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.
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