We were up with the sun this morning at Thomas Island as the promised wind shift arrived early. (I know weather forecasting is not an exacting science, and I appreciate they work very hard, and I don’t wish to sound ungrateful, but in the last two weeks the weather’s been leading the forecast by 12 to 24 hours!)
We sailed around to Shaw Island and arrived just ahead of the pack which had used Lindeman Island as their night anchorage. We found a spot out to one side that hopefully keeps up out of their way. One vessel dragged mid-morning in the middle of a big gust of wind. That had us all standing on our back decks hopping from one foot to the other. They managed to re-set the anchor and are now happily rocking like the rest of us.
Anchored at Shaw Island
An interesting vessel has shared our anchorage for the last three nights and I had to look them up – I sound like such a stalker – because many boats have an interesting heritage. This one took some digging, but she’s a retired New Zealand Naval Patrol Boat that has an ice-strengthened hull, amongst other handy features, who’s been turned into a charter vessel. Their veggie garden makes mine look like an amateur attempt! I think it’s lovely that vessels like that can find a second home as there’s nothing sadder than seeing a grand old lady cut up for scrap metal.
The Sarasu
Tonight we’re hoping the winds ease a little. We’ll probably stay in the lee of Shaw for another day – apparently there’s a walk across the island (thanks, Brett Swann) so I’ll drag Capt G ashore tomorrow to explore.
There’s smoke over the mainland – probably a cane farmer enjoying a good burn-off – so the sunset was glorious again tonight. And I thought I’d share a photo of an osprey that was nesting at Pelican Island.
Sleep well 🙂
Osprey on Pelican Island
Osprey on the wing
Sunset at Shaw Island
