Sydney and Northwards…

May-June 2019

We spent some time playing tourist in Sydney. We visited the Town Hall, the Botanic Gardens, Darling Harbour, Government House, the NSW Art Gallery and Circular Quay. We walked across the Harbour Bridge to Milson’s Point and Luna Park and caught the ferry up to Parramatta. One day we went to Edgecliffe and Woolahra and found the house Jamie’s grandparents had lived in back in the middle of last century.

Government House, Sydney

We enjoyed bbq’s ashore at Blackwattle Bay with friends from “The Southern Cross” (Peter and Catherine), “Code Blue” (Steve and Judy), “Storm Petrel” (Joe and Claire) and “Freya” (Tim and Liz) before moving to Drummoyne where we had dinner with Ron (“Carinya”) who we had met on Lord Howe Island.

Cottage Point, Hawkesbury River

From Sydney it was a short sail up to the Hawkesbury where we spent a week exploring the Cowan Creek up to Bobbin Head where we caught a lovely kingfish – perfect for dinner – and the first fish we had caught in ages so it was doubly tasty!!

Picking up a mooring in Hardy’s Bay (Brisbane Waters) we had Jamie’s cousin Richard and his wife, Chris aboard for a great evening, drinks then dinner.

Our next port of call was Lake Macquarie which involved yet another bridge – we are getting used to bridge transits now!! It is a little un-nerving when just as we go through SOL is caught by the current and pulled sideways towards the wall though.

We stayed in Lake Macquarie a week, utilizing the numerous free public moorings kindly supplied by NSW Maritime, and a few nights tied to the wharf outside the Wangi Workers Club, both Jamie and I needed the dentist, and there was one just at the end of the wharf. We also took the opportunity to do a service on both engines, oil, filter and impellers changed.

A great view of Hardy's Bay, Brisbane Waters

We went to the house of Sir William Dobell, it's open to the public one afternoon a week. William Dobell was born nearby, in Newcastle, but lived most of his life in Wangi. An artist, he won the Archibald Prize three times - once very infamously for his painting of his friend, Joshua Smith.

Bad weather - purple and

blue equals windy as!!

Lionel came up from Sydney so we sailed over to the Lake Macquarie Yacht Club for lunch – they also have a wharf attached to the restaurant – so convenient.

Leaving the Lake, northwards to Port Stephens, again picking up public moorings – first in Shoal Bay then to Nelson Bay. It was in Nelson Bay we heard there was to be a weather event – expected winds to 50-60knots – so fortunately the chap who was on one side of the public wharf in Nelson Bay came to us and offered to move his yacht (a monohull) into the smaller space and we could put SOL in the large space he was currently in – if we helped him move his boat. Of course we did, and with SOL securely triple tied to the wharf we sat out the definitely windy two days (over 50 knots) and torrential rain.

A friendly pod of dolphins accompany us

On Friday 6^th June, on a very lumpy sea, but accompanied by many dolphins, we endured a rather uncomfortable sail up past Seal Rocks to Crowdy Head, arriving just on dusk to anchor there. 

Next morning we pulled the anchor and looking for mermaids we passed Mermaid Rock (Jamie a little disappointed there were none to be seen). Crossing the bar at Camden Haven we moored at Laurieton alongside Bruce (“Shellac”).

Whilst in Laurieton we went to the movies, we saw Rocketman – a really enjoyable film about Elton John and his life and all three of us felt that now the lyrics to his songs had much more meaning.

In the company of Bruce, we continued our trip north. A great day sail took us to Trial Bay, 200 nautical miles north of Sydney and halfway to Brisbane. We are seeing so many whales and dolphins this year as we make our way along the coast.

Trial Bay is a really interesting place. Trial Bay Gaol was built in 1877 to hold prisoners that would work to build a breakwater creating a safe harbour for ships plying their trade up and down the coast. However, the breakwater never was completed due to storms which washed away the wall as quickly as it was built – it was a disaster and only a small portion of it remains today.

