Saturday 15 November
Got away at 0600 hrs and the winds a bit strong but it’s from the south so I’m going with it . Passed Cape Bedford and lost all my instruments’, blown fuse, wonder what else will go wrong. Steering seems a bit funny!!
Arrived at Cape Flattery , there’s a silica mine and loading dock on the southern end , it had a ship in loading when I passed.

Moved around the northern edge to shelter from the wind. Just as I’m coming up to anchor I lost all steering. Quickly put out the anchor and investigated. First things first I put three beers in the freezer, no matter what happens I’ll need them.
Behind the steering wheel the cable that runs to the rudder has broken. I sit and look at the distant shape of Lizard Island. So close and yet so far.
Broken bits
The broken end of the cable.
NO, I’m not going to give up.

This is a low , low point.

Out with the tools and after 2 hours I’ve made a steering arm straight off the rudder. It seems to work, I’ll try it out to Lizard Island in the morning.

The new steering wheel

With an aluminium box rod that I was going to make a seat out of. I heated the end of it and flattened it with a hammer, drilled a hole through it and attached it to the top of the rudder shaft, a couple of hose clips help to support it.
I attached a broken anchor light pole to the top of the aluminium box pipe and used that to steer with.
Now for those cold beers.