SUNDOWNER Y86 west coast

[Phillip]

Rob posted this 2 hours ago on Facebook.

Saying "A hard days work!"

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[Phillip]

Rob is now safe in Broome.

Now comes the hard part....the West Coast of Australia!

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[rob.lovelace]

Kimberly's were a blast, I could spend months there but am running late getting down the west coast. Already the southerlies have started. Last night I got caught out offshore with strong wind and current against me I was only getting about 10 degrees on a tack so I hove to about 5 miles offshore about 30nm north of Broome. and the it blew it's guts out. I got up to find rather large seas and 20-30kt headwind and about 10nm offshore, the trouble with this place is there is no place to hide. I made a tack back towards land third reef in and still water was over the windows at times with the beam on sea, then I changed tack south and hoping for a better ride but it was pounding the hell out of sundowner so I started Ol smokey up and motor sailed (I hate myself) down to Broome. Fish farms are another obstacle that have to be navigated and are only lit at night ant day it's hard to see the black floats until you're on them. With the tide I still managed 6kts against this weather. The boat was now into some of these waves with them breaking over the decks, very wet and uncomfortable. Now anchored offshore at Broome with 10m tides it's a longe way ashore for stores fuel and water, and a long way to town. I'm pretty exhausted the last 24hrs were about as bad as I've had and I'd love to just get off and fly home, but the good out weighs the bad so far. The boat is very wet I have water leaking through I think at the sheet tracks which is the only deck fitting I didn't remove and seal, so a big dry out is needed and a few days rest before I tackle the next leg. The next few stages will be long offshore stretches so I'd better get the weather right. Trouble is there's not much favour able wind left at this time of the year.

thanks goes out of course to Phil for keeping this thread going.
so far the top hat is proving itself to be a very honest sea boat.

[Phillip]

Well done Rob,

Yep the next one is a big one, about 260 nm to Port Headland, that's what 3 days and 2 nights max?

May be better to bash into the wrong wind for 24 hours at the start to ensure you have favourable weather at Port Headland.

I must say that you have done very well in not using the iron sail to this point.
Maybe it's time to get it out full time and just travel the distance to get south.

Broome is a car town, which will make it hard for you blokes in getting to town, apart from the long dinghy ride.

Now tell us did you have any crocodile problems over the top?

Enjoying the videos on facebook. If you get a chance put them up on u-tube please.
For those who haven't seen Rob's u-tube stuff search for Rob Lovelace.

[Troppo]

I didn't know he had some youtube vids so I just had a look. He's been through some very interesting country.

troppo

[rob.lovelace]

finally got some coverage here in Broome and uploaded a heap od clips taken at King George river. I've taken lots of short clips as they are easier to upload, besides the whole trip up the river took hours. I hope to join all the bits I've taken on the trip and hopefully get a movie out of if. Anyway if you search
https://m.youtube.com/user/MrRobLovelac ... =dd&view=0
for King George river 1to 20 you'll get an idea of the size of the river.
Also King George river East Arm 1 to 4 I think. there a fair bit of Luke Attenbourgh footage in there as well

[Troppo]

Excellent! I'm gunna look at those vids.

I'm becoming an armchair-sailor, but what the heck, it's great to see these parts of Australia. Thank for the vids Rob.

troppo

[stuartkinner]

Great videos, what a beautiful part of the world. I reckon Rob should get a kickback from Tourism WA!

stuart

[rob.lovelace]

So anyway the King George river eastern arm is very shallow and it's recommended to anchor outside and dinghy in. Well I figure I have a small boat so what the hell and try to get in there, after running abound several times I concead that I can't make it on this tide and rafted up against the bilge keeler for the night. Knowing I'll be sitting on the bottom I tie my main halyard across the other boat and make it fast so when it is low tide I won't fall away from the bilge keeler. In the morning I decide to leave Sundowner where she is and hitch a ride on Cynecia, so I cast off all lines and away we go. after about 20 metres we come to a stop like we've run aground, we look back and see Sundowner laying at about 20 degrees to the water still tied on by the halyard. Whoops, rig test passed.

you tube
KG river East Arm 1-4

[Phillip]

Rob what were you thinking???

Anyway Rob has moved to Roebuck Bay.

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