Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Day 2

1 October
4am local
650 miles to go
position: 22deg43.8S, 164deg11.2E
Dunno if you know, but this is the last voyage of us shimminators on shimmi! So have a drink on us and enjoy the last 5 days of shimmi blog. I hope its NOT going to be anything exciting. Just give us 5 days of good winds and boring sailing.
We did over 1oo miles yesterday in 12 hrs, a new record for us. We went right past a mono hull called "Splinter's Apprentice" as if they were standing still. They left 2 hours before us, when I saw them up ahead I asked them to take some pics of us under sail (we don't have any). We did the same of them as we went past. Hopefully we can swap pics in Bundaberg. I would like to see what shimmi looks like doing 9-10 knots under a full sail on a rough ocean, spray flying over the foredeck and our twin wakes leaving a trail of foam behind us. The lady with the camera had to hold on tight to her boat as we went past, so I am not sure that shimmi will be in the frame. I got some great shots of them though, even one where their bow is buried.
But now the wind is starting to die and I have just started an engine, gonna have a go at motor sailing and burn some of the diesel in our 'over full' fuel tanks. The sea is a bit better and both boys have passed out in their bunks. Chantal cooked a great spaghetti with tomato-brinjal sauce, I don't know how she did it in this rough ocean. We are on the 3 on 3 off watch system and this time we have a full moon to accompany us at night. It makes a huge difference if its not so bloody dark outside. That plus the fact that its not raining, we are stoked. But its not going to last forever.
According to our weather charts we are going to run into the next cold front by October 3rd, which may have headwind's of up to 30 knots. Uuuuugh. But they wont last very long, within 24hrs the winds should clock around to south and then southeast again for our final approach to either Brisbane or (Bundaberg which is 100 miles north). Bundaberg may just be a little easier to sail to, so we may do our check in formalities there and then do a 2 day coastal hop down to Brisbane which is where shimmi will be sold. We already have a keen buyer lined up (sale subject to inspection/sea trial/survey), with signed contract in hand, and a few more waiting in the wings, so it should not take too long to find her a new owner.
G'donya
G