Because of the low winds on Thursday we had to force ourselves to endure another day at Lady Musgrave. Friday morning and the winds were still light but we had to make a move, so back through the narrow passage into the deep blue sea we went. The light winds meant light seas which ment Gennaker time (The Gennaker is a large light weight sail). A few hours later the wind increased and we were sailing with the head sail and main sail.
During the night we crossed another shipping channel. This time with minimal stress. Saturday brought more of the same as we sailed passed Fraser Island heading for Brisbane. Late in the afternoon and into the night the wind increased to 25knots and changed to the wrong direction and the skies were not looking good. We weren’t far from Brisbane shipping channel entrance so we dropped all sails and turned on the motor.
We were now close enough to get internet reception. We downloaded the Brisbane weather to find a group of storm cells terrorising the coast and coming our way. The first two passed by putting on spectacular lightning displays.
But the the third one rained its fury on us. The rain was bouncing off the deck so heavy you could only just make out the bow. The lightning was lighting up the cabin and the concerns on Guido’s, Nivi’s and Sue’s faces, as they recalled the shipwreck movies they have been watching lately. The sound of the thunder and howling wind was incredible. A waterfall came through the partly open hatch soaking everyone. Even with the brake on, the wind generator spun out of control as we clocked 100km wind for a few minutes. The winds ferocity lifted lids on the deck lockers and released a halyard that had not been secured properly, which promptly flew into the wind generator. Even under bare poles (no sails) Imagine heeled over as she sailed across the waves at 7knots. Andrew struggled but could not bring Imagine to face into the wind and waves. He just had to sail knowing there was a container ship anchored nearby but could not be seen through the avalanche of water.
Half an hour later we were laughing about how we were taking photos and saying how beautiful the first two were, without knowing what was descending on us.
Surviving the storm we continued to the entrance of the Brisbane shipping channel. We had heard that two cargo boats were about to head into the channel so we followed them. Daybreak found us at the entrance to the Brisbane river and the Port of Brisbane. We passed though with no dramas and stopped at Rivergate to fill the diesel tanks. We meandered up the river to find there was no one anchored in “our spot”. So we are now back in New Farm, close to transport.
Time to get some sleep.
