The end of the shakedown...

16/1/2013

27^o 56.772 S  153^o 25.416 E  “Bum’s Bay” Gold Coast

Motored down this morning to the Gold Coast Seaway and the weather was just right to head out to the Coral sea to at last do some real sailing. He will do 5kn on a beam reach in 10kn of wind.  The genoa is huge and seems set up for light air sailing for such a heavy boat.  Didn’t have any more wind to push the boat anymore but he is quite sea kindly. 

…and here’s the money shot…. 

Scott trolling a lure along Surfers Paradise.

Back in through the seaway and the tide was ebbing so it was pretty confused.  The jet skis we zipping around as we rollicked our way through  and then headed to Bum’s bay for the night. 

Bum's Bay

This anchorage is pretty notorious with cruising yachts and is just a short dinghy ride to Sea World, The Versacci and The Mirage.  To show just what “bums” we’ve become Scott had a wash in the fountain out the front.

This is the end of the shakedown and the list of things to be done has grown to include fixing a leak in the chain locker.  We’ve worked the boat as hard as we could given the conditions and it has held up pretty well.  More importantly, it shows what a couple of duffers can do when on a steep learning curve.    

Just the clean up tomorrow then back home for six weeks. 

I’m sure Scott will supply a review.

On the way back

13/1/13

27^o 30.30 S  153^o 21.70E  Horseshoe bay  Peel  Island  -  Déjà vu

Left Brisbane CBD with the outgoing tide after a night out with one of Scott’s friends. When we finally got to the harbor entrance after refueling the waves were very steep and the nose was being buried when we tried to make headway. Lost a couple of planks off the bow sprit so another job to do.  Decided to give Morton Island a miss and headed behind Mud island and across the bay back to Peel island where we stayed last week and we knew would be protected.  

Much better conditions once that decision had been made.  The boat settled down well with just 50% of the genoa and trimming for the gusts we cruised between 4 to 5 knots all day. Just as we rounded Saint Helens island however the autopilot started to give up the ghost.  Scott helmed while I played electrician.  It looks like a fried controller board at this stage so we will just have to helm ourselves for the rest of the week.  We had got very lazy over the last week and taken it for granted.  So that means two jobs to do in one day.  I hope it’s not exponential….

14/1/13

27^o 34.498 S  153^o 24.567 E  Blaksely  Anchorage  North Stradbroke Island 

The prediction is for 30+kn winds tonight so we went looking for somewhere to hole up.  Went over to One mile yacht club but couldn’t get in as the marked anchorage was less than 2m and that was high tide!

Went a bit further south and anchored outside the local black fella community and walked back to the shops (and Bakery). Headed further south and have anchored in Blacklesy beach on the edge of the national park so that we can still set the nets.  Behind some hills which should protect us from the 30-40kn winds coming tonight.  This is the closest we have been able to park to the beach so far.  Check of the tides says that this is the 2^nd highest tide deviation of the year.  The largest tide was yesterday when we were trying to cross the Brisbane bar to get out of the port-no wonder the waves were sharp.

Took the deflatable ashore this afternoon to glue it some more.  There we were -tropical island, rum, lime, soda, ice “I hope it doesn’t. rain - yep – an hour later…

FOR SALE 

8’ Inflatable tender.  New 3.6hp motor only just run in. Comes with oars, hitch ropes, patches and glue. You too can sit on a tropical island having a beer waiting for the glue to dry.

 Did I mention that Scott likes to fish…

We are going to sit out the winds tonight here. 
The little hole we are in is only just big enough for us and even then we are going to be close to the bottom during the low tide tonight.  As we were counting down the depth metre coming on low tide, we were weighing up the pro's and con's of waking up on the keels….

15/1/2013

27^o 44.329 S  153^o 22.053 E  Tabby Tabby Island

Motored this morning looking for somewhere to top up the crab supply. 

Five in one pot!

 Normally we would have put him on a hook for bait but we ate this whiting for entre…

Going to head back to Southport tomorrow and the $5 brekky...

CBD Crabs

11/1/13

27º 27.827' S  153º 1.803 E  Brisbane River  Botanical Gardens anchorage

 

And only one photograph worth showing...

