svbeachhouse

Author: kerri

  • Cape Grenville…Margaret Bay……

    21 June 2012

    Welcome to the shortest day of the year here in the Southern Hemisphere! We got off a bit later than usual, but today\’s journey was only 45 miles. The sail was yet again brilliant. That\’s 4 out of the last 5 days. We had 22-30 knots mostly from 150 degrees aft on the starboard side and with initially a single reefed main and genoa out to weather on the pole, we were clipping along at 9-10 knots consistently. Sailing again in tandem with \”Kakadu\”, we started 3.5 miles behind them and got here 3 miles ahead of them. (I was trying, they weren\’t!).

    Including \”Kakadu\”, there are 4 other boats generally with us. All of them chose to anchor today in Shelbourne Bay which will make tomorrow\’s sail to Escape River 5 miles shorter. We\’ll have 70 miles, they only 65. As we\’ve done at least a half dozen days that length or longer, we\’re not concerned about getting in too late in the day. There are no navigation aids or lights at Escape River. That will put us only 30 miles from the very TOP of Australia. We may then head over the top into Seisia (Town is Bamaga). We\’ve been told that going into the Thursday Island Group (despite it\’s being Australian), requires an entire new quarantine procedure which we\’d just as soon avoid. We can take a ferry from Seisia, less than 1/2 an hour from the anchorage. KIT, Scott and Nikki, snug in Margaret Bay, Cape Grenville.

  • POSITION REPORT

    YOTREPS: YES TIME: 2012/06/21 04:20 LATITUDE: 11-57.42S LONGITUDE: 143-12.53E MARINE: NO WIND_SPEED: 12 WIND_DIR: SE CLOUDS: 60% VISIBILITY: 15 BARO: 1013.7 AIR_TEMP: 28.9C COMMENT: Beach House – ANCHORED – Margaret Bay, Cape Grenville….

    I\’m going to start putting these notes on the home page at: www.svbeachhouse.com They will be the new \”blog of the day\” and become archived in the \”ship\’s log\” section. KIT, Scott and Nikki

  • Portland Roads….

    20 June 2012 (Eastern Hemisphere)

    Dear F&F,

    We found the \”divers grave\” on Morris Island. Unfortunately in great disrepair. As there was apparently once a crocodile sighted here, we did not venture into the scrub. Unfortunately, an incredible amount of plastic flip flops and bottles are littered everywhere on these otherwise pristine sand islets throughout the Great Barrier Reef.

    We had 33 knot gust last night at Morris, but were very protected behind the small sand island and it\’s very large reef system. When the tide was high, we \”rocked and rolled\”! Otherwise, a comfy evening.

    Today was a windy then gray and drizzly day. But 25 knots right on the stern all the way from Morris Island to Portland Roads. Last night after dark, s/v \”Kakadu\” pulled into Morris Island and we sailed up here today with them. Anchored now at Portland Roads, Cape Grenville tomorrow….

    KIT, Scott and Nikki

  • POSITION REPORT

    YOTREPS: YES TIME: 2012/06/19 04:56 LATITUDE: 13-29.44S LONGITUDE: 143-43.36E COURSE: 019T SPEED: 1.6 MARINE: NO WIND_SPEED: 24 WIND_DIR: ESE CLOUDS: 85% VISIBILITY: 10 BARO: 1015.9 AIR_TEMP: 26.7C COMMENT: Beach House – ANCHORED – Morris Island, NOW, LOTS of Wind!…

    One hour before we arrived, the wind went from zero to 25 out of the ESE. We are snuggly anchored behind Morris Island with a 200 foot Tug boat behind us. We may go ashore for a quick visit to this very small sand island with one palm tree and a \”divers grave\” from a peal diver buried here long ago (per the guide book). Nice sandy beach…. KIT, Scott and Nikki

  • Morris Island….