At Trial Bay Gaol - with a modern day prisoner

The gaol was fascinating. Intended as a model for prison reform, the prisoners were given certain freedoms as they learned skills for life in the outside world. They were paid for their work, and had time for fishing, swimming and playing sport. It lasted as a gaol for just 20 years then lay empty until the war and from 1915 to 1918 housed mainly German prisoners and “enemy aliens”. The ruins are now heritage listed, and quite beautiful.

Bruce (Shellac) going out through the entrance at Camden Haven ahead of us in the early morning

Via stops for a couple of nights in Coffs Harbour and then Yamba/Iluka (still the best fish and chips to be had here from the fishermans cooperative) we reached the NSW-Queensland Border town of Tweed Heads-Coolangatta where we moseyed into the Tweed River and anchored not far from the town.

Here we will leave SOL while we fly south to Victoria to meet our second grandchild - our youngest daughter, Grace, is due on 27th July.

Arrow points to where we have secured a good, safe mooring for SOL while we go to Victoria

Awaiting our turn to go under/through Swansea Bridge, Lake Macquarie

A very pleasant afternoon and evening spent with Richard and Chris in Hardy's Bay

Glebe - interesting temple - monks burning large quantities of incense and selling

various icons and more incense (which looked like huge mozzie coils !!)

A couple of visitors one evening up in the Hawkesbury

they came unannounced and didn't want to leave!!

Brooklyn Rail Bridge, from nearby Dangar Island

Back to Coffs Harbour, where we spent many weeks waiting for a weather window

before making the passage to New Zealand in November 2017

To Fiji now . . .

June - July 2018

When we made landfall in New Zealand back in December 2017 we entered the port of Nelson, at the top of the South Island, and cleared customs there. Near us in the marina was an American registered boat “Rendezvous”, a Balance 445 catamaran, and we chatted with her owners, Phil and Jean, as people do in marinas, they were American and had bought “Rendezvous” in Hong Kong and sailed for the last couple of years from there down through the Philippines, Indonesia and the East Coast of Australia then to New Zealand. They were also going to the Pacific Islands like us, and, as one does, we both said we may catch up again - never actually thinking we would!!

But, we did, in Tonga. As we were moored not far from them in Neaifu, we stopped to say hello as we were passing out to anchor back in Hunga Lagoon for a couple more days – Neaifu harbour was so well protected there was very little breeze and we needed to get out of the heat and humidity for a while. Hellos exchanged, they asked our plans for the next week or so – we had been looking at the weather and felt that either Tuesday or Friday would be a good window to set off for Fiji – they had the same weather window in mind so we made plans to meet up with them again Monday 25^th June to recheck the weather and maybe sail in convoy to Fiji.

Monday we were back in Neaifu, last load of washing done, last fresh fruit and veges bought, weather checked – tomorrow we were off to Fiji.

Customs cleared by midday, Tuesday 26^th June, and along with “Rendezvous” and another catamaran, “Distant Sun” (Rob and Nicola) we were on our way.

Simply gorgeous view behind us en route to Fiji

A cold local beverage and glass of red after arrival

The wind was almost behind us, on our port quarter, so after we cleared the harbour we raised the mainsail, pulled out the genoa and were off – expecting a two and half to three-day sail – we were flying along, at one point the speed log showed a great 16 knots boat speed!! We made the passage in just a speck over two days, arriving in Savusavu, Fiji just after lunch on Thursday and were tied up to the rather ramshackle looking marina awaiting customs – luckily for us we made such good time as Friday was a public holiday and so clearing-in charges were considerably more Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Formalities over we showered, washed the salt off SOL and waited for Phil and Jean, who arrived and were moored by 9pm.

Savusavu is not much, just a main street, with many, many shops, a market, and numerous eating places. Most of which were closed on the Friday holiday but we did manage to find a bar that served us drinks and a very passable fish and chips (at only $6 Fijian each). 

Mahi Mahi !!!

There is a chap in Savusavu, Curly, who runs the sailors net here greeting all who care to listen with a cheery “Goooood morning, Sa-a-a-a-avu-savu” then proceeds to give all sorts of helpful information about the town and surrounds. He also holds seminars and sells fishing lures ’guaranteed’ to catch mahi-mahi – and, yes, Jamie and Phil went out and in a couple of hours had caught three of good size so even after sharing them three ways, we had fish dinners ready for the next ten days.

