Cooktown to Cairns in May

[jimthom]

I'm staying in Cooktown through the cyclone season but plan to exit Australia from Cairns in May, heading to PNG. Can I expect any breaks in the SE monsoons which will allow me to motor sail to Cairns?
Thanks, Jim

[Seaslug Caravan]

Originally Posted by jimthom

I'm staying in Cooktown through the cyclone season but plan to exit Australia from Cairns in May, heading to PNG. Can I expect any breaks in the SE monsoons which will allow me to motor sail to Cairns?
Thanks, Jim

Yes.

What about tomorrow?

Even better Thursday and Friday forecast is E to NE about 10 knots.

Cooktown Coastal Waters Forecast: Cape Melville to Cape Tribulation

[RaymondR]

SE trades will be well established by then and you could have to wait weeks for a lull. If you are going to PNG have you checked whether you can clear out at Thursday Island and not have to go south to Cairns?

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by catflap

Yes.

What about tomorrow?

Even better Thursday and Friday forecast is E to NE about 10 knots.

Cooktown Coastal Waters Forecast: Cape Melville to Cape Tribulation

I don't think this week is in May

Originally Posted by RaymondR

SE trades will be well established by then and you could have to wait weeks for a lull. If you are going to PNG have you checked whether you can clear out at Thursday Island and not have to go south to Cairns?

What RaymondR said +1.

You sometimes get a slight lull late at night / early morning but you can't count on it.

Can you motor into 25+ kts; if so, try staying close to the reef to keep the fetch down to a minimum.

[StuM]

Agree with Raymond about the SE trades being fairly well set in in May, but Cooktown to Cairns is not too hard even then. Just be prepared to do a lot of tacking between shore and the reef.
(I did Lizard - Cairns back in September in the same sort of conditions in a Farr 1/2 ton)

I would definitely NOT recommend going via TI. That last 300 NM will be a b*tch.
The trip from Cairns to PNG will have a much more favourable wind/sea angles (I'd recommend going the long way via Lizard/2 mile passage rather than straight out through Trinity passage)

[mjcook]

Don't rule out spending some time at TI, it is a safer port than Cooktowm with respect to cyclones and you can clear out from there. The run to Daru or Morsby is not that difficult I did the trip some years ago and while TI can be hot and humid the run to Port Morsby was one fo the best passages of my cruising life.
M J Cook
S/v Rainbow Dreaming
10.6 m sailing cat

[jimthom]

Thanks to everyone for sharing their knowledge and experiences with me.
Cheers Jim