heads into the ocean, no doubt looking for a feed. Just their heads and just for a few seconds.

As Leanne was filleting the fish and I was watching the bird show, Zofia snuck passed us with sails up.

The usual saying when this happens is... smile n wave boys, smile n wave.

It was such a nice morning out on the water, we had forgotten about the sailing side of things for a few minutes. So after Zofia glided by, we put up our Multi Purpose sail and turned off our engine for what we thought would be the rest of the day. How peaceful it was to be nudged along by the wind.

Until we rounded the next headland, to be greeted by a threatening rain squall. It was immediately all hands on deck. Furl up the giant multi purpose sail, reef in the head sail and get the motor on. Just in time to be hit by 30 knots. By this time we are in the middle of a narrow channel between 2 islands a keeping watch for reef or rocks.

We saw Zofia heel violently over then turn away from the wind and change course to go around one island rather than try to go through the channel. This is when Urchin with some main sail up and a head sail the size of a hanky flew past us on our port side.

While the other 2 boats disappeared into the distance ahead, we chose the conservative approach. Once we were clear of the channel and the wind had died down a little we put up our main sail. No sooner had we done this than it started raining.

It rained moderately for a half an hour or so. I was quick to get the buckets out to catch a bit of rainwater, but only got enough to fill the sink for dishes. But every drop counts when we will not be able to replenish supplies for three weeks.

After the rain, the wind changed direction and we settled in to a very pleasant sail, through the best landscapes we have seen by far. Pictures just don't do it justice.

See the rock that looks like Cookie monster from Sesame Street.

Again, this gave me time to reflect on my good fortune to be able to sail, able to sail into any bay of my choosing, which will be safe from pirates or other unmentionables, which will usually be deserted and if not deserted, the other people will be happy to come over and say hello.

How fortunate we are to be able to through a line into the clean sea, and catch healthy fish. How fortunate that we can explore the beautiful white beaches, that other than a few four wheel drives and the odd jet ski, are deserted from other people.

How fortunate that the weather is relatively predictable, with a moderate climate that we can enjoy during any given outdoor activity.

How fortunate that we have technology to assist us provided by a stable democratic government. How fortunate we are to live in a peaceful inclusive society.

How fortunate we are to be living in Australia, on Australia day.

Another day, another beautiful bay