We caught the local bus (driven at breakneck speed with radio blaring) to the town of Labasa – a three-hour journey each way, one day - not that there was a lot to see there, but certainly a bus trip not to be missed. The bus was crowded on its return journey to Savusavu, it being 4pm and so it was full of school children - it was delightful to see the bus stop at each village along the way, children disembark to the welcoming calls from younger siblings waiting for them.

We visited the Savusavu markets for tremendous fresh fruit and veges and organised to buy our bundles of kava (yaqona – pronounced yangoona) from a local gent who had a shed full of the strange looking roots, necessary for sevusevu on the outer islands.

Sevusevu is a ceremony performed when you first arrive at a new village, it involves finding the Turanga-ni-koru (headman) who will take you to the chief. The Turanga-ni-koru talks to the chief for you, hands over the kava and any other gifts you have brought to the village then after the chief has accepted your gift of kava he welcomes you to the village, the surrounding land and waters. It is an essential part of going to each new village and also entails women to wear skirts covering their knees (or a sulu) and have their shoulders covered. No sunglasses or hats worn and backpacks can be carried anyhow except on the back!!

We had a great time with Phil and Jean then left to go in opposite directions – them to Suva and back to USA for two months and us to explore more islands.

At The Planters Club, an old colonial club, Savusavu, with Phil and Jean (Rendezvous)

Fawn Harbour then Viani Bay then heading out to Rabi Island to Catherine Bay and beautiful Albert Cove where we had been told was really good snorkelling, spending a few days there with Midnight Sun (John and Wendy) before we left for Taveuni then on to Matagi Island for a couple of nights preparing for an early morning start to make the long day sail to Vanua Balavu (leaving midnight in the pitch black but with a good 20knot breeze) as we must make the entrance to the reef by 2pm – in daylight so you could see the reef and coral bommies between there and the anchorage spot two hours motoring time away. We arrived at 2.09pm!! And were anchored happily by 3.45.

Another magical sunset to add to the memories

We had reached the Lau Group, and ahead of us were a multitude of magical islands to explore.

Young girl seen on the bus to Labasa (pronounced Lam-bassa)

School Bus Fiji style

Cathedral, Catherine Bay, Rabi Island - used now for youth group conventions

Simply idyllic...

2018... A New Year…

Old friends, Raewyn and Bruce, from dairy days 

with whom we saw in the start of 2018

The New Year saw us down on the Coromandel Peninsular. 

When we had the dairy farm in Katunga, we used to get together with Raewyn and Bruce, neighbours down the road, have dinner together, and play cards, on a weekly basis (500 being the game of choice) and when they sold their farm they moved back to New Zealand and now own the Cooks Beach Liquor Store and Hahei Wines and Spirits. 

Cooks Beach and Hahei are both small coastal towns on the eastern side of Coromandel, with lovely beaches and a small permanent population but this increases hugely over the summer months, consequently it was not really a great time for us to visit as they would be very busy working however we spent each afternoon in the shop restocking so our help was much appreciated and we actually thoroughly enjoyed it. 

We anchored SOL in Cooks Beach and staying with them meant I had my first nights sleeping ashore in 8 months!! It was a magical three days there, great food, great wine, great company - a super New Years eve. Bruce loaned us his car and we had a day trip down to Whangamata and Hot Water Beach – yes, Hot Water Beach – where you can dig a hole in the sand and sit and relax in your own hot water pool!!

A Cooks Beach mode of transport!!

Red/Purple colour equals very nasty winds

After a super 3 days, we left Cooks Beach and made our way back up towards Auckland, a really nasty blow was expected which was sending all boats scurrying for shelter. We were thinking of hiding out on the west side of the Coromandel Peninsular, or maybe the bottom of Waiheke Island, both anchorages being protected from the anticipated 30+knot winds. However, as we neared Te Kouma Harbour, on Coromandel, the little man on the radio was saying 40+knot winds, then escalated this to 50+knots so the decision was made to find a berth in a marina. 

