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Batavia Road

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    • TravelerTHE ABROLHOS - A HAYWIRE TRIP
      Day 10

      Geraldton - Guano Jetty, Pelsaert Island

      March 31 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 22 °C

      31 March, Sunday.
      0015 - 0845. Geraldton - Guano Jetty, Pelsaert. 95km

      BF: Hot X buns
      Lunch: Same, tinned ham
      Dinner: Steak (Dirty Good Food) and veggies.

      The big adventure day!

      We decided on a midnight start as it is a 50nm passage and we were advised to aim to get there by early afternoon or better, as there is then a better chance of getting a mooring. Very substantial moorings are provided by the Dept of Transport, capable of securing 25m boats. But they are few and far between, with six in the S section of the Pelsaert group. Anchoring is less desirable as the water is deepish with a varying bottom. We were advised that the SE area of the Pelsaert group is preferable for the reasons of good fishing, plentiful crays and relatively close proximity to Geraldton.

      The forecast was for 15-20 kt SE winds, which was very favourable for the sailover.

      We cleared the Geraldton shoreline and the wind continued to pick up. 20 kts became 25 to 30 kts, with shifting gusts in excess of 35 kts. The seas continued to rise, the further offshore we went. A hairy night’s passage indeed. Intimidating gusting and shifting winds and seas. In the big gusts the yacht somewhat uncontrollably headed up into the wind. The wind shredded the jib. I spent 6 hours on the helm. Kept me from feeling seasick!

      We arrived at the passage entry point at about 6:15 just on dawn. We needed the daylight to help navigate the somewhat complex and at times narrow passage towards Guano Jetty mooring area. Motored in slowly. The seas had abatted as we were now in the protection of the islands, but the wind was still howling. Luckily there were 2 or 3 moorings available and we were all secured by just before 9am. All very relieved to be there!
      A breakfast of hot cross buns and coffee, followed by a sandwich lunch. Then it was time for an afternoon recovery sleep.

      Lesley cooked a great dinner of steak and veggies. Sure went down well. Beer, vino and port assisted!

      Needless to say, turned in for an early night.      Read more

    • TravelerTHE ABROLHOS - A HAYWIRE TRIP
      1
      Day 12

      Pelsaert Island. Big fish day!

      April 2 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 24 °C

      2 April, Tuesday.
      Pelsaert Island.

      BF: Toast
      Lunch: Groper and salad
      Dinner: Groper and salad!

       Wind eased a bit. Caught a very decent sized Baldchin Groper off the back of the boat. Probably about 5 - 6 kg. Very chuffed. Got him aboard just in time. Another 3-5 seconds and a 2m tiger shark would have had him.
      Filleted him and got 4 excellent fillets. Threw the skeleton overboard, before it had sunk 3 large tiger sharks were at the stern of the boat. Big one probably 3+m. Judicious swimming off the boat from hereon in !
      Two meals from the Groper. Magic eating, lunch and dinner. Washed down with a good vino of course. One of the nicest fishes I have tasted.      Read more

    • TravelerTHE ABROLHOS - A HAYWIRE TRIP
      1
      Day 13

      Pelsaert Island. Seafood fiesta day!

      April 3 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

      April 3, Wednesday.
      Pelsaert Island.

      First day of acceptable wind, about 10-12kts SE.
      All enthused about fishing, but only managed a small snapper.
      Changed over the jib sail, as we had shredded the one coming over.
      Then got the Zodiac afloat and sorted. Les and I went ashore, about 200-300m away.
      Scott from Bunbury and his son and two mates ( who we had met at the marina in Geraldton) were stern into the beach in Brett’s 10m mono-cat. Monohul forward, diverging to a cat hull amidships and to the stern. Retractable keel allows them to stern up right onto the beach. Hydraulically droppable mast and trailerable, it’s a very practical setup. Spacious down below. Scott calls it his floating caravan. 10 m long.
      Had a long chat to Scott on all things boating and Abrolhos. He’s been coming here for 40 years.
      Les and I went for a walk along the beach on the western side of the island It’s only about a 100m wide here. Entirely consists of old dead broken and bleached coral. We returned along the inshore side which is limestone albeit only a metre or so above sea level, tops. I squatted down to check out some oysters when a sea lion popped up in front of my face! I actually touched him on the nose. Very inquisitive, he and his mate hung around for a few minutes.
      Back to Triple X , the mono-cat, and the boys had come back from a morning’s hunting. 8 crays, grabbed by hand wading around the reef about 3nm away and a Spotted Cod that Craig had speared. Promptly filleted, he gave us the wings and we had another superb super fresh fish lunch.
      Les and I motored back to the XXX Electra33 in the latter afternoon and joined the boys for a seafood feast. Some crayfish cocktail “nibbles” with a couple of different sauces. Then a sit down dinner. Accompanied by plenty of wash down fluids.
      We dined on baked snapper, crayfish mornay, haggis as a side, (as ship’s cook Neil is a Scotsman), mashed potatoes with beans, potato salad and pasta salad, plus a lettuce and avocado salad.
      Our contribution was the salads! Awesome meal, and the Boys from Bunbury were great company. Scott Talbot, his son Anthony and two mates, Neil and Craig. Motored back in the Zodiac to the good ship Haywire accompanied by a stunning sunset. A rather memorable evening indeed.      Read more

    • TravelerTHE ABROLHOS - A HAYWIRE TRIP
      Day 14

      Pelsaert Island. Penultimate day.

      April 4 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

      Apr 4, Thursday

      Pelsaert Island.

      BF: Muesli, yoghurt and fruit
      Lunch: Sausages in wraps with cabbage, carrot and fried noodle salad
      Dinner: Spaghetti Bol and pasta

      My beginner’s luck with the fishing had run out. Not a bite from three sessions over the stern.

      Tony and I did a repair job on a tear in the mainsail. A fall back to days in Sea Scouts, about 55 years prior, recalling some sail stitching techniques, using needle, thread and a sailmakers palm . Plus liberal strips of gaffa tape. Interesting to see how it stands up to the rigours of the passage back to the mainland. Tony’s mate Steve is hopefully bringing another main up from Perth.

      An obligatory LLD - Little Lie Down after lunch then Les and I Zodiaced to the beach to have a swim as the several 3m+ tiger sharks we had seen off the stern of the boat were somewhat off putting for a back of boat swim. Chatted to the Bunbury Boys, said our thank yous and au revours, as they were heading home the next day.

      We got the marine forecast update from Geraldton Sea Rescue and decided to do likewise, planning on heading straight for Port Denison. Based on the forecast, probably a 10 -12 hour trip. So planned on a 6 am departure.      Read more

    • TravelerTHE ABROLHOS - A HAYWIRE TRIP
      Day 11

      Pelsaert Island.

      April 1 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 22 °C

      1 April, Monday.
      Pelsaert Island.

      BF: Muesli, yoghurt with preserved fruit
      Lunch: Salad and beef sandwiches
      Dinner: Chicken Curry (RTE)

      Nothing day. 20-25kts SE still blowing despite the forecast not indicating so. Water too choppy for the Zodiac.
      Fishing was unsuccessful, only two under size Coral Trout. They went back.

      Mainly chilled for the day. Reading the weekend newspapers, and listening to podcasts and a good audio book, in my case.      Read more

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    Batavia Road

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