Hi Yawl,
We left Yamba on 30/8 and sail in flat seas all the way to the Gold Coast on a light N.E. wind and anchored in Bums’ Bay. Met up with Wendy, Keith, Janet & Gary for dinner that night.
Saturday went on up to Paradise Point & had lunch with friends. Left next morning and motored up Caniaba Passage to Moreton Bay, anchored at lovely Peel Island for the night.
Left next morning again on a N.E. wind and motor sailed to Mooloolaba where we happily anchored in ‘the pond’. Weather forecast for the next few days was lousy, so stayed there until Tuesday 11/9. Met up with Lorraine & Baz and also Betty & Steve Hill (‘Jams’). Finally got a good report to go on 12/9 so took off a good rate and and had a lovely sail to Tin Can Bay. I was to take the yacht thru the dreaded Wided Bay Bar but the weather got a bit heavy so I chickened out. Not too bad a crossing as it turned out. Anchored in Pelican Bay for the night then next day motored up the Great Sandy Straights and tried one anchorage but once again copped a howling N.E. and had to move.
Next day saw us heading for Hervey Bay and wouldn’t you know it the bloody starboard motor started playing up! So limped into Fishermans Wharf Marina and called up the mechanic. We have been here for a week & just found out this m orning that the head is cracked! May have to get a new one if they can’t fix it. There goes our boat budget for the year if that happens. Fingers crossed it can be repaired.
So we haven’t got very far yet but it’s a lovely place to stay and we’re safe & comfortable for now. Going for lots of huge walks & I took a day excursion to beautiful Fraser Island & a light plane flight over the island. What an amazing place. No wonder they have declared it a World Heritage. It has an underground water table of pure fresh water the volume of which is 30 times Sydney Harbour!!! Amazing. So that’s it from us here. Simba is loving his life on board as we do.
Hope this letter finds everyone happy & well.
Lotsa love
Paddy & Kev