You would think that in Auckland, the City of Sails, finding a marina berth would not be too difficult a task – I mean, there are heaps of marinas, loads of moorings – and – it would appear that most of the sailing fraternity had left Auckland for the holiday period…..but…..no such luck – we phoned and phoned again, not a marina berth to be found at the first five we tried. Almost about to give up, we had one last place to try – Bayswater Marina, on the North Shore – yes!! Success – they had one berth left – minor problem though – SOL is 7metres wide, the only berth they had was 7.9metres wide. Hmmm, by the time we had our fenders out that would be a really tight squeeze, especially as the wind was squalling around 25knots. 

With much trepidation we approached the narrow spot and with a bit of delicate manoeuvring, great driving by Jamie, and a nice man on the pontoon catching our lines  - we made it - with just inches to spare.

The sky over Auckland as we headed in - we were going to where the clouds were darkest!!

Seems like the City of Sails is not quite ready to cater for catamarans!!

We left SOL in the marina and went to stay up with Norah in Castor Bay, my dad is really not good having deteriorated a lot since Christmas, so we went to the hospital to see him over the next three days going back to SOL daily as well to check she was safe. The winds only got up around the 45knot range, but we were pleased we had decided to head for safe haven, especially as we could go and spend time with Thomas whilst there.

Looking over Snapper Bay, Motuihe Island with Waiheke on the left

Next anchorage was Islington Bay, between Rangitoto and Mototapu Islands, we spent two nights here, walking around the island and revisiting where we had walked when we had sailed over here from Australia some years ago. Rangitoto Island is one of the closest islands to Auckland city and it is also the youngest volcano in the area being only 600 years old, so the tracks are composed primarily of scoria, it used to have many baches (beach houses) on leasehold land but when the leases ran out it was decided that no longer would they be allowed so apart from a couple which have been retained to show how things used to be no others remain. There are, on Rangitoto, the remnants of World War II military installations so it is a pretty interesting island to visit.

Rangitoto Island

Nice snapper for dinner

After Rangitoto we moved to Motuihe Island, to anchor there for the next two nights, we swam, walked, fished and just generally lazed around enjoying some beautiful weather. We caught, and released, many too small snapper but fortunately where there are small fish there are generally larger fish and for the two nights we stayed there we ate delicious fresh snapper.

With the staggering paucity of berthage for catamarans and the seemingly non-existent public pontoons for picking up/dropping off passengers we elected to again spend a night in Bayswater – Marnie and Dylan were arriving the next day from America!!! we needed to be able to pick up them and their friends Aaron and Shanna and also head to the stores for groceries. They flew in at lunchtime, met us at Bayswater, we refuelled and were off by 3pm – north towards the Bay of Islands.

Everyone - yes - everyone has a "beach tractor"

Abel Tasman National Park …

A great couple of days were spent in Nelson, a part of the country we had only visited very briefly in the past. On our first night, Peter Jones, whom I had grown up with back in Auckland, and his partner, Donna came down to SOL bearing gifts of homegrown veges, a cooked chook and wine – a lovely surprise, they stayed for dinner and we chatted for hours. On Monday, an old neighbour of ours from when we were living in Matakana, north of Auckland, 20 years ago, Frank Carlisle, drove over from Blenheim, for normal people a near 2hr drive, but Frank, who has never been “normal”, whizzed over in his very sporty Lotus Elise!! to spend most of the day with us, including taking us to The Boat Shed for a super, late lunch. 

Then Tuesday we enjoyed a Tiki tour of Nelson and surrounds with Peter, going out to the Boulder Bank – a 13km naturally formed bank of rocks which provides protection for the Port of Nelson from the weather of Tasman Bay, the Matai River, past the centre of New Zealand – geographically – and to the hills overlooking Motueka, culminating in lunch and a bit of ‘home-made wine and port tasting’ at his place – and a very nice drop he makes indeed.

