Leisure and pleasure

Two months have passed since the last entry. A lot has happened in that time. That viscous Dame La Nina has  had her way with this antipodean land. She lowered the ruffles of her monsoon skirt across the upper half of this land of extremes and what she didn't blow asunder she drenched and re-drenched enough to create new entries in the record books. Not satisfied with her usual territory she allowed her cascading excesses to spread far and wide overflowing every appreciative depression large and small from Torres to Bass. Pictures posted on the web display images of despair and delight, emotions that are poles apart in terms of the impacts of tragedy and reward. Ah the balance of Nature.

Poseidon, God of the seas and "Earth-Shaker" has been in concert with the Dame delivering savage undulations of land in Christchurch and Sendai and now Burma. The Sendai earthquake, the strongest in Japan's history with a recorded magnitude of 9 created a 10m Tsunami that travelled up to 12km inland and obliterated entire towns tragically ending  tens of thousands of lives. A modern catastrophe expected to cost hundreds of billions of dollars. The most expensive natural disaster on world record. Lessons have been provided for the proponents of nuclear energy. Fortunately our friends in Japan (Tokyo, Kawasaki and Yokahama) have escaped any injury or damage experiencing only the tremors and subsequent disruptions to power supply and transport. It was a relief to have news of their well-being and to speak to them of their experiences.

Gento and Daiki

Miki

Miwa

Nami

The female contingent of our Japanaese friends along with two toddler boys spent a week in Noosa during February. We put them up in a unit beside the Noosa River at Noosaville which conveniently has a floating jetty where I was able to bring Truansea alongside for them to come aboard for a leisurely cruise up river to Tewantin and down to Woods Bay for a swim and lunch before taking them back. They were delighted with the experience, something they could not contemplate in Japan. Our experience with the Sekiya family began in 1991 when Miwa the eldest daughter of Kazushige and Kazuko spent a year with us whilst on student exchange. Miwa has two sisters Miki and Nami and all three are now married. Miki also lived with us for the best part of a year whilst attending English language studies at University.  Miwa and Miki both have sons Daiki and Gento respectively. Our relationship with this family is truly a salute to the cause of fostering international relations. It has in effect created an extension of our family and exposed us to a culture that is so remote from the teachings during our school years as to make me wonder why the fostering of such relationships is not universal and supported by governments worldwide. The long term benefits are obvious and in my view provide a catalyst for the ideal of world peace. The commitment and effort required is a fraction of that required to deal with conflict.

The list of maintenance jobs at the house grows smaller as I work my way through them. Rear Admiral Lyn is pleased with progress and her beloved Trim now 15 months old is developing his own character but still a little aloof for her liking. He is very fond of endearing himself to our close neighbours and takes a great interest in his surroundings particularly if it is small and moves. The hunting instinct is there though generally targeted at the Geckos. His bell gives anything with that range of hearing a better than sporting chance. We are always amazed at his ability to leap 6,7 or 8 times his height to make his preferred entry into the house through a downstairs window. A cat door is on the list.

Hopefully all the painting and maintenance tasks and little jobs I have been doing around the house will see it in good stead with a minimum of attention in my absence under the guidance and attention of  Rear Admiral Lyn. My good doctor listened, probed, perused test results and happily pronounced me fit and healthy, a direct result I'm convinced of the care and attention provided by the Rear Admiral and a couple of small pills. He also announced his jealousy but with a new baby and toddler at home to occupy his thoughts that envy will soon fade.

Frying pan damper

Between jobs at the house and normal day to day life all is going to plan with Truansea's preparation. I spend time aboard mostly during inclement weather or periods of strong wind to get the feel and learn the reactions of Truansea in different conditions. Also on weekends both as a deterrent to the weekend hire boat fleet who's "skippers" know little of  boating safety or etiquette or even care if their behaviour is any indication and to keep up Truansea's appearance with a bit of cleaning and polishing.  Another satisfying element to this approach is the enhancement of my basic cooking skills. During those times aboard I am, with tuition from Lyn a most able and accomplished cook who needs little in the way of recipe or measuring device, expanding my ability beyond applying heat to left overs and pre prepared meals. Whilst still about two lifetimes away from being  confident and able in all respects of gathering, preparing and delivering the finished product I remain conservative and cautious in culinary pursuits not wanting to inflict even the slightest discomfort on either the inlet or exit apparatus or that mighty central organ that converts all that enters into energy. Or so I hope. All the great mariners from the illustrious Cook and Flinders onwards knew of the benefits to crew morale and strength to perform work of healthy eating, cleanliness and regular exercise. Mercifully there was also an understanding that grog played a significant role in maintaining the efficacy of all that goodly stuff. The daughter of the vine is most appreciated especially if the label bears the Penfolds stamp.

