Coomera QLD to Fremantle WA
Commencing on January 29th 2019
Position Report and other info UTC (+8 Hrs Perth Time)
Cut and paste the GPS location below into Google earth, you can place mark This position and follow our Progress. Should this page not be updating then updates may be occurring via Satellite phone on the Posts page. You can contact us by sending an SMS (via email) To Satellite Phone. Please Note SMS is a maximum of 160 Characters and you need to leave the subject or message header blank
Sunday, 10 March 2019, 1300 Hrs
32 04 S, 115 45 E, Fremantle Sailing Club! Thank you very much to Leo, Pierre and Duane for your help across the Bight. Party Time!
Saturday, 9 March 2019, 1200 Hrs
34 13 S, 114 54 E, 7 Nm East of Hamlin Bay. Have been under engine since leaving Augusta Boat Harbour. We seem to be following a no wind zone up the coast but should have some breeze later today. At least it will make it easy to serve up a Laksa soup for lunch in these conditions.
0230 Hrs
34 21.2 S, 115 10.1 E, Tied up at Augusta Boat Harbour. Slight change of plans as Gary (Owner) is joining us here in a few hours for the final leg to Fremantle
Friday, 8 March 2019, 1200 Hrs
35 08 S, 116 13 E, 20Nm SE of Point D’Entrecasteaux (hope I spelt that right) anyway just 230 Nm away from Fremantle now so expecting to arrive on Sunday some time.
Thursday, 7 March 2019, 0600 Hrs
35 02 S, 117 53 E, Albany Marina. Reviewing the weather I thought we may have been at an uncomfortable anchorage for over 15 hours so came to Albany to top up water which we were unable to do in Esperance. It turns out the SW change will be only of around 9 hours so we should be able to be underway again by approximately lunch time.
Wednesday, 6 March 2019, 1300 Hrs
34 40 S, 119 39 E, 80 Nm East of Albany, wind from the NE at just under 20 Kts and travelling well. There will probably a wind change this evening for a short period before going back to S and East which could slow progress for a while but expecting good winds again for the Western coast.
Tuesday, 5 March 2019, 1200 Hrs
Leaving Esperance. The wind of this morning is now abating so we are leaving for Fremantle shortly. A nice quiet stopover with a holiday long weekend in town. Not many businesses were open but with the help of locals (Jim especially) from the sailing club we were able to borrow fuel containers and several lifts to the petrol station to give us enough fuel for the remainder of the trip.
Thanks again Duane for your reliable weather updates, too bad that SW change came in at your predicted time as we could have used a few more hours delay to get us here a day earlier.
Sunday, 3 March 20191130 Hrs
33 52 S, 121 54 E, Taylor st landing, weather looks good coming up but first its fuel and water which can take some time, especially being the Sunday of a long weekend. Will hopefully be able to be underway tomorrow.
Saturday, 2 March 2019, 2330 Hrs
33 58 S, 122 06 E, Anchored near Esperance. Updates tomorrow, sleep for now.
1200 Hrs
34 10 S, 123 07 E, 5 Nm SW of Middle Island. Nice anchorage that we were hoping to get to some 36 hrs or more ago. As the seas picked up we slowed to around 2 Kts for most of Friday. Only made 74 miles in 24 hrs which was very frustrating, winds reached up to 30 Kts and with the rising continental shelf and poorly chartered waters to the North there was no where else to go but mark time.
Friday, 1 March 2019, 1200 Hrs
34 30 S, 124 34 E, 50 Nm East of Salisbury Island where I was hoping to turn a bit north and have a reasonable sailing angle for the current SW winds. Unfortunately they arrived earlier than hoped so we are slowly motoring into them and just marking time until they die down. There is a heavy swell pushing up from the Cape with choppy seas on top making it slow and uncomfortable for now. Better luck tomorrow.
Thursday, 28 February 2019, 1200 Hrs
34 35 S, 126 57 E, 250 Nm East of Esperance, according to the last forecast we probably wont be making shelter there from the West and SW winds on the way for Friday but may find some shelter behind the island group nearby whilst it blows through. Its been a big day already with 35 plus Kts of wind from the NE early in the morning adding some excitement followed variable winds from all directions until it settled to the Northerly expected. Good sailing now and hopefully for a few hours or more. Note another time zone change as we have crossed to WA border.
Wednesday, 27 February 2019, 1200 Hrs
34 17 S, 129 45 E, 160 Nm South of the Nullabor Plain, somewhere in the Bight. Back to engine this morning as we await a light Northerly. Some 350 NM to Esperance or just under 600 to Albany. Some SW winds are predicted so will keep an eye on when and how strong over the next few days.
Tuesday, 26 February 2019, 1200 Hrs
34 52 S, 131 50 E, Just 40nm East of a waypoint we have been heading for. This waypoint is 200 Nm due South of the “Head of the Bight” around half way across. Due to insurance obligations we are to stay within 200 Nm of the coast so sorry Weatherman (Duane) I have not stuck to the Rhumbline on this occasion but will be back on the new rhumbline this afternoon. Currently the wind is 15-20 Kts Just South of East and travelling comfortably in a rather large sea / Swell (2-3M)
Monday, 25 February 2019, 1200 Hrs
35 58 S, 134 30 E, Hello Southern Ocean. Back under sail again after around 24 hrs motoring and expecting a gradual build in the S-SE airflow before it backs around to the E – NE over the next few days.
Sunday, 24 February 2019, 1200 Hrs
36 16 S, 137 05 E, around 30 Nm SE of the SW tip of Kangaroo Island. Making good progress, the wind has dropped out as expected but should be back again for Monday.
