Mooloolaba Bay

Very quiet run up here, virtuall no wind and had to motor all way. About half way heard a distinct scrapping type noise, spent 10 minutes taking engine panels off and trying to isolate it before I realised it was the kettle that I had put on and forgotten about.

Mooloolaba bar is very silted up at the moment and only has about a meter of water at low tide. Also breaks considerably. Coast Guard have offered me an escort in in the morning, their boat crew are training and they'll show me the best way across it.

Checked my trolling fish line when I got here, must have caught a big one, half the lure was missing and the hook had been straightened out and the barbed tip missing.

Beautiful evening no cloud, no wind and very mild. Used my shower for the first time today, out on the marlin board, very nice. Also deployed flopper stopper for first time to check the roll whilst at anchor; seems to work reasonably well.

At anchor, South Point, Bribie Isand

Having a musical evening, bbq lamb plus Paul Simon's Gracerlands live in Zimbabwe, one of my favourite albums, followed by a Pete Seeger, "We Shall Overcome"; showing my age there. Even had a dance in the aisle plus of course a couple of glasses of red.

Crossing Morton Bay

 Spent a very uncomfortable night at anchor off of Peel Island, one of those nights where I don't get undressed, but remain dressed and ready for anything. In the middle of the night I added about 20 meters of nylon line to the chain so now I had 40 meters out in 6 meters of water. Wind did not let up all night and maximum recorded was 33 knots.

Wind eased off a little throughout Thursday and I was able to get a bit of rest, last night was quite good with winds only up to about 20 knots.

This morning I decided to head on to Bribie Island, a very good trip with 15 knot winds most of the way and the seas much calmer. Mid morning the drizzle and mist lifted and eventually the sun came out.

Had to cross the inbound shipping lane into Brisbane, only one ship and I had to alter course to pass behind. I tried out my AIS app on Iphone and it worked perfectly, I was able to get all info about the ship, especially important was speed and course.

To night I'm anchored at the South end of Bribie Island, very quiet anchorage and I should have a comfortable night.

Morton Bay

I'm anchored at the south end of Morton Bay, on the north side of Peel Island trying to shelter from the up to 30 knot southerly. Not much shelter though as I can't get in very close due to sand bars extending about half a mile around the island.

I left Southport yesterday morning heading up the back channels, went aground a couple of times, first time I had to wait a couple of hours til tide came in, second time it was just on high tide and I thought I was stuffed, I had strayed out of the channel about 5 meters; this time I was able to back off under full power. I had no more trouble and dropped anchor in a quiet area last night.

On leaving anchorage this morning immediately went aground and waited an hour for the tide to come in sufficiently to refloat. apart from that it was a pretty uneventful trip up into Morton Bay, but now the winds are up over 20 knots and forecast to go up to 30 tonight. It hasn't stopped blowing a strong southerly since I left Port. I would have gone up the outside of Stradboke and Morton Islands, except that with the strong winds they were forecating 4 - 5 meter seas, very uncomfortable!

Southport

 I am currently at anchor in Broadwater, Soutport, opposite Runaway Bay. Arrived here yesterday after 2 good sailing days from Iluka.

Left Iluka early Saturday morning as soon as it was light enough to see the bar, however the bar was flat. Just under 12 hours later and just starting to get dark I arrived in Byron Bay. I had had good winds and made good time. I had just dropped anchor when a very helpful man in a dinghy came over and asked why I wasn't anchoring behind the reef where it would be much calmer. I had always avoided that area because of the reef, but he said he would guide me around behind it. I pulled up the hook and followed him around, there were 3 other yachts there so it was obviously the best place to be. Poor holding though, I backed up to dig the anchor in and just succeeded in draging it along, almost backed up to one of the other yachts, had to move forward and start again. Quite a calm night there.
Sunday was not quite as long , 10 hours, and able to leave and arrive in daylight. Another good south westerly blew me along to The Gold Coast, In through the GC Seaway into Broadwater.

The wind hasn't let up since I arrived, quite a bumpy anchorage. I took the dinghy over to Runaway Bay shopping centre, a half hour trip in wet windy conditions. Thge centre now has a public wharf right outside which makes it very easy. I was surprised how many boats were coming and going, getting their shopping done.

I did a bit of maintenance this afternoon, the helm had become very slack and I crawled under the cockpit and tightened up the 2 steering cables. it will make a big difference tomorrow as I have decided to go up the inside passage, west of Stradbroke and Morton Islands and into Morton Bay. The passage is very narrow, shallow and twisty, so I shall need good steering.

