Its a tough life; our followers today and the killer sunset. Well we didn’t get to the mungo ball – we had dinner on Phlat Chat with Chris and Judy instead and tried to get the usb TV tuner to work its magic. Guess what it’s a digital HDTV and it isn’t available here – so we listened to bit of it on the radio and got bored. Tried to leave today for the top end of Fraser Island but the fog rolled in big time and we could not see a thing. We snuck back to Kingfisher until about midday when the fog lifted a bit and off we went but only a short trip to Moon Point, which we hope we can use as a jump off for Bundaberg tomorrow (assuming no fog!). It is a lovely spot. Big sandy beach – we went for a walk to be disturbed by dingo’s howling – we walked back to the dinghy to be followed by two dingoes who were obviously hoping we had food. Chris made me beetle back to the dinghy and the jolly dingoes followed us all the way to the very edge of the water where the dinghy was anchored. We finished the day watching a WONDERFUL sunset as we sipped a cool one and retired for a wonderful meal. Chris is a wizard in the galley! Up early tomorrow (weather willing) for a 40+NM trip to Bundaberg. Things to do there – there are always things to do !!!

An unexpected visitor, a beach sundowners, our tenders. One of the locals and our beach BBQ

We have been a bit slack with the blog lately as we have been just too busy !! Since we last updated the site we have had a blast. The guys for the cat have just been a great source of information and friendship. Thanks to Chris and Judy for their help and great company. We also met a delightful couple, Mark and Katrina. This was all at Garrys Anchorage. What a top spot, and yes Rob, Goondaloo would fit. We had a great BBQ on the beach on Saturday – early dinner / late lunch. I even lit the fire with a “device” I purchased from a con man at a boat show 10 years ago and this was its first use. From memory the Swedish army would be lost without it ( I am such a sucker for these blokes at shows….). Met a heap of interesting people heading north, a number of whom are first timers and others are experienced hands. It was great. On Sunday we had a relaxed morning and spend the afternoon fishing with Mark and Katrina. We had each been pumping yabbies (nippers) on the beach for bait and we got stuck in. I am (sort of) delighted to report that Chris caught the biggest and best fish a lovely flathead, which we ate for dinner that night – it was delicious. We also ended up with 5 whiting ( a couple of them were contributed by Mark and Katrina who insisted we have them) Mark even cleaned them. I think he thought we southerners could probably not do it. The people we have met on boats have, so far, been delightful, generous and knowledgeable and keen to share their hard won knowledge with we virgins. On Monday we moved anchorages to Yankee Jacks about 8 NM up the track towards Hervery Bay. That night we had dinner on Two Easy, Chris and Judy’s boat – it was a feast ! The day had been a shocker !! It poured and poured – the odd dry spell for ten minutes but down it would come again. Everything was damp and to top it off as we left Two Easy it pissed down and blew like hell from the SW. We got soaked and it was tricky getting aboard from the dinghy, in the dark, wind and rain. But we had anchored carefully and we held so it was just something to be endured until it passed. Tuesday dawned bight and clear – gee doesn’t the sun make a difference !! We were stoked! We ran around opened hatches hung out washing (like everyone) and hoped for continued sunshine. We were in luck it has been a beautiful day, and our stuff dried. We moved up the Sandy Straits all the way to Kingfisher Resort today about 10NM – it is a great spot we had a lovely walk up the lookout and a real coffee. Chris was pleased to see a shop, it’s been so long (NOT!). We are two lucky people today was a pearler with a beautiful sunset and with luck (and BOM) tomorrow looks good too. We will probably go ashore to the resort to watch the mungo ball tomorrow – the second sate of origin .

We "live aboards" grow our own herbs - here is young Basil. Thanks Bunty for the plant it is doing famously

Pictures: 1. Chris hard at it kneading, 2. the result, and 3 we even ate it ! It was good too.

