Boipeba to Cairu
We left Boipeba pool at 14:10 with the tide in full flood. It was a strong spring tide and I could not pull the anchor up by hand. It was necessary to use the windlass.
At 14:45 we crossed took the dogs leg turn across the river towards the cliffs. My sounder read 0.4m which meant 1.3 meteres of water and as close to going aground as I can get without actually doing so. A few minutes later just after the cliffs Kiriwina slowed as she ploughed mud on the bottom. She kept going though and reached deeper water.
Rio do Inferno was cleared with a sigh of relief at 15:20. Kiriwina is right on the limit for safe navigation of this river. She grounded on the outbound trip and touched bottom today. In the event we didn't take Ron's shortcut. I wouldn't have anyway but Ron decided against it as well. This river is subject to silting and depths constantly change. I'm glad I did it but I think the margin is a bit tight for Kiriwina and would be more likely to take the seaward route if I went again.
At 17:30 we anchored off Cairu for the night. There is no problem navigating from the Rio Inferno to Cairu on a rising tide as there are only a few shallower patches. However to do even this section without local knowledge is still very hazardous. I had recorded a GPS track from the launch when we visited São Sebastiao a couple of weeks back. The assumption being that if a river launch drawing 0.75 can get through at low tide Kiriwina drawing around 1.4m should be able to get through on a 2m spring tide.
At 14:45 we crossed took the dogs leg turn across the river towards the cliffs. My sounder read 0.4m which meant 1.3 meteres of water and as close to going aground as I can get without actually doing so. A few minutes later just after the cliffs Kiriwina slowed as she ploughed mud on the bottom. She kept going though and reached deeper water.
Rio do Inferno was cleared with a sigh of relief at 15:20. Kiriwina is right on the limit for safe navigation of this river. She grounded on the outbound trip and touched bottom today. In the event we didn't take Ron's shortcut. I wouldn't have anyway but Ron decided against it as well. This river is subject to silting and depths constantly change. I'm glad I did it but I think the margin is a bit tight for Kiriwina and would be more likely to take the seaward route if I went again.
At 17:30 we anchored off Cairu for the night. There is no problem navigating from the Rio Inferno to Cairu on a rising tide as there are only a few shallower patches. However to do even this section without local knowledge is still very hazardous. I had recorded a GPS track from the launch when we visited São Sebastiao a couple of weeks back. The assumption being that if a river launch drawing 0.75 can get through at low tide Kiriwina drawing around 1.4m should be able to get through on a 2m spring tide.
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