Hi
Happy 2023 to you.
Nancy and I hope that you were able to enjoy some relaxing time with family and friends over the Christmas/New Year period.
Just before leaving Croker Island the rangers decided to have another go at retrieving a large ghost net snagged on a reef at McClure Island - one of the outer islands east of Croker Island. The weather conditions were good and the tide was right. After numerous attempts, we were successful. Below are a series of short videos and photos of the operation.
On the way to McClure Island we went via New Year Island to check everything was in order there - this is a popular spot for commercial fishing vessels and yachts. The video below shows the north side of New Year and the flat sea conditions. Note the tops of storm clouds in the far distance.
At McClure Island we attempted to pull the net off the reef. With each attempt we could feel parts of the net breaking away from the reef. By pulling in different directions we eventually broke it free of the reef. The latter part of the video below shows the shallow water we were operating in. Being able to see the bottom confirms that we were moving - all be it slowly. Once we got the net moving we headed straight for deeper water.
Shaun and Bryan watching on.
A ghost net this size is very heavy to pull. The next video shows this clearly. We planned to tow the net around the northern point of the McClure Island, around to the western side of the island where there is much less reef protecting the beach. This will be a much safer place to leave the net during the approaching monsoon season with its predominately north westerly winds. As the tide was against us during the initial part of this trip we could only manage 3-4 kms per hour while burning 32-34 litres per hour. Thankfully we had brought extra fuel with us.
Garngi ranger Ashton below.
Once we rounded the point and started heading south our speed reach a breathtaking 8 kms per hour. The slow progress resulted in us reaching the destination in the dark. We needed to pick our way through the reef to the beach to avoid the net getting snagged, so elected to anchor outside the reef, sleep on the boat and wait for the morning light and a slightly higher tide. Below, Garngi rangers Clayton and Shaun are enjoying the cooler evening after the sun had sunk below the horizon.
We slept reasonably well and were greeted with this lovely sunrise.
We found a passage through the reef .......
And then we were able to bring the net quite close to the beach at the high tide.
We pulled the last few metres by hand - see photo below. Once an anchor was attached, we were able to do one last job before heading for home.
We had to erect a sign reminding people that even though these islands are very remote and uninhabited, they are private land and permission is required to enter.
As I write this blog post in Yarraman, Queensland, the monsoon has fired up in northern Australia.
At this stage I am due back at Croker Island on 16 January however Nancy may need to have knee surgery, which will delay my return. More to come on that.
Blessings and stay safe.
Bryan and Nancy
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