saloonpassage

Tuesday November 27th:

Yesterday (Monday); We were all a little lethargic today after our adventures on Sunday but John & Garry gathered the energy to take the dinghy out beyond the rocky outcrop to do some fishing in the morning, promising to bring back snapper for dinner, (haha we wish 😊) needless to say we ended up having a small flathead that John had caught earlier and a couple of leather jackets John Staples had left with us, but they had fun anyway! After lunch we took the dinghies out again to explore some more of this beautiful place…………..

It’s Thursday afternoon (November 29th.) now, I had started to draft that post on Tuesday morning, intending to finish it by the end of the day, detailing our activities for the Monday & Tuesday. Well, that was the intention anyway, but Tuesday night went like this;-

John and Sue came over to Saloon Passage bringing along the ingredients for John to cook up a storm, though that might be a poor choice of words considering what was to come!

After dinner we sat around discussing whether we should leave early in the morning or spend the day here and go back to Nelson Bay late on the Wednesday afternoon, (we’d given up the idea of calling in to Lake macquarie – we were having too much fun here and didn’t want to leave) we needed to fuel up for the trip back to Brooklyn on Thursday.

The wind started to blow a fair bit, but we weren’t worried about it, we’d checked the weather report, as always, throughout the day, and the prediction was around 10 knots. The guys checked our position anyway and we were fine, after all the anchors had held for the past 3 nights here – everything was fine. We went back to our discussion, waiting for the wind to slow down before John & Sue headed back to their boat.

Then in the blink of an eye there was a roaring sound, like an explosion in the distance. It was pitch black as we looked out the back of the boat, we could just make out the beach when we realized we were heading for it. Garry raced to start the boat, winching up the anchor and driving forward, then more roaring sounds, John was peering out the back, watching the shore getting closer, yelling directions to Garry, who couldn’t see where we were, because it was so dark and with wet clears it was impossible to see anything! I was trying to open the front clears so he could see ahead, we’d spun sideways and I could see we were heading for the rocks which seemed to be looming at us, I started yelling to reverse he kept trying to but the boat was still heading that way (it seemed that the wind was more powerful than the motors!) we were all yelling directions at him, we could hear the rocks crunching underneath – it was sickening, then the wind got us on the side with such velocity pushing us back again, off the rocks, towards the sand, then we stopped! dead, and started to lurch over we could hear the waves all around us.

We could see John and Sue’s boat out there, they’d left lots of lights on for Missy (their little dog) who was still on board. John wanted to go out but Sue & I pleaded not to go, it was too dangerous, the wind was really blowing, an their boat, at first glance, appeared to be secure, then we realized how close it was to the rocks on the far side, Just Chill’n had dragged too! There was no stopping John now, he jumped in the dinghy with Garry intending to go too, we begged him not to go as we were still lurching around with every wave that hit, we were at about a 30% angle, having to brace ourselves against anything solid. We watched the dinghy as it went over it was being fiercely tossed around, when John got to his boat he had to dive onto their back deck. We thought we saw the dinghy turn over (we found out later it had) but didn’t know if John had made it or not as we couldn’t see him straight up, then breathed a sigh of relief when we saw his silhouette heading up to the fly bridge.

Johns own ordeal was just beginning. His boat had dragged a lot more towards the rocks, he had the same problem as Garry did – not being able to see his location (I’ve never seen a night so dark). But we could see his boat (all lit up) quite clearly and Garry tried to direct him over the radio. His boat had already gone over some rocks and incurred some damage, and seemed to be going every which way. He got clear of those rocks and got the anchor up after much difficulty. He needed to get out a bit so his radar & gps would pick him up, but ended up going towards the rocks we’d just been on, he seemed to be stuck there for a while, meantime Garry got on to marine rescue & informed them of the situation, they were sending the water police out but wouldn’t be there for at least 90 minutes. John finally got free of the rocks & started going out, again going in circles at one stage heading towards another reef a lot further away from us. If his boat hit out there & broke up it would be way too far to swim back to shore & his dinghy was overturned, Sue & I secretly wished he’d get beached like us, firmly stuck in the sand at least we weren’t going anywhere.

After what seemed hours John was in a clear spot (pretty much where we were at the start of the day) he was going to try to hang there for a while till the police arrived, then after a while decided to drop the anchor and hope for the best as his boat was not responding, nothing was working properly. We all felt pretty defeated at this stage but thankful to be alive at least for the moment. Johns anchor seemed to be holding and the wind not that strong now, the police arrived and made sure we were all ok, there was nothing they could do tonight, and promised to return in the morning. Sue was frantically worried about John and also Missy, we didn’t know her fate, but we were expecting the worst. After another hour or so the wind eased even more and Garry said he could take Sue over to John. It turned out that Missy was ok, but pretty shaken up, Sue found her hiding but dripping wet. I have no idea what time it was but probably about 3am. Garry & I tried to close our eyes & rest, but no matter how exhausted we were, could only lay there listening to our possessions falling about as downstairs filled with seawater.

Wednesday morning finally came & we could assess the damage. It all looks pretty gruesome, a big hole in the bottom, broken glass all over the galley floor, our stuff (clothes, household appliances, etc) floating everywhere, water in the back cabin and engine room. Another high tide in a few hours so we’re expecting more damage.

The police arrived with 2 water pumps but that wasn’t enough and they called for maritime to bring another one. The idea was to pump the water out patch the hole if they could then tow us back. Meanwhile John had dived down under his boat to check it out, there didn’t appear to be any leaks but the props were a pretty knocked about and there was rope tangled around them (from his upturned dinghy) which explains him not having any control over the boat the night before. He thinks he can limp it back to Nelson Bay when we get towed. However, the police gave up on our boat as they couldn’t pump out as fast as the water was coming in. They assessed the damage was too great and the boat needed to be salvaged by professionals. We could be stuck here for a while, we could leave the boat there and go back with the police they said, but Garry won’t leave the boat unattended and I won’t leave without him – he’s liable to get himself into trouble without me! 😍.

