Into the Saint George Basin

Wednesday 19^th June 2013
Today was Cassandra’s birthday – happy birthday number one child!

Into the Saint George Basin and the Prince Regent River

Going by the weather reports on the HF radio every day they were predicting strong winds for the next few days. MrJ and I need a better anchorage than Ivy Cove for these conditions. So away we sailed, making a run for King George Basin and the Prince Regent River.

0830 we were passing Bat Island. MrJ was out front making an adjustment to the mainsail when the fish line went. I ran over to stop it, making a mess in the line. I was thinking bloody seaweed again!  But no! MrJ had to take over the hauling in to bring in a small bronze whaler shark. The shark had all but swallowed the lure so we had no other choice but to kill the shark and keep it for food. Fish for dinner! Just like the Hake or whatever we used to get in the fish shop years ago. Same thing; shark!

I can't catch a bloody thing.....................!

1130 as were begin our approach to King George Basin; we had passed Cape Wellington and were heading towards the passage between the mainland and Uwins Island when we see another boat, a tourist motor boat Oceanic Discoverer, coming out and then there was another motor boat heading in from behind Uwins Island. Bit like Pitt Street! The motor boats were way too fast for us!

The sky was very overcast and we even had a light shower of rain on the sail down. This overcast not quite drizzly weather was giving the scenery a blue feel: blue still water, blue grey sky and variations of blue through the land-form. Just beautiful!

We had caught the bottom of the tide as AR entered the narrow passage into the St George Basin. With MrJ at the helm and me keeping a good lookout; we were expecting lots of turbulence and whirlpools as was reported in all the guide books. But our passage in was smooth as!

Motoring through the St George Basin there were stunning views St Patrick's and St Andrews Islands with Mt Waterloo and Mt Trafalgar as the backdrops. We anchor in the SW of the Basin, just outside a creek and under the shadow of a huge headland red stone cliff. The afternoon had brought mixed winds and some light rain with a bit of slop across the water but we were settled for the night and both sleep good. And we had fish for dinner!