Keppel Bay marina

Well, who would have thought this sailing bit could be so difficult. After out stopover in Bundaberg, we were back on the high seas and a lovely sail up to Pancake Creek. Anchored fairly close to the mouth of the creek as those sand bars we could see made us very nervous and didn't want to get any closer than necessary. A pleasant evening followed by a good night's rest could almost make you forget the prop shaft issues. A leisurely day spent relaxing and decided to head off for a night sail up to Great Keppel Island. The stars and moon were out with a gentle breeze, it looked good. That was until the lightning started up in the distance to the north. A quick check of the BOM showed a large storm cell ahead, but we hoped it would pass out to sea before we got there. We made our way along the line of container ships anchored off Gladstone, some giving off more light than the moon itself and headed closer to the storm. A lot of sheet lightning around us then a couple of massive streaks that turned night into day, followed by almighty crashes of thunder. Some squalls of rain and it was all over - thank goodness.

Daylight saw us approaching the islands off  Yeppoon and Great Keppel came into view. We finally anchored at Long Beach on the southern side of the island with the place to ourselves. Ashore for a walk along the beach and a swim in lovely clear water. Gentle breeze from the north made it a lovely sheltered spot. We opted to stay put for the night and would go across to the other side of the island when the expected southerly arrived. That happened around 3.00am so we up anchored and started to make our way around. After about 15mins, we realised our oil pressure was dropping so cut the engine, hoisted the sail and went to investigate. Level was low so we topped up and continued to motor, keeping a careful eye on the gauge. 45mins later just as we were arriving at the north side of the island, the pressure dropped again. This time as Pete was pouring oil in the top, it was gushing out the bottom. This is not good. Thankfully it was now daylight and we raised sails again and we quickly anchored to investigate further. After bending and twisting to get a hand under the sump, Pete could feel a hole. This meant there was no oil in the engine and no engine to motor anywhere. Our plans then had to change, to get to a marina ASAP and get it fixed. After sailing across to Keppel Bay marina (about 7 NMR), we met the Coast Guard who kindly towed up in through the leads and onto

a safe mooring.

The next step was to get the sump repaired/replaced but firstly off from the bottom of a 650kg engine for a good look. That was a feat in itself. There were lots of phone calls and asking of advise from various friends and family of what to do, and how to go about it. 

Next day saw our son arrive from Brisbane with blocks and chain, slings, shackles, support beams, all that was necessary to get the job done. I had to leave the boat and do some grocery shopping - I couldn't bear to watch as Pete and Chris hoisted the 650kgs to a level high enough (about 18 inches in the air) All safely lifted, the sump taken off and who would have thought a hole so small (in my female opinion) could cause so much trouble. New gasket ordered and on its way from Brisbane. Sump being sandblasted, welded, painted and promised back to us as good as new with 48 hours. Things suddenly don't seem so bad.
Next instalment due shortly.

Boobie patrol !!!!

Somewhere off Fraser Island Pete was on Boobie Patrol. With 2 women on board, I know what you are thinking. Wrong, Brown Boobies - I am speaking of the feathered type. Just on dusk a pair of boobies thought they would nest in our sail bags. So Pete was in a full time job trying to fend them off. Then they thought the radar looked like a good nesting area. Back to the sail bags for another try. Then the solar panels at the back of the boat. Foiled again - they really are persistent. After about 10 minutes of trying, the pair finally got the message and took off. Or so we thought, The next thing about 12 boobies appeared circling the boat. You have to be joking. It was only a final showing that they had been defeated - Pete had triumphed - no nesting on his boat. But what went on once the sun had gone down was anyone's guess. Into Bundaberg this morning to drop off our crew member and get some expert advice about a prop shaft issue. May be a few days while we get this sorted.

On the road again!

Well..maybe on the sea again
Departed Brisbane yesterday (Saturday) at 0800. Currently just abeam of Sandy Cape on Fraser Island. ..it's Sunday 13.40 so still a long way to go to Lady Musgrave Island.