Peter and Jamie at the Boulder Bank

Looking out from Nelson, Boulder Bank visible on left, Abel Tasman National Park in background

Having restocked, organised NZ sim cards for our phones, and tossed up as to whether we would go up the East Coast or the West Coast to get to Auckland (I thought the East Coast route would be prettier, however, West Coast won due to the better weather – gale force winds in Cook Strait not being too appealing). Wednesday, we left for the beautiful Abel Tasman National Park anchoring the first night in Stilwell Bay where we headed ashore and walked the coast to Marahau, a really pleasant 15km round trip walk – we hadn’t walked far since leaving Australia of course so it was excellent to get off the boat and stretch our legs. 

A great 7.5km walk through the bush to Marahau

A natural tunnel on the way to Takaka

This magnificent piece of New Zealand coastline would have to be one of the best. We moved on to Onetahuti then Totaranui, spending a night in each of these delightful anchorages. Whilst in Totaranui we bussed into Takaka for a little look, the lovely lady bus driver giving us an impromptu guided tour!!

Tuesday, 12^th Dec, Jamie and I set off on the next 550 nautical mile leg of our trip. Leaving the amazing South Island for now, we will be back here in April 2018 with Jim and Terry, friends visiting from Canada, doing it by land in a motorhome then. 

We upped anchor as the sun rose and set the sails, starting out with three reefs in the main and just the little stormsail as we were expecting 25+knots of wind as we passed Farewell Spit – and we were not disappointed – she blew! and she blew some more (30kn for a time)!! We were off the Taranaki Coastline, where, had we been closer to shore, we would have seen Mt Egmont/Taranaki, by lunchtime. We made good passage, over 180 nautical miles on day one. 

Tuna, tuna !!

We caught our first tuna, followed later that day with another, woo hoo were we excited, Tuna, Tuna!!! 

Tuna steaks for dinner

Rounding Cape Reinga, the tip of the North Island of New Zealand is quite amazing, it is here where the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea meet – and yes, you see a very obvious line of very disturbed water, what looks to be waves hitting each other from two different directions. We rounded the Cape 54hrs after departing the South Island, it had been a great sail, hassle-free and comfortable, but it was not finished yet. 

We turned and made our course in the direction of Auckland, where we plan to spend Christmas Day with my dad in Forrest Hill, (sadly, he is in a Rest Home there with dementia).

Bypassing the Bay of Islands for now, we will be definitely back there in mid-January, we kept on sailing till we dropped our anchor in Whangarei – slightly more than 3 ½ days constant sailing and after fish and chips for dinner – we headed to bed, a place we had not spent long in since departing the magical Abel Tasman area.

Whangarei Quarry Tropical Gardens with Jenny

Three great days were spent in Whangarei, anchored just outside the Port of Whangarei Marine Centre, where my oldest brother, Andrew, has his fishing boat. We had a couple of meals with Andrew and wife, Jenny, did the usual - washing, grocery shopping and had some time for a bit of sightseeing in what is actually a really nice spot - Whangarei - having only quickly driven through it in the past it was great to spend some time. The inner harbour area where the marina houses many boats is amazing - so many boats, from so many countries as well as boutiques, eateries, local craft and souvenir shops. After staying to help celebrate Andrew's birthday we set sail south.

Our anchorage, Stillwell Bay, Abel Tasman Park

Could have been Thailand !!

Nesting gulls, Onetahuti

BoatWorks works...

Wednesday 20th September

Mooloolaba beach - outside the harbour

We spent about a week at Mooloolaba, just hanging on our anchor in the harbour outside the houses of some of the rich and famous – or the wannabes.

We hid from some nasty weather, visiting the library and using the free Wi-Fi there. Walking the streets and looking in the shop windows.

What do we do if the weather is not good for sailing - new mat for cockpit made!!

When we had a good weather window we decided to brave the exit – huh – this time it was flat calm – what was the worry coming in?? There was no problem leaving – maybe Mooloolaba was pleased for us to go.

Next stop Brisbane.

Tree I liked on Coochiemudlo

We sailed down to Moreton Bay and made our way through the many sandbanks to spend our first night just south of Tangalooma at Koungunai where we spent a peaceful night, before going further south – initially thinking we would anchor for the night at Peel Island which we had been told was a great place to anchor – but – so had about a hundred other boats!!! So we continued around to Coochiemudlo Island, a real gem of an anchorage, with just another twenty boats sharing it with us. We went ashore and walked around this little island just off the coast, serviced by many ferries – who would want to live in the city if they could live here I wondered.

