It was a Ripper of a Storm and I was absolutely determined that I would NOT be sending out an SOS on my very first day paddling.  This tempest would pass, just like the other one.  With complete 100% focus stabilising the kayak,  I stabbed my paddle into the crest of each oncoming wave and slid down the other side.  What there was to do was manage each forthcoming wave.  I braced against every sideswiping wave.  These conditions lasted for 30 minutes, then very slightly, the rain began to ease.  The swells decreased, but the wind maintained southerly at 30+ knots.  After about another 15 minutes, suddenly as if a switch had been flipped, the wind became light and variable and visibility was 15-20 kilometres.  The bad news was THERE WAS CAIRNS AGAIN!

Cairns in Stormclouds; A Sight I Saw Five Times!

These were the best paddling conditions I experienced all day and I wanted to make the most of them.  I was famished, so I crammed as much dried fruit and nuts into my mouth as I could, and kept paddling.  I probably gained five kilometres in the 30 minute lull, but just as the winds had stopped, bam, they became 30+ Southerlies once again.  It was about 3pm, I put my head down, drove my paddle as far forward as I could with each stroke, and soldiered on.  At 4:30pm, I became increasingly concerned.  I was making very little progress.

The tour boats resumed and yachties were sailing back into Cairns.  By now it was too late for me to make it into Cairns before dark.  Should I signal a boat?  I couldn’t bear going backwards to Cairns another time.  If anyone picked me up that’s where they would take me.  Even if they were going out, I couldn’t take a lift, that would be cheating.  No, my landing destination needed to be changed.  If I could just get to the leeward side of the peninsula I was aiming for, I would be protected from the wind, and find a beach to land.  After another hour, if I hadn’t made it to the cape by 5:30pm, plans would change once more.

The winds increased.  I was not making progress.  I was so close, but was not closing the gap between my present location and safety.  Was that really a beach on the peninsula?  The closest points to me were sheer rock going straight up.  That certainly wouldn’t do.  It was 5:30pm and last light was 7:20pm.  Time to make the call…

Not Looking Like a Good Choice