Delayed Again

The sail has been repaired and is now back in place on the forestay after another trip up to the mast top to retrieve a hauling line. Was intending to head out tomorrow but it seems the insurance office hasn't received by survey report, and it was the only copy I had.  Lost in the mail and not returned to sender.  Have to wait now until next Monday to get the guy down to write up another one.  Thankfully he won't charge me for it.

First Start

Friday 22 June 2012
Serviced the motor yesterday. Had the devil of a time getting the old oil filter off. Changed the fuel filter. Took forever to bleed the air out of the system. Had to pump away for ages on the piddley little thumb sized priming lever.  Degreased the engine and engine bay. Did some last minute shopping. Climbed down into engine compartment behind the engine using a large hatch in the cockpit. Not much room in there. Cleaned out in there too.

Saturday 23 June 2012
Today's the day setting out to go around Australia. Am as prepared as I guess will ever be.  Just have to top up the water tank and jerrys. Overcast looking day.
1100: Cast off lines to catch the ebb tide.
1135: Making ready for sail - remove covers, set lazy jacks, secured hatches. Motoring on autopilot while getting familiar with the various lines (ropes).
1140: Change course easterly towards Cape Grafton. Speed 4 kts. Wind on the nose 15 kts and picking up I think.
1230: Set headsail. Motor off. Wind 15-20 kts, choppy water. Boat pulling 4 to 4.5 kts into the wind.  This is great! Far better than my previous boat Lowana could ever do, and not even a mainsail set. Actually making better time now than under motor. Heel angle 10-15 deg. Make a brew.
1300: Closing Cape Grafton.  Put in a tack to starboard. Tightening headsail to new direction and the ring holding the sheets (ropes) to the headsail rips away, leaving the sail flapping in the wind.  Looks like the straps that held the sheet-ring to the sail had perished a bit in the sun, and it was overlooked. At least can return to Cairns and get the sail mended rather than having to do an emergency repair.  Turn motor back on and turn around.
1500: Tied up back in the Cairns Marlin Marina.

On the Water Again

It's been another busy day.  Finally got the depth sounder transducer after Garmin only sent the cable but not the transducer. Fitted it yesterday and Mirrool went back into the water today after lunch. Started motor and the water cooling pump immediately jammed. Burnt the pulley belt right through. Not knowing the motor properly yet, it was really a no-brainer to get a mechanic down there.  Cost me $200 but got a repaired pump with new bearings, impeller and pulley belt fitted in a couple of hours. One less thing to worry about.

Am now safely back at the Cairns Marlin Marina. Spending the next couple of days stocking up on vacuumed meat if I can get it, fresh fruit and vegetables, plus a couple of other minor jobs.  Intend heading out next Saturday 23rd for nearby Fitzroy Island. Will spend another day or so at anchor there just checking things out e.g. the charging and anchor systems.

Getting Started

Hello and welcome to my running account of a circumnavigation of Australia in the cruising yacht  Mirrool.

About Me

My name is Russ Swan and I'm 62 years old. Some might say I'm a little old to be attempting this but I'm a believer in the adage - Use It Or Lose It.  And sailing is a great way of keeping active and mentally alert. Even the emotions get exercise - from exhilaration through to fear induced sphincter exercises, but mostly it's just good to be out on the water and meeting the various challenges that get thrown your way.

So far I have sailed on different voyages from Fremantle WA to Mackay QLD across the top end.  My previous boat Lowana IV took me several times to the Kimberley Coast of WA, the eastern regions of Indonesia and across the top end of the NT.

About the Boat

 

The boat is a 30ft Clansman sloop powered by sails and a 20hp Yanmar engine. It's quite solid with 24mm of solid glass on the hull and 2 bulkheads. I had to get the boat surveyed for insurance purposes and the bloke told me it's the best Clansman he's seen.  He gave me an excellent survey report.

At dockside in Cairns Qld

On the hardstand

The inventory is everything I could wish for with heaps of available power, including 5 x batteries, 3 x solar panels, a wind turbine generator, 2 x engine alternators (one above engine rating). For steering there's a tiller, a Fleming wind-vane and 2 x autopilots. There's even an electric anchoring winch. She's a bit short on sails with just the mainsail and genoa, but at least the genoa is on a furler. All sheets/ropes lead back to the cockpit for safe night handling.

Last but by no means least is one of the things that I really wanted, a RIB - rigid inflatable boat.  The one fault was that the depth sounder didn't work, so I've had to buy a new one. Unfortunately there's been a delay waiting for a thru-hull transducer to be delivered, but I'm hoping that will come today.  In the meantime have been going through all the interior lockers cleaning and checking everything, so that I'll know where an item is if I need it quickly. Also checked the hull. Removed some paint blisters, checked and replaced anodes, and applied antifoul to the hull. It's been a busy week.



Fwd berth

Looking aft.
Galley sink, metho stove and Engle
fridge at left. Dinette table
and quarter berth behind that.