Embedded Files
We spent three weeks in April in "The Bay". The first week was largely a waste, with fresh Southerly winds dampening our enthusiasm for launching. By the end of the first week, these had abated and we launched at Denham crossing Denham Sound to Dirk Hartog Island and overnighting at Sunday Bay.
Over the next few days, we sailed into South Passage and then back North to Tumbledown Bay, where we spent a couple of lovely days fishing and relaxing. The water temperatures were wonderful and swimming was a pleasure. The fishing was great, with plenty of pink snapper, black snapper and mulloway keeping us happy.
The weather forecast suggested a window on the wind to allow a crossing back to Denham so we sailed back to Saturday Island. The forecast calm did not eventuate and we had a rather heavy crossing back to Denham to re-supply, although by the time we arrived the ocean had glassed out.
From there, we headed South, hoping to explore the Southern reaches of Freycinet Inlet. We overnighted at Eagle Bluff and tucked in behind Wilson Island but the forecast once again predicted fresh to strong North-West winds. With few safe anchorages for that set, we changed plans and headed North again, all the way to Big Lagoon, a safe anchorage in any wind. The forecast was once again wrong and we spent a wonderful calm night in idyllic conditions.
From Big Lagoon, we headed North to Cattlewell, rounded Cape Peron and spent some time in Herald Bight. By this time, we got news that our friends the Dawsons had arrived with their new power boat so we moved further South to Cape Rose and Monkey Mia to catch up with them. They drove across from Denham and took us back to retrieve our car and trailer, then followed us back to Monkey Mia to launch their boat. Together, we headed back to Cape Rose for a night and on to Herald Bight for two wonderful days of fishing and relaxing.
We motored back to Monkey Mia in perfectly calm conditions, much relaxed and very happy with our time in Shark Bay. This place is hard to beat.
Improvements to Sandpiper
Christine loved her new anchor winch
The new BBQ worked a treat
The overhauled keel and new clutch winch was wonderful
The new Merc 4 stroke 9.9 is excellent and I am sold on electric start.
Stats:
We covered 214 nautical miles
At an average speed of 4.7 knots
Over 46 hours
Fuel used:
Yacht - 70L
Tender - 7L
Generator - 9L
Page updated
Report abuse