Saturday, 23 February 2019, 1200 Hrs
37 31 S, 139 03 E, 45 Nm East of Beachport SA, note the time change as we have reverted to QLD time for the next few days so the sun does not rise too late in the day. All well with good 20 kt winds behind us.
Friday, 22 February 2019, 1200 Hrs
38 32 S, 141 50 E, 16 Nm SE of Portland. Variable winds again and we are now well out of Bass Strait and heading into the Southern Ocean. Weather forecasts are showing a good run straight through to WA so the plan is to keep predominately to the Rhumb Line and receive updates on the weather from our weatherman Duane. Next post will be in 2 days as from now it will only be contact through the Satelite phone system
Thursday, 21 February 2019, 1545 Hrs
Leaving Apollo bay. Welcome aboard to Leo and Pierre. Planning to sail near Port Lincoln with the view of carrying straight past should the weather still look as currently forecast otherwise a short stop to wait for the right conditions.
Tuesday, 19 February 2019, 1400 Hrs
Still in Apollo Bay getting a repair on the Engine Seawater intake. Unfortunately on shutting down the engine the fitting through the hull sheered off apparently due to vibration fatigue. Have had a diver on board to seal off the sail-drive intakes and currently Enzed is onboard drilling out the old thread and making the sea-cock good. All going well the diver will be back shortly to unplug the intake. Fingers Crossed
Sunday, 17 February 2019, 1730 Hrs
38 45.2 S, 143 40.5 E Arrived at Apollo bay fuel Dock. Thank you for your assistance Sam
1130 Hrs
38 55 S, 144 18 E, Just 30 Nm to Apollo Bay, light winds and still under engine
Saturday, 16 February 2019, 1100 Hrs
38 47 S, 147 01 E, 25 Nm East of Corner Inlet Victoria, under engine again but expecting a light Southerly this afternoon to assist. Heaps of Dolphins and seals about on this leg.
Friday, 15 February 2019, 1000 Hrs
37 43 S, 149 42 E, 15 Nm SW of Gabo Island and into Bass Strait, wind is variable as predicted so motoring on through. Maybe out of phone reception for the next 24-36 hrs so will possibly update via Sat phn tomorrow to test the systems again otherwise will update when passing Wilsons Prom.
0000 Hrs
Leaving Eden
Wednesday, 13 February 2019, 1045 Hrs
37 04.3 S, 149 54.3 E Anchored in Eden. Plan to watch weather and at this stage should be clear to leave Thursday afternoon / evening
0600 Hrs
36 43.2 S, 149 59.1 E, Leaving anchor at Tathra. The strong Southerly came in yesterday afternoon at up to 35 Kts just 3 hours too early for our liking so went to anchor rather than slam into it. Currently in calm conditions and now expecting to arrive in Eden at around 11 am.
Tuesday, 12 February 2019, 1300 Hrs
36 11 S, 150 17 E, 5Nm NE of Montague Island, Currently with Northerly winds of 20-30 Kts expected to turn Westerly in the late afternoon. Overnight the winds wern’t quite as strong as expected and the current non existent so progress is a little behind planned but will still be into Eden this evening to anchor whilst the front blows through. All is well.
Monday, 11 February 2019, 1130 Hrs
34 00 S, 151 17 E, Just passing Botany Bay heads. Left at 7 am from CYCA but had to wait at the fuel dock until 0830 as no longer is the dock operating24 hrs. Underway to Eden now for the next leg and expecting to wait 1-2 days for the next clear run trough Bass Strait. Also a welcome aboard to Elizabeth joining us for the NSW leg of the trip.
February 9, 2019
Welcome aboard again Jack and welcome along Sam. Current plan is to be on our way Sunday evening / early Monday and arrive in Eden before the next SW front moves through the Strait. Then straight on to Apollo Bay
February 3, 2019, 1000 Hrs
33 56.9S, 151 13.7 E, CYCA Sydney. 377 Nm from Coomera QLD. Had to get the fog horn ready as we approached the Heads due to heavy fog. Magically it dissipated giving us a perfect morning to arrive in Sydney Harbour. Apparently there was no fog on the harbour at all. Thank you very much to Vince and Clinton it was a pleasure to have both of you on board.
February 2, 2019, 1200 Hrs
32 25 S, 152 36 E, 5 Nm East of Sugarloaf Point (Seal Rocks) still under engine as we seem to be in the convergence zone between the Southerly and the predicted Easterlies. Anyway making reasonable time so expecting to arrive in Sydney on Sunday morning.
February 1, 2019, 0900 Hrs
30 10 S, 153 22 E, 15 Nm NW of Coffs Harbour, Wind S at 12 Kts under engine still. Although we hoped to miss any of the Southerly it has extended further up the coast than originally forecast. Fortunately its only light and expected to go to the East this evening. All going well.
January 31, 2019, 0930 Hrs
Leaving anchor to go to the Southport Yacht Club to top up our water supplies. It seems we assumed the tanks were full on departure as whilst filling water it started overflowing. It seems the water intake is quite slow so with too much water pressure it backed up before filling up enough. Oops a reminder to check the inspection ports whilst filling.
January 30, 2019, 1730 Hrs
Anchored near Sea-world Southport, weather forecast is for a fairly strong Southerly to hit Sydney tomorrow and move up the coast to Port Macquarrie for Friday before dissipating so an overnight wait should allow it to pass before we get too far down the coast.
1200 Hrs
About to depart for Sydney from Boat Works Coomera. Welcome aboard again to Vince and his son Cameron for the first leg to Fremantle WA
January 28, 2019
Coomera
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