Reveley Island

From Lacrosse Island we headed further along the WA coast, going north and west, deeper into the Kimberley.

There are a number of sandbanks that run along the Ord River channels, built up by the fast running tides, so time of tide was important in planning our exit from the Ord. We headed off from Lacrosse Island at first light to make the most of the ebb tide flow out the river, with no wind at all, but the forecast light breeze from the SE soon started and we sailed all day with the symmetrical spinnaker and no main, as this arrangement is so flexible with light following breeze. Gybing is simply a matter of adjusting the spinnaker in and out on each hull, and is very simple.

Our next big destination is to head back in to the Berkeley River and check what has changed since last year. The lodge on the beach at the mouth of the Berkeley took a direct hit from Cyclone Fina and was reported to be completed destroyed. When we saw the resort last year, I noted that the buildings didn’t look to be safe in strong winds, with large overhanging roofs that look like kites, so I was interested in looking at what damage might have occurred.

The entrance to the Berkeley is heavily silted with the sands and gravel carried down the gorge, and we expected the entrance to have changed a bit as a result of the flood. The prudent choice for crossing the bar was to anchor offshore at the mouth of the river next to Reveley Island, and to plan to enter the river at the top of the flood tide tomorrow. We are at neap tides now, and the depths are not as great as when there are spring tides next week, so this is even more important now.