Since our last blog entry we have been busy bees – summed up best by “Domesticity and the lesser booby”. Read on dear readers…… Wednesday 17 June About lunch time we decided to leave Pelican Bay to head down to Teebar Creek to spend the night as we would be protected from the Southerly breezes. We found a nice quiet (but shallow) anchorage and had a quiet night. On the bright side Andrew noticed our neighbours, three house boats. The main one had a bit of a party going on - all old blokes and I am sure I saw a few scantily clad women on board. Thank heavens for binoculars – right again Phippo. Two young women toppless serving drinks to old farts. What a laugh, Chris was less impressed. Thursday 18 June, Tried to leave about 0900 after a very leisurely morning relaxing, but guess what it was bloody shallow. You guessed it we ran aground about 150m from our anchorage point – we had a cuppa and waited until the tide went down (about an hour to go) and up again - we pooped off about 1230ish to slip out – at least our keels are clean. We went down to Tin Can Bay township and decided it was too close so we went over the way to Smuggers Point to anchor up for the night. We did a bit of shopping and back to the boat for a quiet night, but the domestic goddess was in full flight. So we had a roast pork dinner and good it was ! Chris also became inspired to make bread from scratch. She mixed it and kneaded it and left it over night. Friday 19th June. We decided to head north from Tin Can Bay this morning the weather was good and headed up to Garrys Anchorage about 14 NM north of the Wide Bay Bar entrance. We had a great sail, about 15 – 20 knots of S/SE. We used the schreecher and pootled along at about 4-6 knots. Breakie was great – fresh, hot bread with butter and jam – yum. So we dropped the pick at Garrys and about midday and after lunch we went ashore to go for a walk on Fraser Island. It was a pleasant walk with lots of birds and some really cool fungi – bright red crimson in fact. I don’t reckon you’d last long if you had them on toast ! On the way back from the beach we met a couple who own a catamaran and have done the trip north many times – we had a drink tonight and unashamedly picked their brains. Tomorrow we plan a beach BBQ with these guys– what a treat!

Pictures are our track to Wide Bay Bar, our new friends in the Great Sandy Straight and our anchorage tonight is just the other side of the sand spit. Well, for those of you who read yesterday’s entry Lucas was not too far out. It was pretty uncomfortable but we had out lots of anchor chain – so we were not going far. Up it came from the south and at about midnight down came the rain. However Tuesday dawned bright and sunny with a 15 knot southerly to get things moving. We had agreed with Tin Can Bay Coast Guard that we would transit the Bar at about 1300-1330 which is about 2 hours before high tide, and we would cross with an incoming tide. We were given the waypoints the previous evening and had entered them into the computer to aid us navigating the Bar. It has a pretty bad reputation and both Chris and I were apprehensive, even though we knew conditions were excellent. We decided to up anchor about 11.30 to go and have a look at the bar, we were 8NM away, but by the time we got there it looked pretty good and it was about 1300 – so off into the wild blue yonder. With Chris keeping me on the straight and narrow (this time literally) – we hit each waypoint spot on and over we went – just like that. It was a bit rolly in places but nothing to worry about. All that fretting for nothing. We are now anchored in a pretty little bay around the corner from the Bar, it is quiet, sunny and just lovely. This is the deal man !! One the way in we saw some more turtles and we think a family of three dugongs (but they were hard to identify – they might be small whales ?). Look at the pic and decide for yourself. Tomorrow – who knows…….

The fish, we ate some of him the other picture is our anchorage off Rainbow Beach at Double Island Point.

Double Island Point, leaving Mooloolaba and our track north

Today’s trip was from Mooloolaba to Double Island Point. We are camped here overnight. It is an openroadstead – that is it is really in the ocean and according to Alan Lucas – the expert “one of the most uncomfortable anchorages on the east coast” – great! But so far it has proven to be OK. Tomorrow we cross the infamous Wide Bay Bar to enter the Great Sandy Straights – the path to Harvey Bay. Today was a mixed bag of nice breeze (for 50 minutes or so) and just enough wind to help the engines along. We arrived at our overnight anchorage at about 1500, having seen a big turtle on the surface – scared the hell out of him poor chap. We also saw a pod of whales mooching along – a few spouts, a few tails etc. And I almost forgot a HUGE fish. We actually hooked two at the same time but one broke the line – so we missed the fish, and the trace and the lure – damn. Tomorrow we wait until about 1330 to cross Wide Bay Bar as we need the flood (or incoming) tide for safety’s sake. I hope it stays quiet as it is pretty tricky and we’ll be glad to have it “behind” us. The weather is due to come in from the south overnight but not too strongly. – Boy it’s a dark night – can hardly see your hand in front of your face.