Brisbane

After deciding to bypass Yamba and continue to Brisbane, we picked up some fresh northeasterlies..yeah...sails up. These took us up the rest of the NSW coast.
Cape Byron came into view not long after leaving Yamba and we passed it at 8.00pm.

After mentioning the East Coast Current, we finally met it just short of Byron...wasn't too strong but noticeable. As we moved into QLD, it definitely got stronger getting up to 3+ kts just short of the Gold Coast.
We crossed the Southport bar at 06.30 and as the tides were right we continued up the inside passage to Moreton Bay. The shoals at Jacobs Well had been recently dredged, so even being 2 hours before high tide, we still had 20cm under the keel...yes 20cm!

Our AIS tracked path

For those folks in Sydney, you may be interested in the Queensland version of a 'mooring minder'. This was sighted (if you can call it that!) just north of Jacobs Well -

Arrived at Manly Harbour at 1.30pm.

Queensland here we come

We spent last night in Coffs Harbour anchored in the outer area, close to the old jetty. Bit rolly but otherwise ok. We were going to take a berth at the marina as Cath wanted to catch up with a work colleague (Rowena) who was holidaying there. Unfortunately, the marina had no spaces due to a fishing comp and residual damage from storms earlier in the year. About 1 hour before the getogether, a massive thunderstorm was hovering over Coffs. Not wanting to leave Kittani unattended we decided to return ....sorry Ro.

The original plan was to go to Iluka (Yamba), but timings and weather have allowed us to push onto to the Gold Coast.

Clear skies, gentle northeasterlies and reasonably flat seas with no apparent East Coast Current (yet) should make it a nice but engine driven passage.

Forster Tuncurry

After leaving Pitwater we headed into Newcastle for the night....very nice marina and the loooong hot showers were very welcome.
The next morning after a leisurely start in mild southerlies we eventually reached the end of Stockton Beach....like Moreton and Fraser Islands, the beaches seem to go on for ever. As the weather was headed in the same direction, we decided to bypass Port Stephens and anchored overnight at Broughton Island in Coal Shaft Bay, on the south side of the island. We were expecting norther lies to come up during the night - they didn't - so spent a rolly night with the remnants of a southerly swell.

Coal Shaft Bay, Broughton Island

Cathy enjoying day 2!

2 days later and we are are holed up in a delightful little place called Forster Tuncurry, actually two towns either side of a small (very) natural cove at the entrance to the Wallis Lakes. The entrance has a bar, but permanent leads show the correct path through a narrow breakwater into an even narrower channel.
We are currently anchored in 2 metres of water listening to the sound of 35 knots passing over us. The only issue we have is that this area has a huge quantity of fresh water exiting the entrance to the harbour and on an ebb tide we have wind against tide so makes the boat do crazy things...not nice in a narrow channel with a 7 metre high bridge close by.
This is the first time I have secured a second anchor to our chain to minimise the pivot circle...sand bar on one side, bridge on the other and a rock wall on the third...talk about a sleepless night ! 
Based on weather predictions, we may leave here on Saturday morning and push on to Coffs Harbour.

Pittwater

Finally the umbillical cords (mooring lines) have been cut!
We had farewell drinks with some of the Cammeray marina locals last night. Very enjoyable and thanks to all for making it a special night.
We left the marina at 08.00 for the 08.30 Spit bridge and picked up a mooring at Balmoral......no not nerves...just a final check of the boat and a precationary Kwell before setting off into 30 - 35 knots of southerly with a 3metre swell and  2 metre waves....the kwells did their duty, Cathy handled the conditions very well, even breaking into a smile after surfing down a big wave and hitting 12 knots. Who says Kittani is fat and slow!

3 hours from Balmoral to Pittwater.. A record for us, normally 5

We are currently enjoying a sheltered spot called Coasters Retreat and will head off early tomorrow for either Newcastle or Port Stephens..weather depending. We still have to come to terms with neither of us working and time is really our own so maybe lots of stops in lovely locations (maybe except Newcastle) on the way north.

3 years in Sydney have flown past and we will always have fond memories of some of the great people we have met and worked with.