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...

Bay of Islands Bound…

With Marnie, Dylan, Aaron and Shanna happily aboard we motored out of the marina at Bayswater, pulled up the sails and soon were skipping along northwards. We were initially going to spend our first night in Kawau Island but decided Army Bay, Whangaparaoa, would be a better choice – less boats, calm and an opportunity for the kids to have a bit of a walk around ashore before nightfall.

Sunset at anchorage on way to Bay of Islands

Couldn't anchor in much less water!!

Arriving in Mansion House Bay next morning (Friday 12^th January) we eased our way past all the boats anchored there right to a prime position just off the beach – probably upsetting boaties who didn’t have as shallow a draft as us and had to anchor further out!! 

The kids took the stand-up paddleboards to shore and had a look around, but being too early they didn’t get the chance to look through the beautiful Mansion House, former home of Sir George Grey, who had twice been Governor of New Zealand in 1845-1853 and 1860-1868. Sir George Grey purchased the island of Kawau in 1862 and over the next 26 years spent a small fortune developing the island – introducing many exotic plant species and animals such as wallabies, peacocks and monkeys. It is now managed by DOC (Dept of Conservation) and although the monkey are gone, the house and gardens are being restored to their former glory.

Our next spot was a trip into Speedy Bay, the bay where my family had owned a bach (holiday house) and spent all our summers for around 45 years. It was there that we had learned to swim, sail, fish and bushwalk with many, many friends accompanying us over the years. The current owners looked very suspiciously at us as we sailed into the bay, slowly cruised around and I am sure were very relieved when we took ourselves off on our next leg of the journey. It was a bittersweet visit for me particularly. We had spent a fair amount of times up there when our children were little too so they had grown up with great memories of Kawau as well.

Fish on!!

As always, when sailing along, we have a fishing line out behind, trawling for either the next meal or for a bit more bait and soon came the excited shout “fish on!!!”. It was a big one, we were rapt – felt like a big tuna, and we all were envisioning exotic meals – tuna steaks, sashimi, ceviche even!! It was a huge struggle to get it reeled in, sure was a biggie. I got ready with the net, Aaron and Shanna on cameraman duty, Dylan driving SOL, (Marnie disappeared as she hates the catching and killing part of fishing!!) and Jamie winding in the reel. Closer it came to us – it was a struggle for it and Jamie, the rod – strong as it was – bending with the strain. It was really thrashing around – rolling even, so much so that in its struggles it managed to wrap the line around its tail. As we got it nearer the boat we realised the net was not going to be big enough – it was the biggest fish we had ever caught, so as Jamie reeled it close enough I got the rope ready and quickly tied around its tail – now it was secure – and NOW… we realised…

WE HAD CAUGHT A SHARK.

Bloody Hell – what next??? we had this 4ft, big mouthed, toothy monster thrashing and rolling around the back of SOL – AND in the corner of its mouth was Jamie’s favourite lure!!

A rope around it's tail

Getting it closer

Thrashing around

Tiring now

And now to get the lure

Suffice to say, Jamie retrieved his lure, gently, from the lip of Mr Shark, we cut the line tangled around his tail, slid the now, rather tired creature, close to the edge of the boat and gingerly untied the rope I had put around his tail and with a huge collective sigh of relief watched as he slid back into the water – Mr Shark had the last word though – as he left he closed his teeth on the back step of SOL – we now have a permanent reminder of his visit gouged into the fibreglass!!!

Ready to let him go

Bye Bye Sharky

This small diversion didn’t dampen the kid’s enthusiasm at all and with the temp rising to 28^OC soon the four of them were in the water behind the boat hanging off a rope cooling off.

Fun way to cool off - Dylan, Marnie, Aaron and Shanna

A photo opportunity not to be missed - but I did!!

Missed getting them just in front of the Hole in the Rock!!

Next day we approached the Bay of Islands, it was a long day – with little or no wind, we left McLeod’s Bay, Whangarei at 0630, passed the world famous Hole in the Rock (Piercy Island) around 4pm – photo opportunity!! stopped for a bit of drift fishing just past at Bird Rock (funnily enough, so named due to the huge number of nesting birds and resultant guano there), and anchored in Deep Water Cove (which Marnie renamed “Snapper and other Assorted Fish Cove” as there were large signs saying NO FISHING which we hoped the fish could read and realise it was their safe

haven!!) We got the stand-up paddleboards out again and consequently I even managed to have an (unplanned) swim.

Sunday 14^th January, we approached Paihia, Jamie found an internet site with Moorings to Rent and we were lucky to snag ourselves a mooring just off the end of the Paihia Wharf – perfect placement indeed. 

Just gently tap it, Dolly!

Dolly and Lilly were arriving today, driving up from Auckland in the car we had bought in Warkworth – a great little Toyota Camry, which up until we left it in Auckland for them to pick up had been running perfectly – BUT – as always with these things – the day before leaving it, it developed a problem – not always wanting to start!! It wasn’t the battery, and when Jamie took it to the auto electrician to get the starter motor fixed it wouldn’t not start – very frustrating indeed – so we left it for Dolly, praying it would be fine. And it was, until they stopped for a toilet break in Whangarei, just over an hour south of Paihia, and then – no go, until a quick smack to the nut on the front of the starter motor with the piece of wood Jamie had left in the boot, and they were off again. A little disconcerting for Dolly though – the ‘little piece of wood’ was actually the broken handle off an axe and it would have appeared to bystanders that she was going to smash something, not just gently tap!!