Tangalooma wrecks in Moreton Bay our anchorage and above Mooloolaba while below the end of another tough day.

Chris en route while the Ladies relax as we've got it under control the next pic is our new hardtop & halyard / reefing arrangment with the fearless crew in charge. We are delighted to be able to say we are now free again to pursue our goal of heading north. Yes, the work is now finished (with the notable exception of one or two things that a subbie did not complete but we can move on). We set sail from the Gold Coast on Friday with Steph and Rob , who took a day off to come for a ride and we motored all the way to Tangalooma, an anchorage off Moreton Island in Moreton Bay. It took us all day to motor but the day was beautiful and the ladies made the most of it (see photo). We arrived at the anchorage (“protected” by some old wrecks) at dusk and enjoyed a rolly but comfortable night. The next morning we cracked it! We had a wonderful sail all the way to Mooloolaba, 15-20 knots of S/SW breeze and Phlat Chat slid along at a good pace to land us in Mooloolaba at 1330 to cross the bar which was dead calm. We are now in Sydney for a while to attend a function and soon we will be back heading for Wide Bay (and the trickiest bar on the east coast- but more of that later).

These pictures show the work being undertaken. Above new hard top, note lack of lifelines and stern rail. On the right are the new shrouds ready to go up the mast and below the windows being restuck.

Update at last.

It’s about time we updated the blog so here is the latest. We are living in the set of “Groundhog Day”, the Bill Murray movie !! We are still at the Gold Coast and the work on the boat is not yet finished. Yes the 7 day job is now in week five, now as we all know 5 working days in a week and 5 weeks is 25 days, so we are a bit overdue to say the least. The people are lovely but boy do they have a supply chain problem. The picture above of the lifelines and the spliced ends of the mooring lines is fairly typical. When we saw it we did not believe it but there it was so we could only laugh. The only good thing is now we can go to the boat show at Sanctuary Cove, undoubtedly the best boat show in Australia. We think we will get away next week (but we’ve said that a number of times before !!!) and hopefully Rob and Steph (our local saviours ) will come with us as we sail to Mooloolaba. We’ve said it before but it bears repeating we are seriously indebted to Rob and Steph for help, hospitality and great friendship. We’d be in deep doo doo without these guys.

Today was the finish of the Lightwave Regatta we had a great weekend seeing lots of the southern part of Morton Bay and met a number of fellow Lightwave owners. We also conned Lightwave into letting us borrow a staff member to augment our crew so Debs came along for a ride – what a nice lass and so we had five arms (Chris is still “single handed sailing”). Today was Ladies day and Chris did a great job of single handedly driving Phlat Chat around the course (see pic). We had a full weekend with a party Friday night complete with dress up theme and a beach BBQ on Saturday night, with a couple of very relaxed races in between. We think we saw a turtle or two and the water looked lovely in places, especially Peel Island where we stayed Saturday night. Tomorrow we go back to Lightwave so that the repairs can start on Tuesday. Right now we are in Jacob’s Well having come down the main channel in the dark – keeps the mind focused – Chris is an excellent navigator so we made it – crikey it’s shallow in places around here !

It has been a while since our last posting. So an update is in order, first, happy birthday to the fabulous Phippen women. Lisa’s birthday was on Saturday and Emily’s was on Tuesday. We hope you had a wonderful day girls and we are sorry we were not there with you. We spent the weekend with Rob and Steph, thanks Steph for letting us stay over – it was a great weekend, and yes, Rob my liver is improving – thanks for asking. We have been floating around waiting for the insurance man and on Monday we got a call and on Wednesday the Assessor rang and came on board to go over the Lightwave quote and see for himself. After going over it and talking to Lightwave an agreement was reached so we are now hoping to start work on the repairs early next week – hooray ! We spent last night and hopefully tonight at Paradise Point which meant we had the chance to have coffee ashore and go for a nice long walk, and because Chris is here we did some shopping this morning. Tomorrow we start the Lightwave Regatta so we are going north towards Morton Bay, but if the tides as right we can grab a coffee before we “up anchor”. More later