I have missed he opportunity to start a visitors book from day one however I will remedy that this coming week and it may be possible to acquire some retrospective entries.  The next phase between now and next months full moon will involve purchasing and fitting the Automatic Identification System (AIS) and a few other small jobs. Then check and recheck all equipment and systems stock up on consumables. The plan for departure is to weigh anchor after the 14th April when the Noosa bar is conducive to a safe crossing and slide across Laguna Bay towards Double Island Point and then on to the Wide Bay Bar and The Great Sandy Straits and beyond.

Noosa Main Beach

From First Point towards Noosa North Shore

This is where I started surfing back in '65, there weren't any more people than this then.

It's a pretty tough life here at Noosa, beautiful one day perfect the next. Sure is a great incentive to complete the rounding. Woods Bay is about 150m through the trees behind the rock groin just to the right of centre in the top picture.
My choice of anchorage here at Woods Bay Noosa has proven to be ideal in terms of security, accessibility and proximity to home. Only a waterfrontage home with Truansea moored in front would improve the situation. Keeping my surfboard on Truansea has enabled me to take advantage of any good surf running whilst I am aboard. A short paddle ashore and walk across the spit and I'm in to it. I have enjoyed the best seat in the house at a couple of recent outdoor musical entertainment venues in the park at the woods adjacent to the anchorage. Far from an intrusion into the serenity of the anchorage the music has been quite enjoyable with the clarity of  sound across the still water equivalent to earphones. The bass beats being wonderfully vibrant encouraging involuntary participation in a rock and roll kind of way. There was a very energetic outrigger canoe corporate challenge day at which I again had an enviable spectators position midway along the southern edge of the course with a full view of the start and finish lines. I was able to take photo's close up of the canoes and their paddlers as they passed only meters from Truansea.  A well organised and run event from my viewpoint and a day I'm sure was enjoyed by all participants, spectators and helpers.

Woods Bay anchorage & entertainment

Photo taken from aboard Truansea

I have decided to advertise the Vulcan for sale. The big 2000cc V twin will rumble no more with my grip on the revving handle. That unique pleasure will belong to the new owner. I contemplated loaning it to a motorbike museum for exhibit and also preparing it for long term storage with a view to future use but as I get older and weaker (it is a very big, powerful and heavy machine) the reality is future use is whimsical at best.  My motorcycle days are now confined to 100cc of  relaxed, sweet  scootering around Noosa. An inexpensive pleasure in itself now shared by what must amount to 25% of the local population. Italians can be very sensible. The double delight is seeing the Rear Admiral taking to the scootering style like a duck to water and exuding so much confident pleasure.

The Vulcan

Really the hardest thing to cope with is the absence of day to day contact with friends and workmates but, and with  the exception of the dearest of friends, it is only in the deepest of those reflective moments that the concern arises.

Well that's an overview of the past two months and about as close an insight as my personal space allows. If you get closer than that you really have been admitted to the esoterical sanctorum - not for the feint hearted.

Floods, funerals and future

20/01/2011

I've had more than a few jibes aimed at me updating the blog with a new post so apologies to those followers distressed by the absence of anything new.

Lyn's new 100cc scooter

Xmas was pretty damn good as always, there is seldom any cause for anything but happiness and delight at catching up with others not seen or conversed with in a while and of course the giving and receipt of presents. Lyn can't be missed scorching around Noosa on her new scooter. Saint Nic had a big influence on the colour being bright red with white trim just like his robes and sleigh. Apart from the colour it is exactly the same as her other scooter so there was no delay in getting revved up. No comparison to the new smart phone she has just taken delivery of and has announced it could be three months until she comes to grips with the Android technology. I have heard it ringing whatever that means, I think it must come with an application that actually lets her use it as a phone. The old scooter, well not really that old only travelled about 4000km, has been passed on to yours truly and it surely is the best way to get around locally especially now Noosa is engorged with the short stayers.


