Canavieiras to Boipeba
The passage along Rio do Inferno to Boipeba is challenging and very risky if careful preparations are not made. Ron had made the trip before in a river launch and recorded a GPS track.
This morning we took the dinghy at low water and followed this track for most of the river. I recorded my own GPS track and Ron took regular soundings with a marked stick. This is a very tricky river with lots of shoals, no chart and no navigational aids.
After a short run ashore to have a quick look at Canavieiras we set off at 15:00. Kiriwina seemed to be running normally with a clean propellor.
Floating oyster bars at Canavieiras
The shallowest section is a bar at the beginning of Rio do Inferno. Ron crossed without difficulty but Kiriwina suddenly grounded in a depth of 0.9m. After 5 minutes of astern, forward, astern, forward and assisted by a rising tide she managed to pass over the bar. Fortunately the bottom was mud.
Kiriwina grounded shortly after this photo was taken.
A river launch passing close to port. She also must stay very close to the optimum route.
After the bar she stayed afloat but was several times within a centimetre or two of going aground. It is necessary to accurately follow one's GPS track and keep a close watch on the depth sounder.
Mangroves along the river. It is not yet high tide.
The gas boat, again passing very close.
Approaching the cliffs where the route makes a dog's leg 90º to starboard.
In the dog's leg with the sounder reading 1.4 metres which is 0.5 cm more than Kiriwina's design draft.
At 16:50 we anchored in the river about a mile from Boipeba pool in 3.3m of water. reaching he pool involves careful navigation around two shifting sandbanks which we will have to survey before proceeding.
Seaward entrance to Boipeba in the distance.
This morning we took the dinghy at low water and followed this track for most of the river. I recorded my own GPS track and Ron took regular soundings with a marked stick. This is a very tricky river with lots of shoals, no chart and no navigational aids.
After a short run ashore to have a quick look at Canavieiras we set off at 15:00. Kiriwina seemed to be running normally with a clean propellor.
Floating oyster bars at Canavieiras
The shallowest section is a bar at the beginning of Rio do Inferno. Ron crossed without difficulty but Kiriwina suddenly grounded in a depth of 0.9m. After 5 minutes of astern, forward, astern, forward and assisted by a rising tide she managed to pass over the bar. Fortunately the bottom was mud.
Kiriwina grounded shortly after this photo was taken.
A river launch passing close to port. She also must stay very close to the optimum route.
After the bar she stayed afloat but was several times within a centimetre or two of going aground. It is necessary to accurately follow one's GPS track and keep a close watch on the depth sounder.
Mangroves along the river. It is not yet high tide.
The gas boat, again passing very close.
Approaching the cliffs where the route makes a dog's leg 90º to starboard.
In the dog's leg with the sounder reading 1.4 metres which is 0.5 cm more than Kiriwina's design draft.
At 16:50 we anchored in the river about a mile from Boipeba pool in 3.3m of water. reaching he pool involves careful navigation around two shifting sandbanks which we will have to survey before proceeding.
Seaward entrance to Boipeba in the distance.
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