Long day… Lizard to Cape Melville

Stunning and dangerous Cape Melville

Left the beautiful and very windy Lizard Island early in the morning. That usually means before 7 am. Our plan was two fold. Wanting to make up some time and distance we have planned for two destinations depending on weather and how we felt. We reached our first anchorage in fantastic time around 11 am sailing between 8-9 knots in pleasant 20 knots and decided to continue to our 2nd anchorage Cape Melville. We are now sailing in unchartered waters and that meant that we had to take extra time preparing our route by reading all guides and pay extra attention on the way much like driving to a new destination. Our expectation was to reach Cape Melville around 4.30pm and stay there for the night.

 All was well until we got close to the unfriendly land of Cape Melville. The winds picked up unexpectedly to 40 +knots. That is not really what one would expect turning into a safe area for the night. The place was absolutely stunning and had a really uneasy feeling about it with such strong winds and very little depth we both looked at each other and did not have to speak a word. THIS WAS NOT SAFE!!!

Not a friendly look

 We had to continue to Flinders group and that meant another 3 possibly more hours sail with the sun setting and the night closing very quickly. Not comfy… uncertain feeling.

 Let’s say it was like driving a car at night in the mountains without any lights or breaks looking at your GPS and learning the art of trust. The only other option open was to continue sailing trough the night- not one we wanted. So trust concentration attention to everything that was remotely visible and audible we did. We have found our safe anchorage for the night at 8.30pm and were rather happy with that. The greatest part of it all was knowing that we did it well safe and waking up the next morning and having a look where we actually ended up. Lesson from last night- don’t trust everything you read in guide books trust your boat your instincts have plan A B C and D.