Most of the business minds in the tourist trade around here are ensuring that holidaymakers are enjoying there stay but there is still the odd fool who is solely  focused on maximising profits. Take for example the establishment just near Hastings St that purports to be a Sushi outlet of some stature. It appears that substituting two minute noodles for ramen noodles in one and possibly more of their offerings will go unnoticed by the general populous not being of oriental extraction. What a shame in a location known internationally for the local cuisine. So as I always say vote with your feet and and spread the word. I'm disgusted enough to pen my first letter to the editor.

Those of you old enough to remember the 1974 floods will remember the anguish and heart ache suffered by the flood victims then, we were one of those affected though to a much lesser degree than most. It matters little how the inundation occurs, nature can't be opposed, the important thing is to help those affected, dig deep, reinstate wisely, grieve the loss and contribute to the prevention of a recurrence no matter that it may be another 36 or more years in the coming. The current floods across eastern Australia being coincidental will strengthen the resolve of an unprecedented number of Australians and instil that resilience we are known for. A character building experience for sure and as many poets, song writers and historians have observed the true Aussie gets up and gets on with it in response to such devastating events. Anna said we are tough north of the border but that was a short sighted statement without consideration for the tenacity and strength of our near neighbours who will demonstrate I'm sure that great Aussie spirit. We Queenslanders like to be parochial but it is not our sole domain.

To a spirit of a different nature that of our near relative who signed off on the 5th January after a long and courageous struggle with motor neurone disease. This spirit lives on in our memories of him and his release from what must be one of the most wretched and insidious diseases that can befall a person. It can not go unsaid that the untiring efforts of his most loving, loyal and dedicated wife were no less than commendable. Her personal deprivation of liberty over the last two years and persistence with providing the best care, to understand his needs and ensure his comfort and dignity must surely be the equal of any efforts provided by those of her ilk. Our hats are doffed to her.

Captain Jake, our grandson sailing up with his other grandparents.

Days and nights at home are interspersed with days and nights spent on Truansea. There have been many visitors to the little ship since she arrived in Noosa all full of adoration for both her looks and intentions. Some come by sail others by car and tender. The inclemency and dangerous condition of the Noosa River bar upon which recently one of the coast guard boats capsized have kept us tethered to the anchor. That is not too difficult to endure mind you for I have read a couple of books and completed a few small jobs on board as well as displayed some skill at angling having caught, seemingly without too much effort on my part, and released many fish mostly bream. Ok I did fillet a couple and show Lyn that I can cook fish.  Weather permitting a little journey up to the top of Fraser Island via the Wide Bay bar and the Great Sandy Straits is in the offing later next week. A week or two in those environs will relieve Truansea of any Noosa fixations.

Yummy bream

Our Japanese friends have planned a weeks stay with us in the middle of February much to our delight. When they return to Japan I'm considering a circumnavigation by car of southern and western Queensland say -Warwick, St George, Thargomindah, Quilpie, Windorah, Birdsville, Bedourie, (always wanted to see Bedourie) Boulia, Winton, Longreach, Blackall, Augathella, Morven, Mitchell, Roma, Miles, Dalby and home again. Reckon I might see a roo or two. After that it will be time for some serious preparation for the big sailing adventure.

For those of you who still have to work tough it out until your turn comes it's definitely worth the wait. I hope my adventures in some way keep your desires and aspirations alive.

Fair winds

Brian              

Good sailing north of the border to Noosa

10/12/2010

Truansea's best sailing experiences to date have with out doubt been immediately after crossing the border from NSW. Sorry cockroaches but seems your sailing weather this time was on par with your State of Origin efforts in recent times. Our entry into Southport under sail was as delightful as the few miles sailed further on to the top of North Stradbroke Is. Old memories of Moreton Bay resurfaced as we moved on up to Tangalooma Point on on Moreton Is where the dolphins welcomed us to our anchorage inside the Dring Banks. A little rain the following morning washed off any remnants of salt spray as we sailed over to Scarborough marina where we spent the week. Truansea being twice the width of monohulls of her length gave the scalpers at Scarborough marina the opportunity to fleece me for two monohull berths claiming that was all they had available. Naturally after meeting their extortive expectations it became apparent that there were several single berthing opportunities for Truansea, wiser next time. The convenience of berthing there to catch up with family and friends was worth the extra. There were several overseas yachts moored at Scarborough as it is a port of entry.

