|
Steep Island, the Bluff and Raft Point from the seaward side |
Wednesday 26
th June 2013
Anchoring in Strong
Winds – Inside Raft Point, the Kimberley
|
Doubtful Bay |
MrJ and I were up and away at 0620 after the fun and games
with the anchor winch. The winch motor had given up the ghost completely by
this time and we were coming to grips with the manual winching. MrJ winched up
the anchor while I drive. We were heading further south.
The tour boat Great Escape had come into the inlet during
the night, I gave them a call on the VHF radio as we were leaving. I say G’day,
thank them for their assistance over at the King George River entrance many
weeks prior and wish them fair travels. Doesn't hurt to be nice to the tour
boats and there were a lot of them!
|
looking out Sampson's Inlet |
Outside Sampson’s Inlet the seas were very swelly; we had a
1mt W swell, tide was flooding S, ENE winds and we were sailing south. I could
feel that a headache was trying to happen! Every now and again I still suffered
from a slight form of sea-sickness and the headache was always the first sign.
I just needed to keep outside in the fresh breeze till the swell backed off.
Four hours out we were approaching the outside anchorage at
Langgi, a bay with interesting rock formations that give the impression of a
gathering of people. I t was a significant Aboriginal site. One guide book says
that they have only every managed to get into Langgi once due to unfavourable
conditions but had been past many times; they gave good information. The other
guide book showed a day anchorage outside with little information. MrJ edges
forward in a rolly sea with waves crashing on the rocks at both sides of the
bay entrance. I was not too happy!
|
looking at Langgi on the left --------------------------------------what the guide book shows as rock formations on the right |
|
small islands of thick sea weed all the way |
We did not stay, we did not anchor to go
ashore, the winds and the sea condition were not favourable for a comfortable
landing. We also did not get to go into the gutter at the Montgomery Reef which
was south west of Langgi. Boats go into the reef inlets at low spring tides to
observe the water rushing out of the lagoons in the reef and down over the
sides of the reef.
|
no fish either |
From Langgi AR followed the coast down till we came to a
large bay, Doubtful Bay (aptly named since it was an uncharted area) which had
scattered large island at the entrance. These island rise high from very deep
waters. MrJ steered AR into the bay between Steep Island and a most impressive
headland, The Bluff on Raft Point. The Bluff, Raft Point and Steep Island are
very high and imposing compared with the surrounding country, we could see them
from many miles out to sea.
|
the Bluff and Raft Point |
Raft Point: This area was an Aboriginal meeting and
ceremonial ground. It was named because this was where Aborigines rafted (rafts
made from the wood of the mangrove trees) from to Montgomery Reef. Dugong were
hunted, caught and then floated back to the meeting grounds. Aboriginal art may
be found on the west side of the cliffs.
|
we anchored the other side of this big bluff |
MrJ and I didn’t anchor at Raft Point (swell and wind in the
wrong direction) but instead we chose the anchorage just south of the headland
on the bay side, 16’05.850S – 124’28.838E. With all the mucking about with the
anchor winch we ended up with AR bum sticking out a bit; we had moved back
before the anchor had set. Thank goodness we had our anchor secure in the mud.
This
anchorage is protected from the NE winds which stayed with us all night and
then changed to the east just before dawn making the anchorage very sloppy. And
it was raining.................!!!
|
sunset behind the bluff |
I'm a bit surprised to hear you say you get sea-sick from time to time. I suppose it's like climbers having that one moment of vertigo. I know that's plagued me more than once. Hope you get that winch repaired! And thank you for including the Aboriginal history here.
ReplyDeleteThnx for your comment Crow
Delete