Abrolhos Week 2 - Rendezvous at Rat
After a week in the Pelsaert Group, it was time for us to head north west to the Easter Group of islands where our eldest daughter, Jemma, was flying in to join us for a couple of weeks. Jemma was due to fly into Rat Island ‘International’ on the Monday, so on the Sunday we made the passage up the Pelsaert Lagoon before putting some sail up to get across the Zeewijk Channel that runs between the Pelsaert and Easter group of islands.
Easter Group Chart - Aus 83
It is a 10nm sail across to the south east corner of the group, where we would be entering in just south of Wooded Island. Typical for the Abrolhos, as soon as you leave the shelter of the islands you are straight into deep water, and this passage was no exception with it dropping straight to a depth of 45 metres. We were also exposed to the ocean swell so it was definitely worth throwing a lure out the back. Trolling whilst sailing can be good and bad - sometimes you need to be careful what you wish for, as trying to land a big tuna or mackerel can take time and this means slowing the boat etc; which can be a pain in the a@#!
The passage was straightforward, and apart from a tricky entrance into the group where you have tide, wind and swell all meeting at a narrow channel, it was uneventful. We travelled east up Wooded Island Passage with the small islands of Roma, Bushby and Little Rat, and eventually, Rat Island on our port side. The shacks in this group are brightly coloured, albeit it seemed all but abandoned with the exception of Rat Island. Our plan was to head to some moorings near a small sand cay called White Bank, from which we could have some shelter from the forecast strong winds, as well as provide a fairly short trip in ‘Bob’ (our dinghy) to get across to the airport for our rendezvous with Jemma.
Monday morning arrived, as did the forecast strong south easterlies, which of course was the direction in which we needed to take Bob to get to the airport. Donning our spray jackets and a stiff upper lip, we departed into a gusty south easter, taking plenty of spray over the side. By the time we were in the lee of the island, Pete was well and truly soaked through. We weren’t exactly sure where we needed to go to access the airport - information is a bit scant and we weren’t keen to continue on down the island into the wind - so we found some access at the eastern end of the island.
We secured Bob and started to make our way down to where we thought the airport was. About 250metres from where we started, and as we were walking past and admiring the quaintly coloured shacks, we get a telling off by a fella on a four wheel motorbike for being where we were not allowed. We pleaded ignorance and promptly got turned around and asked to remove ourselves and our dinghy down to the Fisheries jetty - as apparently that is where you are supposed to go. Of course the Fisheries jetty is not marked as such, just look for the newest shed and you will find it. So, tails between our legs, we returned to Bob and set off once again, into the chop and down to the Fisheries jetty, which we then discovered we couldn’t really tie off to. So, we tied off to the private jetty that was on one half of it. Confused? - we were!
Once ashore, we walked past the Fisheries office and accommodation which was deserted, however there was clear signage and a nice path to the Rat Island ‘International’ Airport. On the path, we met the local Silver Chain nurse (bad form, but we can’t remember her name) who has been on the Island for the past seventeen years. We were also introduced to her husband - he was the gruff one who sent us packing earlier!! Some nice chat and story swapping and soon we were all best of mates as we walked to the terminal area, which consists of some blue metal and a corrugated roof shelter.
In no time, we heard the buzz of the Geraldton Air Charter airvan and soon it was on the ground and taxiing over to the terminal apron, that just being some nice dirt. As soon as the pilot, Jenna, had jumped out we wondered off to greet Jemma as she emerged from the front seat with a massive grin having just had a great aerial view of the Abrolhos, including a quick stopover at East Wallabi airport to drop off some passengers. Having dropped her husband to the airplane, the local nurse was happy to put Jemma’s backpack and the many bags of fresh green stuff (spinach!!) that she had brought over, in the trailer of the four wheel motorbike and we headed back to the Fisheries jetty. We ended up having a long chat and she gave us some brochures that provided information in case of medical emergencies in the Islands. Whilst Rat Island was the only location with an actual Nursing Post, there are RFDS style medical chests at a number of locations across the Islands, so these can be accessed in times of emergency. The Nursing Post also monitors Marine Channel 16, so you could call up if there was an issue - reassuring to know when we are spending our time around these parts.
A quick downwind run back to Singularity, and we got Jemma all settled in. This included a safety brief from Pete, including allocation and fitting of lifejacket and harness, as well as a brief on the EPIRB, radios, gas, water and all those important items to know whilst being on the boat.
With strong winds over the next few days, we spent out time catching up and talking, with some snorkelling and exploration at Whitebank, which was a quick, but very deep and unsettling swim away. With a little protection from the wind, these little excursions rewarded us with some quality seal lion time. Something we will never forget. You can check out the video gallery to see just how friendly and inquisitive these little guys were.
We knew that Captain Ash on Silverado was heading to the Easter Group with a few guests we new, namely the Hewitt brothers (Ben and Tim) and Grant Trew, for their annual Abrolhos hit out. Ash dropped us a text to say that there was a mooring free next to them at Morley Island, about 2.5nm from White Bank. We quickly jumped into action and headed back across Wooded Island Passage and down to Morley Island. It was good to catch up with the guys and Jen Mickle, who was the #1 deckie and hostess for the trip, which included dinner and a few drinks followed by a short, but wet, dark dinghy ride the 100 metres back to Singularity - with 30+ knots on the beam. Yep - wet again!!