By Wednesday Truansea could wait no longer to head to Noosa to see for herself if all that I had told her along the way about her new life would be true. Sailing again was all that could be expected. Across Deception Bay and around Skirmish Point at the bottom of Bribie Is was like a Sunday sail. Then as the wind increased a few knots Truansea lifted her skirt and paralleled the shipping channel until near enough to Caloundra Head to slip between the extending reef and the fairway beacon. Three large carriers passed us as we ran up beside Bribie Island and there were several more standing off the Caloundra to Point Cartwright stretch. The contingency plan to head into Mooloolaba for the night if the wind was light went by the board when, off Point Cartwright at 14:30, Truansea sighted Noosa Head and would not be turned in early especially as she had a steady 15 knot easterly filling her sails and a fair current.

As each Sunshine Coast icon fell astern my phone rang as we were abeam Sunrise Beach. The lovely Lyn all Xmas shopped out, after dropping Bevan off at Scarborough earlier in the morning for the final leg, was driving home and decided to head into the coast at Peregian Beach. There are a few opportunities which we regularly take advantage of when driving between Coolum and Noosa to take in the ocean vista and see if there are any sails or whales to watch. On this day to her delight something special caught her eye; several sails out to sea, seven we had counted heading south. The object of her delight was closer inshore and she soon confirmed it was Truansea. Lyn watched from her vantage point until we passed and remarked how good it was to see us this far up the coast already. Advising her that we would spend the night anchored off First Point in front of Main Beach at Noosa she was off home for the camera and managed a couple of photos as we passed the Boiling Pot. Securely anchored about 100m out from First Point and with a million dollar view of Main Beach and no doubt providing some interest for those ashore we were suddenly surrounded by 20 odd surf ski's ripping out from the beach before returning to do it all again several times in the pursuit of fitness and whatever else it does for them. Logging off with the Coast Guard and advising them of our intention to cross the bar on the high tide in the morning we prepared for dinner just as old Sol took his rest for the day.

Meat and vegies doesn't sound all that creative when your just a couple of hundred metres from some of the best restaurants in the country but what it lacked in originality was made up for by the location and serenity of it all. Any rate lamb chops, potato, carrot, cauliflower, zucchini and egg cooked on the BBQ isn't all that shabby for an untrained bait layer after a days sail. Did I mention the fluid, Jupiter Hill Cab Sav Merlot 2007, wouldn't want to risk something sticking on the way down! Just gets tougher doesn't it.

Thursday, 9th December at 0900 Truansea weighs her anchor after receiving a call  from the real salts of the family Don and Agnes Reed advising that they have sounded a route in through the tricky parts of the mouth of the Noosa River for us. 0930 at the entrance and with the Noosa Coast Guard using the power of the jets on the "John Waddams", their premier rescue vessel, to flatten the chop we crossed the bar with only one small wave of no consequence breaking astern and washing under us. We were inside within minutes much to the satisfaction of Lyn, Jake, Pam and other unknown observers on the rock wall. Anchored in Woods Bay we ferried gear ashore and handed Bevan back to Laraine in good order none the worse for his adventure with many thanks for being available to provide the assurance of company along the way from Yamba.

Jake has checked Truansea over thoroughly, no nook or cranny escaped his attention. He will be able to sail his dinghy around the anchorage here during the school holidays and sleep on board. Lyn, Emma and Danny and Jake will come aboard shortly for sundowners. Emma, always the culinary upstager, has procured prawns, moreton bay bugs and a suitable bottle of bubbles to accompany my meager wafers, cheese and dips.

Visiting a gravely ill relative, jobs around the home and preparing for Xmas are at the top of my to do list now.

The 750 nautical miles from Sydney on this delivery trip has been a well rounded experience with all sorts of weather and sea conditions bar the extreme. Truansea is all she was expected to be and then some. I am very pleased with the decision to go with a Seawind 1000XL  and have no regrets. The joy and delightful times ahead will brighten more than a few lives for family and friends. Many thanks to all my family, friends,  especially Mars and Jupiter and work colleagues who have shared the experience so far and hope you are all delighted by what is to come.

