Iluka

I stayed in Runaway bay for 4 nights waiting for the low to move off the coast and for the strong southerlies to die down. I judged that Thursday they had started to die down enough, but it was still a pretty strenuous trip. Seaway bar had quite a swell on it, one in particular looked like a mountain coming toward me, it was over 4 meters and probably closer to 5. definitely the largest I have ever crossed. Paragon went up and up and then crashed down the far slope. Quite frightening.

The rest of the trip was pretty bad, head winds most of the way, tacking back and forward, but not making a great deal of progress, took me 14 hours to do the 48 miles to Byron Bay. Average of 3.6 knots. Anchored in the bay overnight, quite a pleasent night and a welcome rest.

Yesterday, Friday, I left Byron Bay at 0500 and had a relatively easy trip to Iluka. The southerlies have finally dropped off and at times I had some nice south westerlies and did some serious sailing. Got to Clarence River just on sunset, which was a bit of a problem because the track up the river to Iluka is west, straight into sun. Dropped anchor at 1725.

Having a day off today before tackling the last 2 legs to Port Macquarie, about 13 hours tomorrow to Coffs Harbour and 16 hours Monday to Port.