Leaving Coochie (as the locals call it), a few days later, we headed south towards the Gold Coast. Passing Macleay Island and Russell Island we had to pass under some power lines – it is rather daunting to try to judge distance from below – the lines looked so close – like we would hit them with our mast as we passed underneath – but luckily (obviously) we didn’t. We weaved our way down past Tabby Tabby Island and made our way to Paradise Point, anchoring between Sovereign and Ephraim Islands.

A tad disconcerting to pass under these!! - powerlines at Rocky Point

These islands are manmade, gated communities which are joined to the mainland by bridges, with guarded security gates to keep out the riff-raff. These are truly the residences of the rich and famous – Sovereign Island being made up of multimillion dollar houses that are as big as the blocks they sit on whereas Ephraim Island is luxury apartments. We did walk across the bridge to Ephraim Island but obviously not looking either rich or famous enough the gates did not open for us!!!

We have caught up with old friends of mine from my teenage years in New Zealand, Derek and Debbie, who live on their boat here on the Gold Coast, and it has been great to see them. Back in the early 80's they bought a yacht and sailed through the Caribbean, the Panama Canal and across the Pacific - during this time having their first baby!! They are super friends, and although we have not been in constant contact over the last 30 years the friendship is as strong. Derek has just been using an excellent looking product to paint on a part of his deck – KiwiGrip (of course) and so we have decided that we will do the same to re-antislip areas which have worn out on our decks before the Tasman crossing. Consequently the next couple of days are spent preparing then painting and now we are (hopefully) assured we will not be leaving the boat (unless we want to) during the passage to New Zealand.

Next stop – The BoatWorks. And I am in love. Well, in a manner of speaking.

Sea-lift getting ready to lift SOL

Up the Coomera River we went, passing many more incredibly large houses to The BoatWorks. This is a marina and haulout area set up and owned by Tony Longhurst (the ex V8 supercar driver) and boy has he done it well. If we ever haulout again I would like it to be as easy and stress-free as this. The boys are waiting to take your lines on approach and the docksides are padded to prevent damage to your boat. We were lifted, not in a sling, but from underneath, and so very calmly moved to a spot in the yard.

Now you may think that going into a marina berth is akin to going into your local supermarket carpark in your Corolla – HUH – not so…imagine your nice little vehicle is a B-Double truck, and the carpark full – with just one space over in the far corner with a Mercedes one side and a BMW the other. You think I’m joking, don’t you, but remember we are 12 metres long and seven metres wide, and the steering wheel is down the back, on the left so you can’t quite see the front right quarter. So, throw in the effects of wind and tide – now do you know what I mean??

Anyway. Back to the BoatWorks. On Wednesday morning we motored up to their dock which had about a foot width of lovely cushioning all around, where two guys held SOL secure while another moved the “lifting machine” into place. The “lifting machine” is kind of like an enormous forklift, hugely padded, which is moved in under the boat while it is in the water and then, by remote control, they simply take it up and out. None of the nerve-wracking watching as your home swings precariously in a couple of webbing straps high in the air, as it moves to the hard. So easy. Even going back into the water was simple – just before SOL reached the water the boys wheeled up a set of steps and Jamie and I climbed aboard, the machine then moved us back to the water where we simply started the engines and motored away. Too easy.

We were met by Craig Humphries, who was to fix our rudders. We had a bit of a problem for sure – one that necessitated the use of a great deal of force and a sledge hammer!!! to remove the very seized up rudders for repair. The job we expected to take a couple of days, however, was completed in just one, and we were back in the water by lunchtime Thursday. Great job, Craig and Dylan.

The service from everyone we encountered at the BoatWorks was tremendous, the yard is pristine, as are the facilities, with a free laundry (a total bonus), a coffee and muffin voucher, courtesy car, and then on departure – a cap and stubby holder in an extremely useful duffle bag.