Fair winds and a merry Xmas to all,  Brian and Lyn

Next move

06/12/10

Sitting here at Scarborough marina reflecting on a nice lunch at Moreton Bay Boat Club and afternoon spent with work colleagues yesterday. I hope they enjoyed the time as well and all seemed pleased that Truansea presented herself well and that she has the attributes to maintain my motivation and ensure safe passage on the adventure ahead. The weather Gods relented and with the exception of one brief shower, just to reaffirm who actually is in charge, provided us with a fairly pleasant day.

A lovely dinner at Denise's with Dave and Zena before settling down to watch a very interesting National Geographics doco on the largest cave in the world  Son Doong in Vietnam. Not for me that caving stunt but very interesting. 

Thanks for the call Glenn pleased to hear your going to spend some time with Maria after spending most of the year aboard the Pink Shrimp. Maybe the prospective purchaser will relocate her from Sardinia back to Italy and you will be closer to home.

If the trough forming off the coast from Fraser Island south doesn't deepen into one of those nasty lows by Wednesday Lyn will bring Bevan back down and we will move on up to Mooloolaba  and spend the night there before an early start on Thursday to catch the high tide at Noosa Bar at 10:00ish in the morning. Noosa bar has a formidable reputation but with a high tide, sun behind us and swell not expected to exceed 1.2m combined with local knowledge should see us in safely. Truansea can then have time to acquaint herself with her home base while I attend to some minor house maintenance tasks Lyn has been patiently expecting me to attend to. Then there is family and friends, our favourite coffee spots and mal sliding around the points and kayaking on the river and fishing. Will I have time for all this and Santa just around the corner. I've heard it said that retirement can be a busy time of life....

Fair winds,  Brian

    

28/11/2010

Departing Yamba with a reasonable forecast for the leg to Southport Seaway we entered the Clarence River through the hole in the wall and found ourselves in the middle of a combined Water Police and Volunteer Marine Rescue training exercise. Helicopters, police boats, VMR boats and VHF radio traffic were the order of the day. Where the Clarence meets the sea was a far different place to when Lyn and I arrived, just some small green speed humps to denote the crossing. 

The sum of rhumb line distances a safe distance of headlands and hard bits from Yamba to Southport Seaway is 97nm so reckoning on a bit of adverse current and a steady breeze 19-20 hours of sailing should see the job done. That is until Mr Murphy's law is applied to the calculation. His arithmetic is a little different to mine and generally the more accurate. The only difference really is like the old maths books where you had to go to the end of the book (voyage in this case) to get the correct answer which turned out to be 153nm.

How can this be? Simple really as always. Variable winds + periods of no wind + EAC x 3kts = Mr Murphy's constant. An earlier employer of mine estimated time to do a job with unknowns by averaging three guesses then doubling the answer and adding two. He was related to Murphy.

Slight seas are good Lyn, glassy ones even better. We had these for most of the passage as Lyn predicts this for times when she isn't aboard. Trawlers, up to twenty were counted within a mile of our position during the night mostly off Evans Head and Point Byron where the most easterly light house shines on all who sail within  it's range. How hard those fisherman work in poor conditions and how they tolerate the current is a credit to them. Prawns are cheap. The gloom of the lights from other trawlers working even further out to sea would indicate another twenty. A keen eye kept us clear of them with only one coming close to my safety radius.

All through the night we sailed when there was enough wind and motored when there wasn't finally seeing old Sol rise up as we passed Brunswick Heads. Huey the wind God was completely exhausted from his efforts to scare the lovely Lyn and many others off sailing over the past several weeks. All that fuss and water and waves he was kicking about finally settled down into almost a mirror like surface as we motored past my first SCUBA diving site, Cook Is off Fingal Head. Turtles and rays came to the surface close by as we passed between Fingal and Cook Is and had our first glimpse of Queensland and the start of that most famous of recreational strips named the Gold Coast. The Queensland wind being a much nicer affair than it's southern counterpart set up a particularly pleasant broad reach for us along the coast line about a mile off shore. Old Sol lit up the beach strip and high rise buildings like a postcard photo as we closed on the Southport Seaway.