On Monday, Marnie, Dylan, Aaron and Shanna left in the car – which was starting perfectly again, for a bit of a tour of the Coromandel before Aaron and Shanna went off campervanning and Marnie and Dylan returned for our family holiday time together (we had a timeshare for the week 19-26 Jan and were having a belated Christmas there). 

Jamie, Dolly, Lilly and I moved over to Russell where we took shelter from another big blow and waited for Phil to arrive on Tuesday. The weather did cut up pretty rough, Phil caught the ferry over from Paihia and we stayed Russell side of the Bay exploring until Thursday when we returned to Paihia and the mooring there.

Marnie and Dylan picked Amy, Grace and Cal up from Auckland Airport and in a very well behaving car – since they had had to replace the starter motor in Thames a couple of days before, drove up to meet us at the Bishop Selwyn – the timeshare – and so on Friday the 19^th of January 2018, we were all together again for the first time in over a year!!

All the children together again!!

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

Paradise Point…

Apartments, Ephraim Is, with their own marina

Thursday 5th October

Back to our nice Paradise Point anchorage where everything is indeed a little paradise – we have an amazing anchorage just metres from the public jetty (almost too close sometimes – once when the wind was blowing I needlessly worried that we would hit it!!) Ashore are numerous restaurants – including two fish & chipperies almost next to each other – we tried both and both passed the Jamie Docker Fish Test for taste!!

A perfect anchorage in Paradise!!

There is a fenced swimming pool area, yes, we did have a swim, with shower and toilets, BBQ and playground – all of which are extremely well used. And, it seems almost everyone on the Gold Coast has a dog and a penchant for exercise whether running, walking or Tai Chi - even as early as 5.30am!!

Derek and Debbie took us on a “tiki tour” one day and very kindly loaned us their car another which made the shopping trip a breeze (well, physically – Jamie never thinks of shopping as a “breeze” unless it is a marine/hardware shop!!).

This is an absolute haven for jetskis and fast motorboats - some of which have kept us well entertained with their antics.

Whilst here we have found crew for the Tasman crossing, although we did not end up with a couple, which was our first intention, we are pleased to have joining us on board, two singles – Philip and Lynette. Phil, from Adelaide, South Australia, has a lovely looking 43ft wooden Gaff rigged cutter which he sails around the gulf area there. Lyn is part-owner of a Lightwave 38ft catamaran which is currently in Malaysia. Both came to SOL one Tuesday evening and we enjoyed a “getting to know you” meal together. They will meet us down in Coffs Harbour a few days before we leave.

As part of our preparation for the Tasman we have purchased a life raft – which we hope never to have to use. Murphy’s Law would say that if we didn’t have one……. So… I hope we have appeased Murphy!! We also got these natty little MOB watches – the crew on watch – two at each time, will wear these which are set up to an alarm on the boat (app on phones and ipad) that if the wearer gets out of a certain range for 8 seconds the alarm sounds like a fire siren, the best vessel to save you in a man overboard situation is the one closest to you – the mothership.

I also made us a Q Flag - this is a flag which you are required to fly upon entering a foreign port to alert Customs and Immigration of your arrival and must be flown until they have cleared you and your boat. The "Q" stands for Quarantine, of course!!

Q Flag to be flown on entry to foreign ports

We took a few days break from Tasman Prep with a visit from Grace and Cal who drove up from Victoria for an extended weekend. They left home about 4am Friday morning and after a mere 19hrs drive we dinghied them to SOL.

South Stradbroke Island, seaward side

Saturday dawned yet another perfect Queensland day and we had been invited to join Ian Cooper and friends at Dux Anchorage on South Stradbroke Island for a pot-luck curry evening hosted by the Southport Yacht Club. Delicious food and lovely people, a great night was had by all. We walked over the island to the seaward side and spotted some whales in the distance putting on their usual show for our benefit.

We have been incredibly persistent with our fishing endeavours, and, incredibly unlucky. Grace managed to hook a catfish and then Cal and I hooked what we described as eels - we have later discovered that these very sharp toothed, long shiny creatures are what is known as Hairtail, and the ones we caught were between 1 and 2 metres long, with the most horrendous teeth. We were very happy to return all to the sea.

Sunday – what has happened to the perfect Queensland weather – it was grey, overcast and moody looking. We decided to take a trip out the Gold Coast Seaway and give Grace and Cal a real taste of this sailing life. It is not always flat calm as they soon discovered!!

Yes, I had to include the "skipper picture"

Cal and Jamie hoisted the reefed mainsail and with just half the jib out we were soon flying along in 20knots. We saw some dolphins and more whales then, luckily, they had put in the third reef by mistake, not the second, as within a very short time we had 30-35knots and turning back to shore we flew through the seaway entrance under sail. Exhilarating!!

By this stage the rain was coming down in bucketloads, nice to wash the salt from the boat but not so pleasant for visitors, but we had a great time indoors playing boardgames before going to a nice restaurant for dinner (thanks children). Monday was still wet, but who cares really, Cal’s mum came down from Brisbane for a quick visit which was great – we hadn’t seen her since Grace and Cal’s wedding two years ago. Then Grace and Cal threw out the fishing lines again - Grace managed to catch a nice crab on her line which we later enjoyed as a snack. And the day ended with MacKenzie, a mate of Cal’s also coming aboard. They left around 5pm to make the journey back to Victoria – a long drive again but with plans to stop en route for the night should be fine – sadly they collided with a kangaroo on the way and although they damaged their car it was still driveable. As always, it is so nice to have the children visit with us and sad they must leave.

We also are leaving this Paradise Point, after a farewell breakfast with Derek and Debbie we will leave tomorrow for Yamba/Iluka, sailing overnight on the next leg of our way south.