Thank you BoatWorks.

Wide Bay Bar ...

Monday 4th September 2017

Wind, thunder, lightning and rain before bed last night – woke to an absolutely calm anchorage this morning – how is that so? It felt like we were going to be blown away last night then with no warning it stops.

We are anchored in Tin Can Bay, just off Norman Point, along with what appears to be a whole city of other boats of all descriptions – some looking like they are just able to remain afloat by sheer good luck!!

An example of one boat anchored near us at Norman Point

We are waiting here until we get a good weather window to hop across the “Bar” and continue south.

The Wide Bay Bar apparently is one of the top 10 worst bar crossings in the world, and we are understandably a little apprehensive having never crossed a bar of any sort before – let alone one as infamous as this.

We do all the right things though, we go into the Coastguard office and get our copy of the Notices to Mariners with the latest waypoints for us to follow, if we deviate from the route set out by these waypoints we could be in trouble. These waypoints we enter into our chartplotter as well as isailor on the ipad, and also onto our paper chart – backup, backup, backup. We are also told the best time to leave is around 2hrs before high tide with a light swell. Looks like Monday is the day, especially as we will also have winds from a northerly direction to take us down towards Mooloolaba and Brisbane.

So with a few days to kill we spend time at the library – (time to organise our taxes) – and the libraries have great free wifi for us to use to our advantage. We also do the laundry and get groceries, even sneak into the local caravan park showers and put some colour through my hair!! A huge bonus here in Tin Can Bay is a place called "The Snack Shack" - the best deal for fish and chips we have found anywhere - fish, chips and salad under $10 - and super delicious!! We had lunches and dinner here the whole of our stay.

Cute snuggle sack completed !!

We have recently placed ads looking for an interested couple to sail with us to New Zealand, it is too far for us to do this length trip on our own so have turned to the internet for help and a couple would mean always two people on watch allowing the other two sleep and relax time with no hassles over cabin space, (SOL having a spare double cabin and a spare single). We have two months before our anticipated departure from Australia and have decided at this stage that we will sally forth from Coffs Harbour – all the ducks lining up that is, and the journey should take us 7 to 10 days. So, the ads are placed – now we just await responses – strangely enough the bulk of the response comes from singles in far flung places – we have had interest from Germany, Greece, Spain to name a few.

Had a message from Grace the other day – “Mum, Charli (her neighbour) and Ash just had a baby boy, can you knit it something???”  So, got the knitting needles clacking away and have a cute wee baby sleeping sack ready to post – woo hoo, how clever am I??? Took a few days but it was fun – especially as we have had no luck with the fishing lately so haven’t even bothered to throw the line out – best change that attitude, Mrs Docker, can’t expect fish to jump on the line if it is not baited and in the water, can you.

As well, with time on our side we made a cute little mat for just outside the cockpit door from rope - pretty flash we think...

Well, Monday dawned calm and clear, we watched as the flotilla of waiting yachts commenced the bar crossing and joined in, having followed all the “P’s” we should be right (Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance) …. And we were – the bar crossing went without a hitch – in fact it could almost be termed a doddle and we were soon sailing along with a good wind down to Mooloolaba.

Sadly, our good luck fell away somewhere between Double Island Point and Noosa Heads as that is when Otto, our (obviously not so) trustworthy Auto Pilot decided to throw a massive tantrum and cease working which meant we had to hand steer for 6 hours, not a big deal but having gotten used to Otto taking the helm it was a bit of a change. With the wind behind us we were flying along and reached our top speed so far – 15.8knots boat speed !!! woooo!!!!!

Entering the harbour at Mooloolaba was actually more hairy than crossing the bar – the wind was now between 20 and 25kn and blowing straight in the entrance, the steering was really heavy – like the rudders were jammed – the tide was almost low and there was about a 2metre swell – it took about 7 seconds only to get in – but seven seconds of hell. The daylight was fast fading as we dropped our anchor in the crowded area allocated past the marina, for boats to anchor. We would look at the steering tomorrow – right now another "bar" needed to be dealt with – we sat and enjoyed a nice glass of red.