The
southerlies have been replaced by northerlies so it's back to sea
once more for the next leg down to Sydney. Our target is to reach
Port Stephens, 90 miles north of Sydney tomorrow morning but the
current, at up to 4 knots, is pushing us along so quickly we might be
just be able to continue to Broken Bay, 15 miles north of the goal
before the wind changes once more.
The
south setting current is a real bonus, on the way back it will be a
pain, but you have to be vigilant for shipping traffic. This is a
busy coastal waterway with many freighters and tankers ploughing
north and south at up to 18 knots which means they come at you, or
from behind fast. OK if it's one ship, not so easy at 3am when there
are two from bearing down from behind and one coming up at you. Oh,
and if there's a wind shift and a lightning storm seaward of you it
add to the adrenalin tally. I can say the bridges in these monsters
were keeping a good watch because we experienced many kind Captains
who changed course to give us a safe margin of clearance.
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