I have tried to attach a couple of photos but failed, I will work on it and, hopefully, get some on sometime.

Today we are having the forecast strong winds, 30 knot northerly, tomorrow should be OK to leave here with 20 knot westerly.

Most of you will not have seen Paragon, there are pictures of her in my blog from 2 years ago, but I'll take this oportunity to describe the interior. There ar 3 cabins, the forward 1 is comprised of a double v-berth with large sail locker under. The mid cabin has 2 single bunks, 1 each side, pus various side lockers and water tanks under the 2 bunks. The aft cabin has, on the port side, a small head, a galley with sink and 2 burner gas stove. Behind that is a large chest type fridge. On the starboard side is a 4 seat dinette then the navigation table. The 2 cylinder, 15 HP Yanmar diesel is under the aft dinette seat.

The cockpit has 2 side seats and an athwart one behind the helm. There is a full cover over the cockpit with 3 large solar panels mounted on it. Drop down canvas and clear all round can completely enclose it.

Construction is double oregon planking with dynel sheathing (a resin impregnated cloth). The deck is marine ply. She was built and launche in Brismane in December 1981.

I will attach some photos of interior when I have taken them.

Yesterday was a long day, I departed Coffs Harbour at 0300, it was absolutly pitch black, there is a new moon at the moment. I had to pick my way out between the south wall and Mutton Bird island, thank the gods for lead lights, I back tracked on them until I judged I was clear of Mutton Bird then turned on to course aiming for the light house on South Solitary island 8 miles out to sea.

The sun came up in a beautiful sunrise about half way between South Solitary and North Solitary. After that it was a fairly straight forward trip until I got to the Clarence River 14 hours later. The bar was perfect but I got there just at the time all the trawlers were setting off for their night's fishing. No way they are going to give way, even when not trawling and not got right of way. I was dodging them all the way up the channel, at one point I had to do a 360 to avoid one.

I am anchored in my favourite harbour, Iluka, along with about 15 transiting vessels. It's so peaceful here. I'm right opposite the pub and since last being here a pontoon for tenders has been installed in freont of the pub. very handy!

Thursday. Had a very early night last night and have spent a fairly busy day today, lots of little things that needed fixing, tidying up the boat and making certain I know where everything is. Went ashore and had a walk through the village, didn't need to do any  shopping, thank goodness, as prices are pretty high. Walking along the foreshore with the tide out I noticed scores of shallow depressions in the exposed sand, I overheard someone talking about them and he said they were made by stingrays lying in wait for prey; if he's right there must be an awful lot of stingrays in Iluka harbour.

Have checked the weather forecast, tomorrow there is a strong wind warning, 30 knots from the north west, so no prizes for guessing that I'm staying put. Saturday looks better with south west winds, so its off to Byron Bay on Saturday. Next post Saturday evening.

Today was pretty much like yesterday, beautiful weather,but once again the wind died off about 11. I tried out my blooper (a type of spinnaker). after struggling for about an hour up on the fore deck to get it sorted and getting it deployed, the wind died down to about 2 knots and it was pretty useless. I did get about 15 minutes of sailing with it though. Saw one whale about 20 meters finre off the port bow, I altered course to avoid it and started the engine, as soon as he heard the engine dived and I never saw him again.
I'm currently at anchor in Coffs Harbour, with a teperature of 25 degrees, lovely!
There is a northerly forecast in the next couple of days, I'm just waiting for the weather forecast to see what it will be like for tomorrow. I want to get to Clarence River before dusk tomorrow evening, it's about a 15 hour trip so i'll be getting underway by about 2:30 in the morning, so its an early night for me tonight. Probably won't write a blog tomorrow, wait 'til Thursday when I'm having a couple of days off in Iluka
Thanks to all those people who have sent emails wishing me well.













ab

Well I'm finally off on my travels again, bit of a delayed start due to winds from the wrong direction, but finally departed port macquarie marina at 0715 this morning.
First leg is always a bit daunting, especially after a break of nearly 2 years. had to start to get the feel of the boat and all her idiosyncracies again.
beautiful day, sunshine all day, but winds died off a bit at lunch time and I had to start the iron mainsail.
currently at anchor in trial Bay with about 4 other yachts, all heading north.
Only problem so far is that my new socket for my shower doesn't work so coyuldn't have a shower, it was back to washing in a bowl again. Will try and fix it when I have a day off in iluka, hopefullyt, on Thursday