Wednesday 14 January – another day bashing our way north

We set off early in a very calm bay, optimistic we were going to find the sea in a better state than yesterday. However it was only when we got right out that the waves and wind picked up. There was another anchorage in a deep bay on the island the other side a little way north. We decided to aim for it, rather than persevere to where we wanted to get to. We also have established an engine warning on the one engine, we can’t read the fault as the screen has got water damaged, luckily the kids brought out a new one but it is not installed yet. So we are on one engine, we’ve also switched over to our spare auto pilot to give our main one a rest as it is working so hard in these seas.

We got all the way over to the bay and found it surrounded by Pearl Farm buoys. The NFL app mentioned the buoys but it was from a couple of years ago. The lines of buoys appeared to be right across the bay entrance. You can go between them, but you have to be so careful not to snag a line. Rowan decided that with just one reliable engine we should not take a risk, so we had to set off for our original destination about 20 miles north, straight into the wind and current. The boat was struggling to make 5 knots, sometimes dropping to 3.8knts, it was a slow bouncy, very hot 4 hours.

Luckily we still made it in daylight, which was just as well as it was pretty tricky going into this bay. There are some small islands in the middle of the sea, so everything gets channelled into a narrow gap, creating an absolute hurly burly of water. It is in a marine protected area and you have to use the one and only buoy, you can’t anchor. Rowan had managed to email the right authority and paid for the mooring ball. It took us ages to spot the tiny float attached to the mooring line, the water was so turbulent which did not help finding it. At least when we got nearby it was calmer water, and although there was no sign of habitation around, there was a fisherman in a long boat. Then the drama started, I had managed to reach the mooring line with my boat hook fully extended with me leaning perilously over, our hulls are so high off the water it is a real challenge for me. I had not anticipated how full of coral and debris the ling line was, picking it up with my bare hands was quite an effort, I could not find the loop to thread our line through and we drifted back. The next second the engine stopped, the mooring line was around the prop. Always stressful, but at least the boat was staying put in these turbulence waters, and Rowan is an expert at diving down to unwind ropes off the propeller, so I was not too worried. As it took Rowan more and more big gasps of air to dive under, it was obvious this time the rope was stuck fast. Rowan got back on board and came up with the plan to reverse the engine for a second to see if that would loosen it a bit. Thank god it worked, he got back under and got the line was off, we could start all over again. We had both tried to call the fisherman to come help, but he quite rightly did not want to get involved! Second time round now I knew where the leash was and with gloves on was a lot easier. Finally we were secured although Rowan had to go back into the water as the line looked a bit frayed. Once he was happy we tied up the floating device that had a long leash on it so that it did not get caught on anything. What a relief, finally on, just before the light faded. We needed our sunset drinks this evening!

I’m not sure what happened, whether it was my rather soapy tasting G&T or a bug that got into the quinoa salad but shortly after supper I was not feeling great and after one episode of Tehran on Rowan’s big iPad I was violently sick. All my supper came up, after which I felt fine again. I can’t think of the last time I was sick. It is a mystery, there were a lot of menacing black flying ant wasp looking things, I rescued one out of the salad and just wonder if i ate one which was a bit poisonous. Rowan was absolutely fine. I have thought a few of my G&T’s over the last few days had been tasting a bit soapy, I put it down to the limes or my tonic cordial I am making. Maybe it is the cordial. We will never know, but very pleased that I felt fine after expelling whatever it was my tummy did not like! What an evening, I was really ready for bed.