Sunday 27 June 2010 You think a week is a long time in politics, well it is ages for cruising. A week in Coffs to fix the steering cable – it arrived on Tuesday and I managed to fit it that day. How good FIG JAM! It even worked like it was meant to. Chris flew up on Wed night – it was good to have her on board. We left Coffs at 0500 Friday to get to Yamba, which meant we had to cross the bar into the Clarence river. We arrived about 1500h and the bar was OK with a few rollers and some white water in places but we made it in with no worries (except the Admiral wasn’t impressed). We invited Rob Howie down to spend the weekend with us to explore the Clarence River. However Rob was railroaded into an overnight trip of 90 NM to the Gold Coast. Chris drove Rob’s car to the Gold Coast and Rob and I did 2 hours on 2 hours off leaving Yamba at 1500 and arriving at the Gold Coast Seaway at 1000 on Sunday. I am sure we will sleep well tonight. Both Chris and I are VERY grateful to Rob for helping us out like that - we are lucky to have such good mates. Thanks also to Steph in whose house Chris was able to stay. Some neat whale action this morning – a big lad doing barrel rolls at sunrise. Tomorrow up at sparrow’s to start the trip to Mooloolaba. PS we will try to start with some pictures soon!

A fellow I met this evening in Coffs Harbour Yacht Club described cruising as “fixing your boat in exotic locations”. Well, he is mostly right. Yes, Phlat Chat is tied up in Coffs Harbour marina. Thursday 10.30 Andrew at the helm when a loud crack is heard and then a hump. I knew immediately what is was – the damn steering cable had parted, snapped in two. No helm, no steerage nothing, Until we got sorted. Lucky for u sit was in the day time and only 23 NM from Coffs. We were able to rig the emergency tiller which worked well, also the auto pilot worked as it is directly connected to the rudder bar, lucky, It was blowing about 20 knots. We radioed Coffs VMR and let them know we were coming in and arrived about 1600. John was on the emergency tiller and I was calling, “starboard”, “midships”, “port” etc and working the throttles. We tested it all at sea and just as we were coming in a ruddy great whale swam in front of us – great timing. But it was all fine and we made the harbour with no worries. I was pretty nervous about getting into the Marina it is a tight spot at Coffs. Should not have worried with John on the helm and Scott pointing out trawlers coming out we had by the throat. We tied up and sorted the boat, nicely done lads! After a few beers it seemed things were OK. The boys flew home on the 0630 flight. They were a great crew welcome any time – but no damn pistachios next time, god they make a mess. Friday was spent cleaning Phlat Chat and trying to source a new steering cable. It is being made in the Gold Coast and is in transit as I write this blog entry (or I HOPE so!).

The good ship Phlat Chat is at it again. We have finally left Sydney heading north, after two false starts. Hopefully it will go better this time. Today, Tuesday 15 June is sunny, the sea is quiet and there is little breeze. With the exception of the breeze it is a perfect day. On board we have John Wood and Scott Hart, two blokes getting some sea miles up before a race later in the year. Looks like we should have an enjoyable trip. We are in for a bit of a blow later but it does not look too bad. The plan is to reach the Gold Coast Friday night or Saturday morning, drop the boys off to return to Sydney and pick up Rob Howie to help me sail Phlat Chat to Mooloolaba. From there hopefully another mate, Bob Taylor will help me from Moolooolaba to Tin Can Bay and I will then take her up to Bundaberg, where Chris will join me. From there we will head north together like last year. Anyway that’s the plan what the weather gods do about it remains to be seen. Right now we aren’t even at Pittwater so we have not gone far.