Hello guys.  We are back!

We have been a bit slack on updates but be sure to go back a bit as we have updates from Fiji - Vanuatu - New Caledonia.

Bundaberg, Australia 13/11/12 – 27/11/1 

5 days and $9000 later, we have successfully imported Knotty Lady into Bundaberg, Australia. Except for the monies, the process was relatively painless. We had a nice time, relaxing in Bundaberg and eating the best prawns and drinking bundy rum!

The mystery craters – how were they formed? 

We attempted to see turtles laying their eggs at the nature reserve - Mon Repos beach, Bundaberg. Unfortunately terrible lightning storms put a stop to that. Oh well next time.

Fraser island 21/11/12 – 26/11/12 

Time to explore Fraser Island – the largest sand island in the world. and guess what no coconut trees! But many great anchorages! The best thing about sailing the inside of Fraser is the ease of sailing in protected waters – no swell, no seasickness. The top half of Fraser is now a protected nature reserve, so no cars are allowed and you have the whole top half of the island to yourself. Sailors, however, are allowed to drop anchor wherever they please and pay nothing for the pleasure.

We head to the top, Rooney Point for a stroll and a swim. 

So many dolphins here – we watch them hunting small fish close to the shore. 

We sail 15Nm down to Lagoon anchorage. 

We time the tide correctly so we can dingy up the lagoon and into the three estuaries during high tide.  Dinner, Dennis catches a mud crab – using the “ever so lethal” dingy anchor. 

In the evening, we would enjoy listening to the turtles coming to the surface to breathe, one turtle every minute. 

As we pass Platypus Bay, Nikki decides to pull the fishing line in – unsure if there was something on the line, maybe a piece of seaweed, unlikely fish - we are travelling quite slowly (3-4 Kn) in light winds. No, there is definitely a small fish, probably tuna on the line. No, it’s the world famous sport fish, a 6ft black Marlin and Nikki just reeled it in, no problems. Big Marlin are not good for eating, but this size is just right – a steaky fish and plenty to go round! 

Remote Fraser Island.

Dingo!

38 Nm sail to Moon bank sand cay for lunch.

Onto River Heads (on mainland Australia) to pick up our friends, Shane and Lucy.

7 Nm motor to Kingfisher Bay, Fraser island. Slow 2.5hr walk to Lake McKenzie – nice swim and relax. Lazy route back – by taxi. Dinner and drinks at the resort.

We slowly sail through the beautiful Great Sandy Straits – very shallow day sailing. To avoid becoming high and dry - it’s critical to keep an eye for the navigation marks and time your passage on high tide.

Time to leave Fraser and cross the Wide Bay Bar – the notorious long and dangerous pass at the south of Fraser Island. Thankfully the winds are light and we have an easy crossing across the pass, even though we time the crossing wrong and go through on a changing tide!

27/11/12 Scarborough 

Our final 100Nm, 16hour sail to our home port Scarborough (just north of Brisbane)

Can you believe it? The end of our pacific crossing – 9086 Nm in 8 months, and countless happy memories!  Thank you for joining us on our travels.  

But whats this, still 2 months to go before work?   Maybe a trip to Europe.   That's a big sail for 2 months.   Nothing goes to windward like a 747.

4/11/12 -7/11/12 New Caledonia 

New Caledonia, is another French island, that has been extensively damaged by successful mining. This South Pacific island, unlike the others we have visited is very rich. 

We have to sail to the capital, Noumea to check in. It has a large affluent town feel to it. We spend our time provisioning and preparing for our final leg, to Australia. Unfortunately as we are running out of time with the South Pacific cyclone season beginning, we do not have time to visit the surrounding numerous islands. 

8/11/12-13/11/12 Final leg to Australia 

Everyone is talking about it, the weather window has arrived and it’s time to go. On the way, we finally manage to download the weather using our satellite mobile phone – no idea why it never worked before. Unfortunately for us, it shows a deep low coming up the east coast of Australia. You don’t want to stay in the South Pacific longer than you have to, in fear of tropical cyclones, and so there is not much we can do, but ride in to it. We start to prepare for our first bad weather. The worst is not knowing how bad it will be when it hits. Strong SE change and bang 35-45Kn wind. We our comfortably sailing only with our 2nd reefed main. Thankfully we do not need to guard the helm as the autopilot is coping quite nicely. Not much for us to do, except watch a movie and get a good night sleep. Weather settles over 24 hours and we are nearly becalmed as we head into home waters.   812 Nm, Av speed 6.2Kn.