Catch up Day

Last night we had a very pleasant meal with Mal and Cathy who own a Lightwave, we met them on the hard stand where Mal is working on his boat. They kindly picked us up and the four of has had a lovely meal. Today has been a catch up day. But we started the day with a ride in the dinghy to Hope Island Marina, where we had a nice coffee in the sun and a wander around. We just might do the same tomorrow! We have finally got quotations together for the insurance company, Nautilus Marine – lets hope they get a good write later in this blog. We faxed them off today. The poor Lightwave people must be sick of the sight of us but boy they sure have been helpful. We are also in the middle of an engine service, which we needed after the “drive” up the coast. Guess what, the engine based bilge pump is cactus the weld holding it on has broken. It’s really only minor and fixable. Poor Chris is sick of the plaster already. We still don’t know how long we are here or what will happen when but we are not in a hurry so we’ll just take it easy.

We (Rob, Mark and I) had being telling Chris that she should do something about her sore arm (hurt in the accident at Port Stephens) but she kept saying it was alright and would get better. In spite of that today I insisted and we went to the doctor for a check up and to have an Xray. Thanks to the Lightwave team who were so generous with helping Chris get to the doctor. It’s broken isn’t it !!! Both bones – nice and clean but plaster for 6 weeks – I told you so Christine ! The sun is shining and it’s hot. We are collecting the info we need for the insurance and Chris is OK which is the only real issue. We are out to diner tonight with another Lightwave owner who is working on his boat here too, that should be fun. Nice people these Lightwavers.

It’s bananas !!!! We had bananas on board and that is an old sea going superstition – so that was the problem. You’ll be pleased to know we have eaten all the damn bananas and there are to be NO more bananas on Phlat Chat !!!!! We are moored at Coomera at the Lightwave factory and hopefully things will be back to “normal” in the next few weeks.

We are now tucked up at the Southport Yacht Club Marina having gone through the Seaway at 1845 Sunday night and we are in one piece in Queensland. We had a good trip but now of course it is raining – flooding in the region – what did we do and why do we bring buckets of rain where ever we go ? Tomorrow we go up the Broadwater to Lightwave to have the damage checked out – we have a few buckets out as we do leak but I am sure they will fix those. A heartfelt thanks to Rob and Mark for all their help. I hope they enjoyed the trip, it was good to be at sea again. What a beautiful sunrise. Chris and Rob were on watch and Chris took this picture while Mark and I slept as we were off watch.

You can't help but go forward and watch these guys playing under the bows Some one likes watching them.............................................................................. Right under the bows even the babies

Good old Rob, what a fisherman!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some Pictures

A decent fish

Chris and I off Cape Byron, Australia's most easterly point................... Breakie at Sea Some of poor Phlat Chat's damage :(

Day three at sea.

We are now well north and off Ballina having fuelled up in Coffs Harbour last night as the EAC (East Australian Current) was giving us a belting at 4 knots off Tacking Point (which I guess is why Cook called it that). With no breeze we chewed through the fuel and needed to top up. There is a fuel call out cost we had to pay on top of the cost of the fuel (which was not too bad) that was a bit of a pain but safety first ! We have broken Phlat Chat’s fishing jinx !! We have caught and released over 15 mackerel of various sorts and best of all a few Dolphin fish – one of which was legal size so it was served up by the Executive Chef, Madame Chris as a entrée that night – it doesn’t get any fresher that that. We have had benign winds and gentle swell as we nurse Phlat Chat up the coast. We are hoping to be in Southport late Sunday night if our luck (and the weather) holds. It is then up to Lightwave at Coomera and our baby gets fixed up and tarted up for the next leg – the push north. While it was pity not to have dawdled up the NSW coast we can always do it on the way back and our real adventure now starts from the Gold Coast – although this has been pretty adventurous so far !

