Another day of Elliot-ness

The winds continue to howl out of the SW, preventing an attempt on the 42km crossing to Lady Musgrave. I'm learning about the different risk factors in expeditioning, especially where distances of this nature are concerned. The conditions we see off the island here are dream stuff for an hours blast, playing & surfing in breaking waves & steep swell & chop. On a committing crossing however, they'd make rafting up nearly impossible, and the reality of the cross wind means we'd have to bear 15 degrees into the wind to allow for the boats being bashed back onto the rhumb line. The five or six hours we'd budgeted for the Musgrave crossing would more likely turn into an epic of more than double that, with the consequences of a problem being a quick drift to seaward, so in this case discretion is better than valour.

While the BOM people are predicting rising SW winds 30 knots over the coming 24 hours, a couple of alternative models are suggesting a lull tomorrow morning to a wind speed we feel confident about, despite it remaining off our beam. It sure is a wacky synoptic, with winds dropping off & then cranking again several times in the day. 

So, the tenuous plan again for tomorrow is to have everything packed & ready to go for an 8am start, after checking the weather predictions. The trade winds would be sending a few people broke if they were still relied on for commerce!

In the meantime the island staff continue to treat us like royalty. Graham, the well travelled island manager yesterday took us up the old lighthouse to see if we could get a bead on Musgrave.

Graham, the Island GM

Despite the day being crystal clear, we just saw yet another flat horizon line. It was a real treat to get the chance to go up into the historical building & will remain a highlight of our trip.

Rob & I took the chance at high tide to go for a snorkel in the front lagoon, & had several close encounters with Loggerhead turtles, Groper, the resident clownfish & even a couple of 6ft Black Tip Reef Sharks. 

  

I've never been in the water in such proximity to sharks before & chased them around with my video camera, much to their utter indifference. Obviously well fed in the plentiful lagoon!

Whales are constantly swimming past the island in long convoys of blowhole explosions & arched humped backs, quite magical. Despite the frustration of not being able to move north we're very lucky to be in a place with such abundant hospitality & natural beauty.

Mark, Rob & Chris.