I was wondering yesterday already about what’s those white poles in the distance – coming closer to the North West Cape the 13 white poles were belonging to Point Murat. They were some high gain aerials of the prohibited area, whatever they were there for.

The sea lifted even more today, and going around North West Cape made me even putting on my PFD…it was quite scary, watching the swell from the safe distance crashing on the reef! There was a wreck at the Cape, no wonder, clearly visible, but no way could I get close…

A HUGE gigantic Mant aRay leaped right upfront my boat half out of the water, displaying only one wing side, but this side was alredy about 2 m wide! If he would have lifted me, I would have probably felt like being on a flying carpet 🙂

I was thinking it would be best to head that far around the point until I got the protection of an offshore reef before Jurabi Point where the water inside would be calm – and this is how far I luckily made it that day. 60 km again.

I actually landed exactly 200 m too early for fully quiet waters, viewing my landing spot from the beach – but there was that high dune I liked to climb at night to get cell phone reception again for a convenient call to Greg.

To the left I saw quiet reef water in shore, and breaking dumpers offshore. Some lovely water to paddle the next days! To the right breakers as far as the eye could see – the reef was close at the shore.

I was really looking forward to paddle inside the protection of the Ningaloo barrier reef!

Text message from Freya via satellite phone:

21.41 114.00, Jurabi Point. 60 km, 7:30 am to 6:00 pm. Big seas around NWCape! Now inside outer reef calm. Saw gigantic Manta Ray and plenty of huge turtles.