John & Sue wanted to stay with us but we insisted they go back to Nelson Bay, as we were ok & quite safe (just uncomfortable) and they needed to get back to see Johns mum, who wasn’t well, they also needed to tell their girls before they heard about it from someone else. So with heavy hearts they set off, we knew they didn’t want to leave and were very upset to do so, but there was no choice.

The bilge pump had run all Tuesday night so the boat batteries are dead, to my utter horror I realized that this means no working toilets, no fresh water for a shower and no two way radio, we still have our mobile phones but not sure how long those batteries will last for.

After Just Chill’n left we spent a couple of hours on the beach picking up some of our stuff that had been washed ashore. The water had risen to waist deep in the bedroom and clothes & cosmetics etc had been floating around the cabin everywhere most of which got washed out when the police were trying to pump out the water.

Later that afternoon we saw John & Shelly’s boat coming toward us, John & Sue were aboard with them. Just Chill’n had made it back ok, told John & Shelly what had happened, they all came straight back out to us. They took us over to their boat for a shower and something to eat. They’d bought us out supply’s of food & ice, we ended up with more more food in the fridge than normal, they’ve all been such good friends.

After a couple of hours they headed back to Nelson bay leaving us to our first night on the island alone. We toyed with the idea of sleeping on the beach but ruled it out as the March flys, which are enormous, would eat us alive! So we bedded down on the fly bridge but we barely lost consciousness as every time we started to doze off we’d slacken our grip & crumple into a heap – sleep is impossible with the boat at this angle!

The salvage guy (Des) had been out to have a look saying he’d return to patch the hull Thursday afternoon, at low tide, then try to re float us on Thursday night on the high tides if possible.

Thursday morning came and we started to lean over even more as the tide had washed away more of the sand under us. It was getting too hard to move around, and not sure how much further it would lean, so we decided to abandoned ship, take some food supplies, blankets and chairs ashore. I’d found some citronella candles and (miraculously) a dry box of matches so if necessary we might be able to sleep on the sand tonight.

The tide is quite high this morning & with the boat leaning over even more, every cabin inside the boat is underwater. Possessions we had stacked on the port side (the high side) to keep dry, just keep sliding down into the water, there’s nothing we can do. Garry went back on board to take some photos, incase we need them for insurance purposes. When he bought the camera back to the beach (we don’t want to lose that too) he told me he could smell sewage on board he said the holding tank must be backing up because of the water level. We can’t leave it like that, the valve needs to be closed off before it leaks otherwise pollution will be all along the beach, Garry went back on board, dived down into the engine room & closed the valve – my smelly hero! 😘💕💕

So, as i said, it’s Thursday afternoon right now, I’m sitting on the beach (staying out of the way) watching the salvage guy, Des, and Garry, trying to float what was once our pride & joy. I wish to god I’d asked John & Shelly if they had any aroguard because I’m ready to go mad with these flys biting me, the only repellent we have is some lavender oil (from our bathroom cupboard) I’d found washed up on the beach, and also, unfortunately, couldn’t find the sunscreen and its a beautiful hot, very sunny, day. I’m thinking (to myself), I’m acting like a bit of a princess (worrying about sunscreen) but I know I’ll be sorry in the days to come! At this point both our phone batteries have died, the iPad won’t be far behind, the only thing that’s keeping me from having a big panic attack is knowing we have the eperb in the case of an emergency.

Thursday night: Des managed to partly patch the hull, we’re still taking on water but at a slower rate. He also got a balloon under the boat to help lift us more upright, it will deflate by morning, so we’ll go over again, but at least for the moment we can spend the night on the flybridge again and maybe get a little rest. Des finished up at 11pm and said he’d be back first thing in the morning to finish the patching, he’d bring more balloons and another boat to tow us back. It’s important they get us off the island on Friday because there’s a big southerly predicted as well as super high tides, if we’re still here we’re likely to be washed on the rocks and our boat will break up, which could pretty much mean an environmental disaster and, if we stay, none too good for us either. After Des left, Garry & I were laying on our makeshift beds listening to the Mutton birds (who inhabit the island) making the weirdest sounds, it’s a full moon & it sounds like a satanic ritual going on – I’m glad we didn’t have to sleep on the beach tonight after all!!

Friday morning: As promised Des arrived with his team, just ahead of them was John, Shelly, John and Sue, they’d bought more supplies (& moral support) in case the salvage efforts didn’t work. All went pretty much the way Des planned it, 4 large airbags were attached under the boat to refloat it, the hull was patched but he still had to run water pumps, as the boat was towed, because seawater was still coming in. Gaz & I had a bit of a disagreement (I was cranky as all heck!!) because he insisted I go back to Nelson bay on John & Shelly’s boat instead of coming in on Saloon Passage with him. Saying it was too dangerous for me – I guess he bloody well thought I’d been having a picnic for the last 3 days!!!! 😡

Anyway, John stayed insight of the towing entourage, having to double back to check on them on a couple of occasions when we saw the tow rope break! The wind was starting up & there was was at least a 2 meter swell, that southerly wasn’t far away! Garry has since told me that the pump also stopped a one point, apparently a pair of my pantyhose had got stuck in it (such embarrassment!). John eventually headed back & left them to it. Saloon passage was towed into Noakes shipyard about 2 hours after we got back.

A little poem composed by our mate Gary Hewes