As it happened

The trip from Quindalup (Dunsborough) definitely qualifies in the Diamond Days department.
With so much apprehension about this sector of the journey we were quite keyed up about leaving. The yacht Annie which had left on the same mission not 4 days before, was returning from a hammering around the Capes. The Southern Ocean was unkind and they decided it was no place for them. Almost the sum of all fears materializing. Smashing into 30 knot headwinds in a heavy sea we hoped would not be what we were signing up for. Our forecasts certainly did not indicate such an outcome but you never know with any certainty. So the attempts to retire early in preparation for the 0200 departure time were unsuccessful.  The Bloke lay listless on the seats in the cockpit while I remained below in the same state. Around 11pm having abandoned hopes for easy sleep we saw the lights on Annie's mast bob around the headland in search of the sanctuary of the anchorage in Quindalup. The Bloke grabbed a torch to signal that someone had spotted them. The flashing was returned and Annie  approached initially searching for the mooring that they had left a few days earlier. Exhausted and unsuccessful, Annie was assisted to a suitable near mooring by the Bloke illuminating one for them. Job done. Relief was palpable across the glassy calm bay both from Annie that had got back and from us that they'd made it. Phew!
We were pretty prompt letting go the mooring. Urchin asked to be allowed out first as they wanted to use Easy Tiger and Zofia as beacons to pass between and miss any obstacles. The race committee has this noted. There was a small kerfuffle on Easy Tiger as a hatch handle came off in Leanne's hand while closing all the hatches prior to departure. Inventively, gaffer tape on was employed to secure the hatch. Tomorrow 5 minute aroldite will make a permanent fix. In no time we were off. The moon was still up and and only 4 days from being full. The sky was crystal clear and we were treated to a show from the Geminoid Meteor Shower. Quite dramatic. The moon set behind the Cape Naturaliste lighthouse as we entered open waters. So this was IT!
The Bloke had been planning this trip for eons on the iPad from the comfort our bed in the apartment and suddenly we were acting it all out, how weird! The trip plan was to get around the Capes during daylight. Leaving at 0200 gave us 2 hours to get to Naturaliste for the first pink of daybreak and he chose to motor there ensuring that batteries would all be fully charged in readiness for all the nav gear, radar and AIS to be up - and for hot water so we could shower on the way (the Bloke's idea). How's that for optimism... Time for a shower on the way?
Naturally, because we were 3 boats, we were racing and we got to Cape Naturaliste  earlier than bargained for and found ourselves immediately breasting ocean swells and very little wind. More motoring. The iron donkey had a big work out in tandem with one sail for stability for a fair chunk of time between the Capes and we were sufficiently close to shore to be able to make out the various iconic townships best known for their surf; Meelup, Yallingup, Gracetown, Cowaramup, Margaret River was an important landmark. The Bloke and I had decided that although we were experiencing a wind direction with an 'S' in it, Margarets would be our assessment point if to return and try another day or keep going. Front of mind was the pounding that Annie took. The Bloke from his surfing experience along this coastline, believed that conditions for 'here' were pretty much as good and mild as could be expected. We would press on and we'd reached this marker point several hours earlier than allowed for, meaning that Leeuwin would be a much earlier rounding too.
We reached Leeuwin and rounded it at 1330. How brilliant to view the lighthouse on its little headland with the small white keepers cottages from the sea. We'd visited the lighthouse years before on family trips to Augusta. I had even climbed to the top of the lighthouse and looked down and out across the water. Now we were out to sea looking up. The Bloke was ecstatic and bested the triumph by sailing around the Cape  full bore at 8knts. The sensation of the water rushing past the boat's skin while in the cabin was also amazing. What a way to celebrate our first proper Eastward course and Capes number 2 and 3!
Photos to come....