Position Report and other info UTC +10 Hrs (Sydney time)
Wednesday, 21 May 2014, 1630 Hrs
20 15.8 S, 148 42.7 E Airlie Beach at Able Point Marina. Thank you David and Karl, a great trip despite the rain. All is fine.
1000 Hrs
20 34 S, 149 04 E, Just 40 Nm from Airlie beach now. ETA around 1600 Hrs. Although the wind is behind us, as it has been the entire trip, we now have a reefed mainsail up so may need to sail some angles downwind but its good to not have an engine running and to finally see the mainsail. All well but looking forward to a shower after arrival.
Monday, 19 May 2014, 2030 hrs
23 18 S, 150 58 E Approaching Great Keppel Island. This will probably be the
last update until perhaps Wednesday as we are not expecting phone reception
for 24 – 36 hrs. All is well apart from still having a bumpy sea.
1330 Hrs
23 42 S, 151 31 E Currently 15 Nm NW of Gladstone. Making reasonable progress
but this consistent rain really can be depressing. We are starting to get some
shelter from the swell now as the reef is abeam of us so at least the seas
should start to calm again for the next few days.
Sunday, 18 May 2014, 1430 Hrs
25 18 S, 153 00 E At the North end of the Great Sandy Straits. Up early this
morning for a full breakfast before getting underway at about 0930 hrs for
the passage through the channels. All negotiated with the rising tide and
now we are settling back in to our watch system for the final 400 odd Nm to
Airlie.
Saturday, 17 May 2014, 1300 Hrs
25 43 S, 152 59 E Safely in Wide Bay Harbour. We crossed the bar a little after
high tide this morning. Quite a wild surf down a couple of significant waves
gave the crew and myself a bit of an adrenalin rush. Will be anchoring in a few
hours to pass through the shallows early Sunday morning
0100 Hrs
Leave Mooloolaba for Wide Bay Bar. High tide across the bar is around 0945 Hrs
Wednesday, 14 May 2014, 0930 Hrs
26 41.2 S, 153 07.7 E, Mooloolaba Marina. So much for sunny Queensland and the
sunshine Coast! Actually its quite nice this morning but did it rain overnight.
Expecting to be underway again by Friday morning. The wind will be up a little
for the next few days so a short break will do no harm. All good with nothing
to fix just buy some non-slip in case its as bumpy as on the way here.
Tuesday, 13 May 2014, 1230 Hrs
28 18 S, 153 37 E, Just 10 Nm from Sunny Queensland, well hopefully. Had quite
a bit of rain through the night to wash the decks down. Have had good winds
since leaving Coffs however which has upped the pace a little and allowed us
to finally switch the engine off. Will probably be making a short stop at
Mooloolaba based on this afternoons updated forecast.
Monday, 12 May 2014, 1300 Hrs
Leaving Coffs Harbour. All fitted out with a new freshwater pump and a few
other electrical issues sorted out. A lovely day with sunshine and 15 Kts
of SE wind to push us north. The only thing to sort out now is what’s for
happy hour and dinner tonight.
Sunday, 11 May 2014, 1415 Hrs
30 18.2 S, 153 08.7 E, Coffs harbour Marina. Finally after pushing so much
current the whole way. All well we hope to be underway after fuel and water
etc by approximately lunchtime tomorrow
Saturday, 10 May 2014, 1230 Hrs
31 41 S, 152 52 E Approaching Camden Head. Still around 85 Nm to Coffs with
160 Nm behind us. Progress is a little slower than expected with light headwinds
(not expected until this evening) and a lot of southerly current at the moment.
Pleasant enough however as the sea and swell of the last few days have settled
down a bit.
Friday, 9 May 2014, 0930 Hrs
33 13 S. 151 49 E, approximately 10 Nm off Catherine Hill Bay. Light winds with
a fair size swell behind us. Currently under engine as expected for most of the
eg to Coffs. Settling in to our watch system and taking things easy for our
first shake down leg of the trip. All is well.
Thursday, 8 May 2014, 2330 Hrs
Leaving the CYCA for Coffs
1000 Hrs
Currently at the CYCA Rushcutters Bay. Provisioned with a few extra items to be stowed and acquired. Expecting to be underway this afternoon. Based on current forecasts we expect to stop for a night or two in Coffs Harbour before continuing on Sunday / Monday.