 

Yes...this is an inner city mud crab

 

The crab picture is for Dennis ---sooo sweeet

8/1/13

27^o 40.414 S  153^o 22.276E  Browns Bay - is not usually an anchorage for yachts, but we could get in here because we are F!!@#$n THAT good.  We’re the only boat in sight and the stars are out which makes it all the more worthwhile.

Today’s itinerary:

$5 brekky as they know us there now…

Dropped off our 10 second Hyundai Getz (10 seconds to get started).

Waved goodbye the Bill and Carmen, the prior owners to this sea vessel.
...and they sent us some photos of us leaving...

....I thought they wanted proof that we had actaully gone - Thanks Guys

Motored all day with the wind on the nose.

Touched the bottom only once where Bill had told us we would.

Anchored the first time and exactly where we wanted to? WTF?

Dinghy out to drop crab pots and found the Giants Grave on shore.  The sign said do not disturb so we didn’t.  No bait only prawns jumping

Scott’s phone is broken so everything is normal.

Caught the first fish.  Pan sized Bream – put a 2.0 hook through it put it out as bait for something bigger.

Administrations from Dr Backburn and had a good nights sleep.

Quote of the day “ Don’t know when things will come this way again – good things have got away of coming to an end.”

9/1/13

27^o 30.30 S  153^o 21.70E  Horseshoe bay  Peel  Island

Wind on the nose up to 30kn at times

The initial plan was for  Scotty to take the 4hp rubber dinghy down the river creek to pick up the crab pots laid the night before. For starters, the dinghy had a bloody hole in it.

Of course we couldn’t leave the pots behind so we decided to only send one of us out.

 As dad likes to say, “age before beauty”, so being the most handsome I took him up on the offer. After ~50 legs on the foot pump I was ready to head out into the creek. To try and sum up the following situation in a nutshell, I am torn between “up shit-creek without a paddle” and “the juice is worth the squeeze”. On my way out to the pots there was a problem with the motor. With my intensive mechanic knowledge, I managed to start the motor and made my way back to dad mentioning there might be something wrong in which he threw me the oars; JUST…IN…CASE!  I again headed towards the pots in which the motor stopped yet again. I inspected inside the fuel cap this time to conclude that the tank was completely dry. Meanwhile I was floating well away from the Charisma - dad’s boat that was looking mighty small by this point. He did try to throw a rope, that was way too short, and despite my suggestions of “catching me” with his nearby fishing rod, he stripped down and dove into the muddy creek to breast-stroke 150 metres across current to this flat, fuel dried rubber-fucking-ducky. Short of dad having a heart attack, I stretched out an oar to get him to safety into the rubber ducky. There would be photo evidence of this but despite shitting ourselves, we didn’t have time to grab a camera and line up a shot.

This wasn’t the end. From this point forward I learnt how to row. In a pretty messed up circumstance too. We had to row against wind and current in a flat rubber ducky. Despite my amateur efforts in rowing, dad took the oars. Just prior to Dad exhausting his rowing strength, a 1 ½ metre turtle popped up as if from the flick ‘Finding Nemo’ to say “surf’s up duuuude’. In dad’s delusionary state I decided to take over. It was only a matter and very short of time until I exhausted all my efforts. Unfortunately this “beauty” doesn’t come without a price ;). Hero dad again took the oars and eventually two foreign crab pots and several metres of water later, we arrive at our destined Charisma.

That was our “up shit creek without a paddle”. After a long lasted rest, 80 foot pumps to the rubber ducky and a beer or two, it was time to get these bloody pots! Again “age before beauty”, and being the stud muffin that I am, I fuelled up and set motoring for the pots that we laid the night before. This trip was much quicker than the one prior. I returned with myself, a half inflated rubber ducky, and crab whose claw was the size of my very own hand. This was the “juice worth the squeeze”. They didn’t last 5 minutes out of the water before hitting the boiling pot and tasted bloody fantastic!

Well that was the morning... Fuck me dead.

We set motoring north and past many a marinas and the occasional shipwreck,
Navigated our way to the southern coast of Peel Island.

We tendered into the Island which proved to be mostly protected and very restricted. Bit of a waste of time but the crab pots we dropped off the boat proved worthy. Overnight I reckon I pulled about 10 useless reef fish, several bait-suitable fish, 20 or so baby mud and blue manner crabs, and more importantly 3 eatable crabs which are still sitting in our fridge (which did I mention makes ice!!!). One bait-fish of which hooked a mean looking sting ray. I thought I had good looks!