Entering the seaway across the infamous Southport bar was a pretty benign affair sailing under full main and jib about 100m behind a monohull who chose to motor in ahead of us. We gybed the sails across as we turned north and held the one sail set all the way up the Broadwater along the inside of South Stradbroke Island until the last 2 miles before the "Bedroom" at the northern tip of the island near Jumpinpin. (It is a lovely place thank you Arlette. We had been here several times before in another life.) That wonderful BBQ produced another great steak, egg, zucchini, potato and carrot dinner washed down with a rum. Naturally. A Pacific black duck swum up to the transom shortly after we anchored and stepped aboard up the steps like he lived here all his life and stayed for at least ten minutes. I told you it was a good life.

After a night here we left earlyish back to my old habit of going just a bit further before stopping for breakfast.  We motored up to another old favourite anchorage where the old sand mining jetty used to be on North Stradbroke Island across from Caniapa Point. Cornflakes consumed we motored out past Macleay Island and hoisted sail finding the going much to our liking. Past Coochiemudlo Island, then Peel Island then St Helena Is off to port we passed several other catamarans and monohulls on our way to Tangalooma Point on Moreton Island just south of the resort. Finding a quiet place to anchor 300m of the beach in very clear water we dropped all sail and secured a good grip on the bottom with the anchor for the night. A small pod of dolphins welcomed us one leaping out equally as happy as us to be here.

Tomorrow we will head across to Scarborough where Truansea will spend a few days before the final leg of the trip home to Noosa. Bevan and I will return home from here by car with one of his old girlfriends. I'll have a chance to catch up with friends and relatives who have indicated a desire to take a look over the little ship when I return to Truansea on Saturday. Please book early to avoid disappointment.

Fair winds, Brian.

Leaving lovely Yamba

28/11/2010

This morning we leave lovely Yamba and it's laid back lifestyle. Everyone here from the kids of all ages in the street are friendly and well mannered the storekeepers are helpful and chatty if you want to strike up a conversation. The general ambiance of the business area is delightfully stress free and the traffic is steady and courteous to pedestrians. I understand that  the population here grows dramatically during holiday seasons increasing from a resident 8000 to somewhere in the order of 30000. Like Noosa I suspect the depreciation of amenity is directly proportional at these times. 

Around mid morning Truansea will slip her lines here at the marina and head out of the Clarence River for the Southport Seaway. We expect to cross into the Broadwater around mid morning tomorrow on the rising tide after an overnite passage. The forecast is reasonable however the wind will head us most of the way and is expected to be slight around dawn when we cross that imaginary line between NSW and QLD. Sea and swell is forecast to be at least 1-1.5m less than Truansea has become used to swimming in but those early lessons were good for her character and gave her an opportunity to show off her rewarding attributes.

This passage will be the first after all teething problems and some poor work quality issues have been rectified so a dream run is expected. My call to Richard Ward, Seawind CEO today will have a different flavour compared to the last three Sunday chats. I appreciate his attention to the rectification works and hope that he can educate his staff in the importance of attention to detail and thus producing a total quality product every time, after all that is the key to success and keeps them employed long term.

Lyn has returned to Noosa and will miss this passage but will be back aboard in a few days. Bevan in the meantime has acquainted himself with Truansea and will share the watches with me tonight. It was a disappointment to miss the Seawind Moreton Bay Regatta and the opportunity to catch up with and get to know the other local Seawind owners. Hope they had great time.

Fair winds,  Brian

Coffs Harbour to Yamba

23/11/2010

Today we made our passage from Coffs to Yamba through the Solitary Is group to add a little variety to the passage and hopefully by staying closer inshore we might avoid the full strength of the EAC which peaked at 1.7kts adverse but was generally around 0.5kt. The coastal scenery was a little clearer due to old Sol being more obvious than for the past week. Most prominent headlands, beaches and associated landmarks were easily identifiable and this certainly makes the passage more interesting as the information provided by Alan Lucas in 'Cruising the NSW Coast' becomes relevant.

We bowled along at between 8 and 9 knots until 9nm from our last waypoint when the EAC suddenly disappeared and shortly after the wind dropped to 3kts. I shook out the reef in the main and vainly tried to keep sailing for a couple of miles but could achieve no more than 1.5kts so not wanting to enter the Clarence in the dark I started up the iron topsails and motorsailed to within a mile of the entrance and dropped all sail. The sea and swell maintained their presence at up to 3m and that contributed to a fairly boisterous trip.

