They almost made it,5.45 and chastised by Rod for being late.It turns out they had toilet troubles about 3 am,only just fixed when the crew arrived.Things were only middling.
We had the luxury of sleeping in,well you do not go back to sleep after an event.I wrote my blog and Ben dozed for a while.
He got up and started breakfast.Better go and pull the pot Nick set last night,bingo he had a cray,unfortunately on measuring the female we had to return it to the water,as it was two millimeters under the minimum size.
Solquest departed for Point Hibbs and we washed up from the night before,the only time on the whole trip when we have left it,yesterday must have been a tiring day.
The Lady Jane cruise vessel came out through Hells Gates with their tourists and around to Cape Sorell.The day was as good as you would want here,sunshine and a light easterly breeze As I mentioned Ben pulled the pot ,we measured Nicks cray and left to catch up on Solquest.
It was surprising how much the swell had gone down overnight,now only about 1.5 meters.
On nearing Hibbs I called them on the radio,Josh advised they still have some filming to do.
Yes you can go out to the shelf.
I had a rough position for the Stripie bottom there from Mathew the fisherman in Strahan and Guy Grining said the same spot so off Ben and I went full of hope.
It was only 10 miles so we arrived after about half an hour.
Fishermen do not give you exact Lat and Long positions.They say out in so many fathoms and look for a certain type of bottom with some feed on it.
Well we found the depth ok between 128 and 131 meters and the type as well however the missing ingredient was the feed and the Stripies.We caught quite a few of Gurnards , red faces to George one of my fishing friends.
After an hour or so we left to move down the coast to catch up Solquest as Josh wished to get off and film her sailing.Ben and I had worked out she would be at about Low Rocky Point and so I set a course for there.
After about an hour and a half we could not see her on the Radar and I could not raise them on the radio,we had arranged to use channel 72 .I wonder where they are?
Could they be behind us,no we decided so we pressed on,we got a dot on the Radar,that must be them ,keep going they are 7 miles on.As we closed on the Radar plot we realized the target was a fishing boat setting pots and was a bit out to sea of a direct line to the West Pyramid a land mark you first see when approaching Davey.
Hmm better keep going no target on the Radar,call up again ,got a reply but unreadable,thought we heard South of Low Rocky.Pressed on and about thirty minutes later saw another blip on the screen,thank goodness for that,must be them.After a little while we could see their sail.Solquest's Radar signal is not that strong and my transmitter is really not very high so the range is only about seven miles.May be we should have put a reflector on her for the trip.I can see fishing boats out to at least ten miles.
The poor radio reception on Masterpiece is to be resolved.They can hear us ok but their signal is not coming through over seven miles.I don't think my radio is faulty but we will see when we get back to VHF range later on.
We finally caught up seventeen miles south of Low Rocky,She must have averaged considerably more speed than I calculated with the following breeze.
We off loaded the crew and waisted no time in filming her sailing,she made a beautiful sight for and old retired sailor ,shooting down the waves in the late afternoon sun.Just as we started filming a pod of dolphins showed up,do not leave us out they seemed to say.
Josh said they had been around all day and when he was up on the bow looking at them one came up and turned in his side to look at him.
We were going to try and film the wreck on the beach North of Davey at Svenor point but time had beaten us so we compromised by shooting the West Pyramid as the sun was getting low and Solquest would not make it in the daylight .Gilly had a bit of luck there as when we approached the sun lit up most of it,the effect was quite stunning with the hills in the background.Might make ten seconds in the final wash up.
Steamed over to Breaksea Island in the fading light to put our pot down,you won't get anything down there the Strahan fishermen told us,they are finished there.
We will see.Have two chances .
Called up Morrie Wolf to arrange tomorrow's fishing trip for the farmers,hope he is successful as we really have not done well so far .
Saw Solquest come in under a waning moon to Brambles .Had dinner,watched the West Coast Fishing video to prepare Gilly and Gary for Morrie tomorrow and into the bunk,another long day.
Nicks cray goes back.
Sunset.
View from our anchorage,a treat for the farmers and crew in the morning I think.
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