This night was the first night on the small batch and after the triathlon we endured it was surely deserved. Any man that rows, swims and beach walks deserves a hard earned Small Batch #7. Call 92505422 for your nearest Small Batch dealer.

The next morning we decided it was about time to fix the rubber ducky so we set sail for Manly.

10/1/13

27º 27.6' S  153º 11.2'E  Easy Coast Marina – Manly

Finally sailing and Auto pilot working  WOOHOOOO! – a bit hairy at first until Scott got me under control .   My fault trying to put up too much sail while he was still doing dishes.  – Yes , we are both galley wenches. 

Across  Moreton Bay @ 5 kn SOG on a 15 - 20kn 100^o Starbord beam reach with 1/2 Genoa and full Main set off to port 40^o It doesn’t want too much wind to get up and sail or else it tends to round up too much and the autopilot can’t cope.  Need to let the boat settle down first and then the autopilot is reliable.

First docking in a marina birth.  Lots of planning and no one died so all good.

Came here to get patch for the deflatable but no one had one.  Taxi tomorrow to get one…hopefully

11/1/13

27º 27.827' S  153º 1.803 E  Brisbane River  Botanical Gardens anchorage

The morning was spent obtaining a repair kit for the deflatable.

Motored into the wind all the way to Brisbane harbor entrance.

Managed to put up the jib and got and extra 1 and a 1/2 to 2 knots at about 60degrees on the nose.  Had to pull it in tight but it really made a difference. 

The anchorage here is pretty crappy with lots of disused junkers taking up all the good pile moorings but the crab nets are set and dinghy has been patched as the sun sets.

Scott’s been researching where to get the best ribs in Brisbane!!!

\

Scotts review

Our mission today if we choose to accept:

1.       Leave our current anchorage without marking the sandbank for the second time

2.       Make it to brekky prior to lunch time

3.       More fishing and music supplies (we need that perfect guitar!); you couldn’t pick two blokes more worse off for shopping

4.       Drop off hire car and start heading north.

The day started off well but as we all know plans never go according to plan. After successfully leaving the anchorage without hitting the sandbank (woo hoo!), the next challenge was the very first park amongst several multi-million dollar boats in a pencil-like canal. You can rest assure that we managed to park the boat. The fact that the boat was opposite and back to front is completely irrelevant. A wise man once said, “It’s a good docking when no-one dies”. I rest surely with this quote as I heard it personally from one man of the 4-man team that was needed to park this f***ing boat.

As with most challenges there does come a reward. Thank god for that $5 brekky! I also knocked back a couple of large mango and banana smoothies as dad prepared himself for the day with a large latte. What we drank is completely irrelevant but just goes to show what you guys will read at home in your underwear munching on midnight snacks.

Anyway…

After brekky it was straight to the shops but of course like every new ‘home’ we had to return to the boat twice for forgotten goods (someone over 50 tends to forget one’s basic needs i.e. phone). The third forgotten good (yes, third!) back at the boat was a key needing cutting and was absolutely essential because in the time dad made it to the boat and back to the shops it gave me some serious ‘me time’. I was turtle necking since brekky and had a curry brewing since the night before. After ‘my time’, I met dad back at the key cutters and promptly continued our shopping, needless to say a few kilo’s lighter.

We visited 5 music shops in search for the perfect guitar for the boat. Needless to say I will give my right lung to the person who can pick which number shop we got it from?? The very first shop we visited had this beautifully aged and sounding guitar that we couldn’t forget. It’s hard to think that it was probably the pawn of some crack dealer’s need that Cash Converters usually thrive upon. The fact that we probably pissed off some local motorists during the search made the sound even sweeter.

Now that you have read this whole thing I’d like to finish off with the biggest fail and success of the last 24 hours!

Fail: I would’ve have loved to sail through the canals today trawling a lure but the one and only luxurious chair went overboard last night. Surprisingly it was the first thing overboard on this voyage! My bet was it being one of us!

Success: Equipped with a damn good fridge and of course great minds in shitty situations, we have managed to make ice!! I now know what it feels when the cavemen made fire; when the Brits made cucumber sandwiches, and when the Aussies made the Eski.

A day’s worth of shopping… As you can see there is a freakishly camouflaged trolley in the background. Who says you can’t…to shopping offshore???

