Nancy Sound

Date: 16/02/15 Time: 16.30 Position: Toe Cove, Nancy Sound

Yesterday we had a lovely day kayaking around Gold Arm in Charles Sound. Gold Arm has been dedicated a marine reserve as have several other sections within most of the fjords. As we paddled towards the head of the fjord there were stunning reflections in the tanin coloured water. The hillsides in all the fjords we have visited have had random scars left from landslides. These scars give you a good idea of how steep the hill sides are under the trees and how little soil these trees actually need to grow. As we neared the head of the fjord where the Windward River entered, the water became very shallow with a sandy bottom and we were able to see a Flounder and several beautiful sting rays that glided elegantly under us. There was also a large flock of black swans congregating at the head waters. We passed a helipad that had been constructed just away from the shore with an adjoining floating pontoon for fishing boats to tie up to so that their crayfish can be air lifted out. Further back up the arm we saw some fish jumping and when we paddled past, a small school of quite large king fish swam near the surface. If only we had our rod with us and if it wasn't a marine reserve.

Today (Monday) we made an early start and were underway by 7.30am. Gold Arm was calm and still again but once we joined the main section of the fjord we had a light tail wind so we hoisted the Code O and enjoyed a gentle sail out of Charles Sound at 3 knots. Once along the coast the breeze came and went so we had a mixture of sailing and motoring. Further down the coast we could see a fishing boat attending to its crayfish pots close to the rocks. This was the first time since Bligh Sound that we have seen any other boat. We saw heaps of shearwaters flying close to the water or resting in rafts on the smooth surface. When the motor was off it was nice to listen to the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks about 2nm off our beam. This section of the coastline is very close to the continental shelf where it drops off to over 1000m deep. Only 4nm south of Charles Sound we turned into Nancy Sound. With the wind behind us once again we sailed with our Code O all the way up the leg of the fjord, around the heel which was a 90 degree bend, along the foot to the end of the fjord where we dropped anchor in Toe Cove. Nancy Sound is 15km long and is shaped like a leg, hence the names. It is a very impressive fjord with steep sides and shapely peaks with more peaks jutting out from the mountains beyond.

With a good forecast for tomorrow of north easterly 15 knots we will continue on to Thompson Sound.

All is well on board. Kathy and Wayne

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