Arriving off the Clarence River entrance at our estimated ETA of 1730 Marine rescue Iluka/Yamba called us to advise they had eyeballed our approach and to advise that the southern entrance to the river was impassable and that we might like to check out the northern entry before making any attempt at entry. From our perspective the southern entrance looked like a marine incident waiting to happen with quite obvious large breaking swells for at least 0.5nm seaward extending 60 % across the entrance from the south and well inward along the southern sea wall. Motoring along about 1nm offshore to the northern approach we got a pretty good Captain Cook at the whole bar which wasn't all that encouraging but I was confident I had observed a gap in the breaking waves and white water about a third of the distance from the end of the northern sea wall towards the southern wall. Lyn puts a lot of faith in my ability and with her confident and thinking it couldn't be any worse than the seas of the last couple of days we committed to entering. My little darling even had the guts to try and get a couple of photos as we crossed the bar, my concern was that if she gripped the camera as tightly as her hand hold the camera would look like a crumpled chip packet nonetheless   she did it and as always with photos of swell they rarely depict the full glory of the moment. Not wanting to understate the situation if I say that the swell was the biggest I have entered a river in and the one that broke just behind us and stood us up at about 45 degrees as it forced it's way beneath us was an OMG or FARQ moment you'll know why the marine forecasts always say swell may be twice the height indicated. Marine rescue monitored our entry from their post near the entry and called us to say well done after we were safely inside. And that's all I'm saying on the matter.

We've made arrangements through Seawind to allow a local shipwright to do the couple of warranty jobs while we are here in Yamba waiting for the weather to abate and become more favourable for our next leg to Southport. Unfortunately due to the delays we have experienced Lyn will not be able to do this passage and will return to Noosa on Sunday by road. A friend and long time sailing buddy Bevan will bring the car down here on Saturday and sail to Scarborough with me where Lyn will rejoin me for the last passage home.

Yamba is a lovely place and everytime I come here I like it even more. There is that old Noosa pace and atmosphere that we grew up with evident here. The locals are unpretentious and friendly so it might be a case of watch this space. The prawns are sweet and the beer is cold.

Well land lubbers I've got a boat to wash when Lyn finishes her Nanna nap.

Fair winds, Brian and Lyn.

Forster Tuncurry to Coffs Harbour

20/11/2010
Whilst anchored at Tuncurry opposite the Wallis Lake Fishermans Co-op we had a visit from Nick Robertson of Marine Patrol to say hello and welcome us to Tuncurry. Take the opportunity to look him up and say hello if your in Tuncurry he is new there from Sydney and a a really nice chap. We took the dinghy ride over to the Forster side and less than 50m from the public floating mooring is GJ's for a coffee and enough stores for basic victualling. Lots of people fishing from the bank and boats beautiful clear blue water.

Back on Truansea it was time to go to the mast head and tie the wind indicator back on as a temporary measure until we got to Yamba for a more permanent fix. After setting up the bosun's chair on the spinnaker halyard and giving Lyn a run through on how to winch me to the top and ease me back down again I set off in great faith of her ability. The spinnaker halyard exits the mast about 1.5m from the top and unfortunately I hadn't allowed for me sitting in the bosun's chair and not standing so I was unable to affect any repair. Safely back down on deck I reattached the bosun's chair this time to the main halyard which exits at the mast head. The main halyard is a two to one arrangement which means 120m of line for Lyn to winch in to haul me to the top. A big effort for the lovely Lyn as she is no Arnie. Plenty of rest breaks along the way gave me a chance to have a good look around. Finally at the mast head with a metre of VB cord I was able to secure the recalcitrant instrument and as it turns out a better job than the "Tempo Spars tradesman?" did originally as it has lasted longer in tougher conditions. Lyn took a couple of photos of me up the mast, great bum shots. There was also a growing number of observers on shore taking an interest and photos.

21/11/2010
We departed Tuncurry for Port Macquarie with a forecast of East to South Easterly wind 15-20kts seas to 1m from the North East and swell South East at 1.5-2.0m. A bit ordinary but no concerns. We crossed the Port Macquarie bar at 1730 and picked up a courtesy mooring outside the small Port Marina. We went ashore for a nice long hot shower and picked up some fresh bread at the nearby Woolworths then some lovely fresh fish and chips at Scampi's which we ate back on board.