The start of the shakedown

4/1/13

We have survived Queensland's bureaucracy and I now own a boat. Cost to date $74,438,27

Are now camped up in a hotel for tonight and are both pretty stuffed. Managed to get about one hour's sleep on the plane so going to crash and catch up. It is very busy here at the moment with lots of tourists and boats on the water. Accommodation is expensive so we are going to camp out on the boat each night from now on. We will keep the hire car until Monday and come back in to Runaway Bay each day and continue the spending blitz. There are lots of little things needed. Bought a drill, disk and some paint to touch up some rust marks before it catches hold. And so the battle begins - Rust never sleeps. I'll have to find somewhere here that sells that acid I have back home to etch all the little spots before painting.

Going sailing tomorrow with Bill as skipper in the morning and then we will head back out and anchor for the night inside South Stradbroke Island. Scott's bought 8 crab traps so we are going to see if the bbq works. Will have to fill up the water and fuel tanks tomorrow so lots of practice docking. He's been practising his bow lines so at least one of us can tie up..

....This is where I must of.fallen asleep last night with the light, computer and TV still on. Where did I put my glasses.... hahahahahaha

Off this morning for a $5 full breakfast. Scott will probably order two of them....

5/1/13

27o 54.390 S 153o 25.202 E Curragee Camp Anchorage - South Stradbroke Island

$5 brekky to start the day.

Off to the boat and Bill was champing at the bit to get out for the day. Motored out past a couple of million dollars of boats with no dents. Went to Runaway Bay marina and filled up with diesel and water. Scott has a good feel for the helm so I've been on the lines and checking out stuff. It is a bit restricted behind the islands here so it's hard to check how well the autopilot handles the leeway under sail which seems to be the only disappointment so far. The boat has quite a bit of weather helm that we may have figured how to compensate for. We will have to get a bit more searoom to check it out - perhaps even read the manual? A lot of boats around too so we have to be careful. It is a weekend during school holidays after all.

 "Super Helm Scotty"

Under supervision by Bill....Where does he get those shirts?

Dropped off Bill back at his place. Scott did really well manoeuvring in the tight canal. For such a large boat it is quite controllable. Went shopping and then back on the boat and out again to find our first anchorage. Only had to drop the pick twice until we were happy where we were. Tonight we've manage to unpack most of the crap, drop the dinghy off the davits, set up and use the bbq, drop in a couple of crab nets and sort of find somewhere to sleep.

It is a bit still, overcast and muggy. The hotel skyline is far enough away on across the water to be relatively pretty if in novelty value.

Running most of the powered stuff tonight and we'll see if there's enough charge left in the batteries tomorrow to motor over and get another $5 brekky

Tomorrow is just another day

 Scott wielding some BBQ magic

Is there nothing this guy can't do?

6/1/13

27o 58.040 S 153o 25.193 E Southport.

Woke up at 5:00 but anchor was holding well and went back to sleep until 9:00.

Went over to get a $5 brekky. Even managed to put a sail up and down and have got the auto pilot sort of sussed out. We will need to get out in the open ocean to check it out fully.

There was a sign up saying that the channel we were going to use is no longer dredged so headed up to the next one which was a bit iffy but, as the tide was coming in we gave it a go. Got in alright but the anchorage is compacted sand and the anchor wouldn't hold. Started to head back out but cut it too fine and clipped a sand bar. Put our name on one already!!
Only nudged up to it but the throttle cable broke and we ended up drifting onto it further. I worked the throttle at the engine and Scott did the business at the wheel and we did OK. Actually we were very calm considering the circumstances. When we got back into the anchorage and got some advice from an amused cruiser who gave us the good oil on where to find good ground. He asked if we needed any help and when we told what was wrong he said "Welcome to fixing boats in beautiful places".
It took about an hour to get the broken cable fixed and sorted out. It was meshing where the installer had been lazy and put the pins in backwards to make it easy to get to the cotter pins. So it's been fixed better than it was.

Finally got to the shops around 3:00pm. It was fun leaving the shopping trolley on the ferry pier and then puttering away in the dinghy. Did you always wonder how they got there?

Scott has the crab nets out and is having a beer on the deck in front the most expensive hotel in oz

"TUN" beer $33 per carton

Camp chair $5.95

Boat $74,861.18

 Being a bogun out the front of the Vesaci Palazzo  ....priceless

TUN is our current version of EMU export