Cleone - Leg 15 Day 1 - Variable Winds

The fleet is still close together, but reported winds this morning were from 4 to 30 knots, and directions from North through to West!

 

And nobody could explain why.   But after the bustle of Darwin, the repairs, shopping, sightseeing and parties it was good to be at sea again.

 

We were all up early yesterday.  The fleet had all to lock out of Tipperary Marina one-by-one and most to refuel before the start off the Naval Base at Noon.  Cleone locked out at ten to eight, ten minutes ahead of schedule, and we carried the tide around to Cullen Bay Marina where we were booked to refuel.  Inevitably we were early, so we tied up to the pontoon and entertained the World ARC staff to tea and ginger buscuits.  Our tanks were full after only 80 miserly litres of diesel had been taken on board, and with Into the Blue anxious to take our place at the pump, we quickly set off back towards the start line.  But once out of the bay, getting round the corner was hard work - there was over four knots of tide against us.  But we made it and by 1130 the fleet was assembled up-tide and up wind of the line, and all facing the wrong way with their engines working hard to keep them the right side of the line.  The minutes ticked by, and with good and not so good timing we all turned towards the start, with no-one the wrong side at the gun.  We could see the World ARC staff amongst the crisp white uniforms of the Royal Australian Navy, who courteously returned our salute when we dipped our ensign on the line.

 

The sailing was interesting; instead of the forecast south-westerly we were soon hard on the port tack and struggling to clear the sandbanks outside Port Darwin.  Looking (we were told) magnificent, Cleone's new sails did their stuff and we powered our way past a couple of other boats who were not quite so sharp onto the wind changes.  However, all good things come to an end, and by the evening most of the fleet were motor-sailing in the dying breeze.  For us the wind has now come back again, and we are running along our Great Circle Route nicely, at over six knots.  But there's a long way to go still; we will keep you posted.

 

Alex has settled in well, and started to get to grips with the intracacies of Cleone's rig, and is also (we hope - Ed) looking forward to his spell in the galley.  Chris is comfortably behind the wheel, and the Skipper is - once more - at the computer.  Operations normal.