22/11/2010
Port Macquarie to Coffs Harbour an interesting day. The infamous East Australia Current (EAC) delayed our trip considerably. The set was exactly opposed to our heading and the rate was at worst 3.8kts and at best 3.4kts. The rhumb line from Port Macquarie to Coffs Harbour is 67.5nm we endured a further 38.5nm through the water arriving at Coffs Harbour at 2200 grateful for the full moon and a space on the public wharf to tie alongside. The lovely Lyn had a steak on the BBQ and a scotch in the glass by 2210. I rewarded her with a really good long black from the Marina coffee shop just after she came on deck in the morning, life's little pleasures. Along the way off Crescent Head and Killick Beach we saw thousands of shearwaters heading south just a few metres above the water in a long soaring band about 100m wide. This migration continued for more than 5nm. Nothing fishier than that though I suspect the piscatorial crowd are staying well below the confused surface.

According to Mr Beaufort

On the Beaufort wind scale force 6 is described as a strong breeze 22-27 kts. 3.0m waves, larger waves forming, whitecaps everywhere, more spray, and force 7 is a near gale 28-33 kts. 4.0m waves, seas heap up, white foam from breaking waves begins to be blown in streaks. We had a bit of both on our run up to Forster/Tuncurry from Port Stephens. Sorry Lyn. That's the type of sailing you probably shouldn't expose your wife to so soon. So apart from the lumpy bits it wasn't all that bad as we had the second reef in and full jib and wind aft mostly and Truansea is really good at keeping her head above water. Not a good idea to get a rope jammed under the hatch when you close it especially on the windward side above a bunk. Noticed it early enough not to cause any real harm. Lyn wasn't feeling hungry along the way so I had some of her delicious fruit cake and an iced coffee.

Another 51 nm on the clock at avg 7.9kn and new top speed of 14.1kn. Tuncurry bar was dead flat (unbelievable) plenty of depth but 4.5kts of ebb tide. Again a dolphin just inside the entry to welcome us in.  Tomorrow's forecast is more of the same so will sit it out here and head up to Port Macquarie on Sunday when the wind abates. Seems it's my shout to dinner. Did I mention that the Raymarine wind indicator parted company with the mast head about two thirds of the way up here. Just swinging on its cable 60 feet in the air. Through the binoculars it looks like the securing screws have fallen out. Bit nervous about finding out for sure as Lyn may decide to get even as she is hauling me up to the top of the stick to see if I can repair it. I'll let you know how the bosun's chair works thanks Bevan. That's a Friday sail for you.

Fair winds friends,  Brian and Lyn.

Bulk Carriers, Dolphins and Fairy Penguins

Signal restored Mr Telstra still has a few gaps in his coverage. Sitting here at beautiful Nelson Bay, Port Stephens about 50m off a nice sandy beach calm, fine but cloudy. We liked it here back in February on our reconnaissance trip and nothing has changed our opinion. Slipped ashore in the tender this morning and did the washing and had a lovely coffee from GJ's. Following a bit of tidy up and check all fittings etc we had lunch and Lyn is resting while I keep you updated.

Yesterday was like sailing in a washing machine with 2m SE swell and 1m NE sea running over it but the wind was fair abaft the beam 12 - 15 kn SE all day so Truansea covered the 75nm in 10.5 hrs. Good little sailing ship. We hugged the rhumb line all the way so my navigation skills are still ok.

Along the way we saw a pod of 5 dolphins who chanced to play around our bows for about 15 mins and passed 9 bulk carriers between Catherine Bay and Newcastle entrance another one overtook us to Port along the northern end of Stockton Beach. We were about 11nm off the coast when we saw 6 of the carriers idling about. We sailed close enough to the Panamanian Kashi Arrow to read their paper (with my beaut Bushnells) but dropped below her stern cause they are REALLY REALLY BIG. The wind dropped to about 8kn as we turned into the entrance to Port Stephens and dropped sail before motoring the last 400m to a courtesy mooring in Shoal Bay. No sooner settled when Lyn saw a dolphin cruise by the galley window to welcome us in.

Following a good sleep we dropped the mooring and motored the 1.5nm around to Nelson Bay and lucked onto this courtesy mooring in front of the beach. On the way around off  Little Bay we saw 10 fairy penguins having breakfast, whitebait??. Cute little fella's look like half drowned ducks when there swimming.

Weather permitting we will head for Forster/Tuncurry or possibly Camden Haven or even Port Macquarie tomorrow.

Fair winds my friends.