TUESDAY 1st June
As the wind was still up around 20 to 25 knots. Dan and I decided to wait at Cid Harbour until the high tide around midday before setting out across the Whitsunday Passage. The tidal flow floods South and ebbs North, so with the ebbing current going in the same direction as the wind it promises to be a smoother trip.
I have sailed across here with the current opposing a 25 to 30 knot wind before and it was a rough trip. As it was Wildflower revelled in the conditions and we surfed the manageable waves up to 8.5 knots boat speed plus another knot of current to give us nearly 10 at times.
We picked up a mooring overnight off Airlie Beach on the advice of another yachty and moved into the Able Point Marina Wednesday morning.
We did 1,077 nautical miles since leaving Sydney on 2nd June and arrived at the marina 30 days later.
We averaged over 6 knots, with the wind behind us all the way except motoring just 7 hours through the Sandy Straits in a calm and a patch of tacking just North of Crowdy Head for about 3 hours.
I am currently waiting at Posserpine for a flight back to Sydney. Dan is prepping Wildflower before Maxine joins next Monday.
Until the next voyage,
Wayne