    June 19, 2012 (Eastern Hemisphere)

    Dear F&F,

    One hour before we arrived, the wind went from zero to 25 out of the ESE. We are snuggly anchored behind Morris Island with a 200 foot Tug boat behind us. We may go ashore for a quick visit to this very small sand island with one palm tree and a \”divers grave\” from a pearl diver buried here long ago (per the guide book). We\’re about 4 days from \”The Top\”…. Nice sandy beach….

    KIT, Scott and Nikki

  • POSITION REPORT

    YOTREPS: YES TIME: 2012/06/16 04:11 LATITUDE: 14-39.66S LONGITUDE: 145-27.16E MARINE: NO WIND_SPEED: 16 WIND_DIR: SSE CLOUDS: 85% VISIBILITY: 15 BARO: 1016.8 AIR_TEMP: 25.0C COMMENT: Beach House – ANCHORED – Lizard Island

    The resort seems to be open? 7 other sail and 2 power boats here. Anchored in 6 feet (1.9 meters). We will probably stay and explore tomorrow. KIT, Scott & Nikki

    DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL ADDRESS, SHOULD YOU WISH TO CONTACT US, DO SO AT THE EMAIL ADDRESS YOU WOULD NORMALLY USE…..THANKS

  • POSITION REPORT

    YOTREPS: YES TIME: 2012/06/14 05:33 LATITUDE: 15-27.79S LONGITUDE: 145-14.65E MARINE: NO WIND_SPEED: 15 WIND_DIR: SE CLOUDS: 10% VISIBILITY: 30 BARO: 1014.8 AIR_TEMP: 25.6C COMMENT: Beach House – ANCHORED – Endevour River, Cooktown…..

    We are next to the sand bar where Captain Cook careened \”Endevour\” for 45 days while doing repairs. The river is very shallow, very tidal and Cooktown is the last real bastion of civilization until Thursday Island at \”The Top\” We\’ll KIT, you do the same!… Scott & Nikki

    DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL ADDRESS, SHOULD YOU WISH TO CONTACT US, DO SO AT THE EMAIL ADDRESS YOU WOULD NORMALLY USE…..THANKS

  • POSITION REPORT

    YOTREPS: YES TIME: 2012/06/11 06:55 LATITUDE: 16-29.15S LONGITUDE: 145-27.56E MARINE: NO WIND_SPEED: 10 WIND_DIR: SSE CLOUDS: 10% VISIBILITY: 30 BARO: 1014.4 AIR_TEMP: 26.7C COMMENT: Beach House – DOCKED – Port Douglas Marina, Port Douglas…

    The weather has turned very nice for the moment. We motored here in little wind. Only 36 miles. Will stay a few days to land tour. We are getting close to the last vestiges of civilization as we head north. Cooktown, two days to our North will be it before we arrive at Horn or Thursday Island in the Torres Strait off Cape York (the northern tip of OZ). KIT, Scott & Nikki

    DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL ADDRESS, SHOULD YOU WISH TO CONTACT US, DO SO AT THE EMAIL ADDRESS YOU WOULD NORMALLY USE…..THANKS

  • 2012-06 Townsville – Hinchinbrook Island – Dunk Island to Cairns, Australia – Photos

    .                    To see the SHIPS BLOGS associated with this PHOTO GALLERY:  Click the following links……

    .                                                           Transit of Venus – Hinchinbrook Island

  • Transit of Venus – Hinchinbrook Island Passage

    June 6, 2012 (Eastern Hemisphere)

    Dear F&F,

    We are in Gayundah Creek just west of Hinchinbrook Island, Northern Queensland. We are using the sextant aboard the boat (with it\’s powerful sun filters) to watch the transit of Venus in real time. We can clearly see Venus in the bottom left hand corner of the sun\’s disk…. Very Cool. The sky is 0 percent cloud cover and the view is breathtaking.

    A lovely evening was had and we didn\’t get any visits from crocodiles though Nikki did want to feed one if it came close!….NOT.

    KIT, Scott and Nikki (Gayundah Creek)….