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FlyingVet · 02-12-2010, 15:45

Hi,

I'm leaving Townsville on Wednesday 8 December to Cairns, thence Darwin, then the United Arab Emirates, probably via Christmas Island and the Maldives.

The vessel is a 44' Steel Ketch.

PM me if you're after adventure.

FlyingVet

SimonV · 02-12-2010, 18:04

You do know what season this is??

Bruce Johnson · 03-12-2010, 10:19

He did say "adventure".

**Jim Cate** · 03-12-2010, 12:29

Frankly, I'd be leery of shipping with anyone who states emphatically that he will leave on some specific date well in the future... especially in the cyclone season.

Jim

rusky · 03-12-2010, 17:23

OK guys. You do have a point and cat 3 or 5 can spring up from a low in 3 days and we are only given a 4 day forecast.

However, it has been done a million times. North of Townsville, there are great cyclone holes up to the Cape. There must be others after the Cape, I am unaware of but could look up or ask.

Hinchinbrook creeks, Mourilyan - copped a flogging a few years back, but upstream is promising, Upstream of Trinity inlet, Port Douglas, daintree, Endevour R, then a long haul to the Lockhart, then another trip to the Escape R.

As you guys all know, in the tropics, it is far better to be up a creek with a spider mesh of lines than to be in a marina. Townsville is a nasty place to be if a cyclone is brewing.

So, I'd cut the vet some slack. He can head off and be less than 24 hours from a safe 'hole'

As long as his potential crew are also aware of the chance of nasty stuff.

beau · 03-12-2010, 18:17

Rusky, is dead right,
I grew up in Cairns and Townsville.
One thing to remember is 2-3 days before a cyclone it is usually dead calm, so you can't sail out of the area, you have to motor.

Sailboatminder · 03-12-2010, 23:48

Are you looking for paid crew?

helena 42 · 06-12-2010, 00:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusky

Hinchinbrook creeks, Mourilyan - copped a flogging a few years back

Hi there
yes Innisfail got the worst of cyclone Larry and I was right there on board of my 42 Atkinson
We've got some 300 km/h winds with points up to 400 km/h.
I was moored in a nice little crick, lashed for and aft to the mangroves and for and aft anchors.
No problem, excerpt for a great clean up needed after, to get rid of half a foot of shredded leafs on deck. I'm still in Innisfail, this is my home port. The only problem in this season, from Palm Islands to Darwin, is that it rains like you've never seen before.
Also is the northerly wind season, so to say you may have to stay at anchor to wait the SE winds that blow 98% of the time.
So, yes it's possible but is bloody hot now.
Cheers

rusky · 06-12-2010, 01:11

Hiya Helena.

You've been through some weather. As for the rain - nothing like letting it hit for a few minutes to wash the decks, then just open the deck fitting to allow the 2-4" of rain onthe decks to fill teh water tanks. Takes minutes.

Tropical QLD. Couldnt get better, could it.

With respect to Larry, I 've been through Ada, then Charlie then Aivu, but not while sitting on the boat. I think that the next time one hears the cyclone warning siren on the radio or TV, your neck hairs stand up and you start to sweat.

The pub [up near the Sugar Mill] that we had many meals when sitting at anchor in Mourylan was blown away in Larry. That was a great shame.

helena 42 · 06-12-2010, 15:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusky

You've been through some weather

hi rusky
Yes it was breezy

Quote:

As for the rain - nothing like letting it hit for a few minutes to wash the decks

********, it was thick mulch as sticky as....it had to be shovelled away.
As for the water tanks, who cares, when one has constant running water from the sky. We have records of half a M of rain in one night, and 11M in 12 months of which 80% in the wet season. That was in the 2000.

Quote:

that the next time one hears the cyclone warning siren on the radio or TV, your neck hairs stand up

Actually the opposite. When I hear of a cyclone warning cat 2 o 3, my reply is: don't worry is only a bit of wind.
I weathered Larry on the boat and wouldn't worry me to go through another one in the same place.
Is as safe as a bank.
cheers

chala · 06-12-2010, 18:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by helena 42

Actually the opposite. When I hear of a cyclone warning cat 2 o 3, my reply is: don't worry is only a bit of wind.
cheers

and when you hear a 5 ?

SimonV · 06-12-2010, 20:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by chala

and when you hear a 5 ?

When I hear 5 or 123 or 4 for that matter I will be glad to be far enough South...or North, I can't see why you would put yourself in harms way.

rusky · 07-12-2010, 00:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by helena 42

hi rusky
Yes it was breezy

********, it was thick mulch as sticky as....it had to be shovelled away.
As for the water tanks, who cares, when one has constant running water from the sky. We have records of half a M of rain in one night, and 11M in 12 months of which 80% in the wet season. That was in the 2000.

Actually the opposite. When I hear of a cyclone warning cat 2 o 3, my reply is: don't worry is only a bit of wind.
I weathered Larry on the boat and wouldn't worry me to go through another one in the same place.
Is as safe as a bank.
cheers

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