Australia on Fire

by | Dec 31, 2019 | Australia, New South Wales Coast, Tasman Sea | 2 comments

Bateman’s Bay is apparently a beautiful spot, however we wouldn’t know it because Australia is on fire! The smoke is causing 1) the boat to be filled with ash again, 2) breathing is an issue. Can’t imagine what it would be like for the firefighters trying to control the blaze and the residents trying to protect their homes. Found out today that Dave has gone out to the Kangaroo Valley near Sydney to help his sister and husband evacuate their home because of the fires. As we have been sitting here looking at the fires across the bay and waiting for the northerly winds to turn southerly you can see the smoke rising above the township causing the town to look like it is ablaze as well. Really hope that the rain starts falling so that the fires can be controlled. By 21 December 2019, the fires had burnt over 3,000,000 hectares, destroyed over 700 houses and killed at least 9 people.

 

The southerlies have kicked in and the temperature dropped 10C from about 34C to around 24C and the wind picked up. We saw 42knots at one point. It got so bad where we were that we have just moved anchorages to behind Snapper Island. This should protect us tonight while the wind is from the south. All going well we might make our way out of the bay around the corner to Broulee Island. Maybe it will get us out of the smoke.

 

2 Comments

  1. Mark

    Happy New Year,
    I’m guessing you were in Sydney Harbour for the fireworks on NYE. Staggering to think you were getting bushfire ash in the boat!
    I too have friends and relatives fighting fires on their properties.
    Sad that our federal government is still in climate change denial… but they are starting to realise that they look like idiots.
    Michelle and me putting a team together for the Bundy tournament in Feb.

    Sail safe.
    Cheers, Mark

    Reply
    • Noel McDowell

      Hi Mark,
      No we didn’t stay in Sydney Harbour for the fireworks. There was a couple that we met along the way and they were staying. We headed for Jervis Bay and ended up in Batemans Bay at NY. Ran into some smoke and then nasty weather. All safe , now at Broulee Island completely socked in with the smoke form the fires. They had major power outages and cell phone outages here. Just got it back this morning. Trying for clear skies today. Have fun in Bundy!

      Cheers,
      Noel and Jacqui.

      Reply

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