Today was “one of those days”. We were planning to be in Soldiers Point to pick up an engine part so up we went – and clang stove in a window bent a few stanchions as the tide caught us. With one engine on one hull we had no chance. The guys at the Marine Centre up here did a great job and we have a cute little temporary window – once the rigging is checked tomorrow we hope to make a determined dash for the Gold Coast. We are getting a crew together to get cracking. Thanks to Mark and Rob H for volunteering hopefully it will be a pleasant sail up the coast – a quick couple of overnighters and we will be there. I am sure it is character building ( but I think my character is already built) but we could do without it. Chris hurt her arm which is the most worrying part – I hope it feels better in the morning ! Things WILL get better and we will overcome. On to the Gold Coast!!

Shoal Bay Monday 6 April

Monday in Shoal Bay – more dolphins and also some Fairy Penguins a most pleasant way to wake up. Boy did we sleep well last night. Still not used to this daylight saving change. We wandered ashore for a coffee and a stroll also to do a bit of shopping – the southerly was late but it did come in about 20 knots and is still blowing but Shoal Bay is well protected and we are quite snug. Today we discovered why the port engine bilge alarm would go off now and again the exhaust had a little hole and leaked seawater into the engine bay - not a good look. Thank god for mobile phones we were able to organise a new part from Sydney and it will be at Soldiers Point Marina on Wednesday so we might be a bit late for our Easter date – sorry kids. Today’s entertainment included Chris drawing – she is really good and me fishing off the stern ( glad there are butchers in Shoal Bay!).

Chris at the Helm

Sun over Anna Bay (nearly there)

Shaol Bay at last with the sunset

Our track from Pittwater to Port Stephens

Sunday, off to an EARLY start, up before 5 am to leave Coasters at a bit after 5 and head out to sea for Port Stephens. The weather boys got it right the SE died about 11 and in came the NE at about 10 + knots. Of course we were going north and had 75NM to do. But we got there and drove the old girl a bit and good on her – engines behaved perfectly. Saw a pod of 12 or so dolphins at sea who studiously ignored us ! But now in Shoal Bay the sun is setting and there are dolphins swimming around with young ones too. What a lovely end to a long day. Dinner and bed for the intrepid crew of Phlat Chat tonight. Tomorrow a few jobs and a nice coffee I hope.

Leaving Sydney

It’s been almost one week since we went through Sydney Heads and “turned left”. So we have started the journey, but we are still in Pittwater. The weather has been lousy and there is no way we would have left the calm of Pittwater to go to sea. But we think (hope) it is improving, and tomorrow, Sunday there may be a weather window to enable us to do the next leg. We are hoping to get to Port Stephens some 75 nautical miles north. We estimate this will take us somewhere between 10 and 13 hours. So hopefully tomorrow evening we can update again from Port Stephens. While we have been here we have been busy stowing things, finding new leaks and trying to fix them and waiting on parts to get our phone/internet working. Finally on Friday evening we cracked and found the faulty part so we are now on line. Therefore I guess it has been a productive few days, although I’d prefer to be further north.

Its Sunday night and the boat is packed (however we seem to keep finding other stuff). I wonder how much freeboard we really need - poor old Plimsoll must be turning in his grave. All weekend we have been working like Trojans, loading Phlat Chat and walking up and down those damn stairs all 119 of the ruddy things !! We have food, fuel, water and a clean boat plus two hundred million other things. It will be funny to wake up tomorrow and rush around – not to go to work but to get started on the big adventure. There are still three trips (at least) up and down the stairs but we will get there. But the boat looks good she is clean and ready to head north. Thanks to everyone who has emailed, phoned called in etc. Hell – we really have to go now – the time has come ! This time tomorrow it’s Pittwater for us (we hope).

Well, the work continues to get Phlat Chat ready for the trip north. We are reading lots of other people’s trip logs, so thanks everyone for being so generous. The “To Do” list is down from 68 to 42 so we are getting there. I am sure we don’t need to do everything but there sure is more to do, lots of logistical issues to sort out and practical stuff to organise. I wonder what we will forget and when we will realise we don’t have it – perhaps we won’t need it - which I hope is one of the things we will learn as we head north. We are both excited and a little bit nervous as the time draws closer. We can’t wait to get going what an adventure !