Home to Raby Bay

Sunday, 25 November 2012

We cruised home under spinnaker in company with many of the Seawind fleet.

We arrived at Raby Bay to be greeted by my Mum and good friends Maureen and Kev. 

Warren tooted the horn as we entered the channel to Raby Bay and suddenly it was over. 

We had been gone nearly 6 months, covered over 4000nm, made lots of new friends and experienced a lifestyle far removed from our own.

Seawind Moreton Bay Regatta

Friday, 23 November to Saturday, 24 November 2012
We had a nice spinnaker run down from Mooloolaba on Friday to join the other 12 Seawinds in the Moreton Bay regatta run out of the Moreton Bay Boat Club at Scarborough.

The race on Saturday was a handicap start with 1000s first then 1000XLs, 1160s and Wind of Change (the only 1250 in the fleet) last to start. As usual there was very close racing throughout the fleet.

1160s tussle

We weren't sure how we would go given all the cruising gear on board Phase2, however a good start put us ahead of the other 1160s Talisker and Scarlett and we managed to hold them and Windy off to the finish.

Black Diamond

Winner was the 1000XL Black Diamond, followed by the 1000 Balakera with Phase2 third. It was a fun weekend and a great way to finish our 2012 cruise.

Balakera

Using the Northerly

Thursday, 15 November 2012 - GKI to Pancake Ck
It was a motorsail most of the day with the emphasis on motor in the light northerly breeze. It was nearly 1600 before we could get the spinnaker up for the final hour to Pancake Creek. We went into the inner anchorage and were happy to catch up with Kool Sid who we met at Lizard last year. They circumnavigated Tasmania earlier this year and spoke very highly of the experience.

Friday, 16 November 2012 - Pancake Ck to Fraser Is
The forecasters got it right today with a light NW early that built throughout the day. We had a great spinnaker run until we dropped it at 1500 when we were getting 25kn gusts. Top speed of 14.8kn but the spinnaker repair held together beautifully.

We had a wonderful dolphin experience where a large male was showing off beside the boat leaping out of the waves. We anchored at 2315 behind Bookar Island after an exciting trip in the dark through the northern Sandy Straits doing 8-10 knots with assistance from the tide. 116nm in the day.

We awoke Saturday morning to find Waterfront anchored nearby. We moved to Garry's Anchorage to meet Lois and Kel on Seatime. We were joined by Thalassa, also sitting out more southerlies.

Monday, 19 November 2012 - Fraser Is to Mooloolaba
Up at 0430 to ride the ebb tide down to the Wide Bay Bar in company with Waterfront. A light NW wind meant a good crossing and then a great reach as the wind increased. The breeze died around 1100 so motored for an hour until it filled in again and we could raise the spinnaker. 68nm to the Yacht Club marina for 4 nights to sit out more southerlies.

We have made the most of our time here with walks on the beach and swims everyday. Tomorrow we are going to Scarborough to join the Seawind Moreton Bay Regatta before finally heading home on Sunday.

Brampton Island to GKI

Saturday, 3 November to Tuesday, 6 November 2012
We spent a relaxing 4 nights at Brampton Island sitting out the south easterly. We got some much needed exercise in the kayaks and even saw the Melbourne Cup where I saved a few dollars by not having a bet on my picks.

Looking towards the closed resort on Brampton Island

Wednesday, 7 November 2012 - Brampton Is to Curlew Is
The breeze started out as forecast - ESE 15-20 decreasing and moving more to the east through the day. So we headed east to be ready for the shift only to have the breeze shift to the south. Sailing can be frustrating at times. It was ideal conditions for our genoa, however by 1530 we had had enough and started an engine. We dropped anchor at Curlew Island after 2000. Highlight of the day was a double hook up of mackeral (one spotted and one school). Lowlight was discovering chaffing on the main halyard near the top of the mast.

Thursday, 8 November 2012 - Curlew Is to Hunter Is
Our anchorage had quite a swell in the morning so Warren didn't fancy a trip up the mast to check the halyard. Instead we put in the first reef and headed out into the forecast 10-15knot E-NE wind. Conditions were a bit more boisterous than that and with a nasty sea, our plans for the day were amended from Island Head Creek to the beautiful Hunter Island. It was calm in the easterly and Warren went up the mast, cut off the chaffed section of the halyard and tied off the end.

View from the top

Friday, 9 November 2012 - Hunter Island to Port Clinton
Our overnight at Hunter meant we had the tide with us in the morning across the top of Thirsty Sound. As the tide here can run over 3 knots, this is an important consideration. The northerly eased by 0900 so more motoring off and on until the NE settled in after lunch and we had a great reach to Port Clinton.

During the afternoon a drama unfolded over the VHF radio as a small runabout from Yeppoon started taking on water. A rescue boat and helicopter were sent and a trawler and other boats nearby rushed to the sinking boat's location. The Coastguard boat arrived first and used a pump to try to keep the boat afloat however the runabout soon went down. The couple and their child were safe but the semi-submerged boat was sighted again the next day and was a hazard to boats in the area.

Saturday, 10 November 2012 - Port Clinton to Rosslyn Bay
Light breeze early, some motoring, reaching and finished with a spinnaker run. 41 miles to the marina as a strong SE change is expected overnight. We stayed 3 nights and caught up with Gail and John from Hadja. We swapped Louisiades stories with them as they had gone on the first rally in 2008.

Tuesday, 13 November 2012 - Rosslyn Bay to Great Keppel Is
We left the marina and sailed the short distance to GKI. The breeze is still SE so we will spend a couple of nights here until the wind goes more to the north east.

This beautiful area is under threat from proposed coal ports in the Fitzroy delta region. Click below to find out more and have your say.

http://protectkeppelbay.good.do/deltabayreef/email-tony-burke-campbell-newman-anthony-albanese/

Final Louisiades updates

I have added the final updates to the blog for Louisiades. Click below to view.

PNG - The Home stretch

Phase2 gets creative

Magnetic Island to Brampton Island

Wednesday, 31 October 2012 to Saturday, 3 November 2012

After 2 days at Horseshoe Bay waiting for a good breeze to head south and allowing our colds to run their course, we leave early on Wednesday morning for the 76nm sail to Cape Upstart. We sailed most of the day in perfect conditions for our genoa only needing to motor for a few hours at lunchtime when the breeze died.

Thursday was a repeat for the 54nm to Montes Resort - a bit quieter than the last time we were here for the Shaggers Rendezvous.

From here we had a pit stop at Airlie Beach to fill the water tanks and buy a few essentials before a brisk sail to Dugong Inlet to escape the northerly. The anchorage was much more picturesque than we expected and had plenty of room for the 20 yachts here.

Saturday we left the Whitsundays and sailed to Brampton Island for a few days as another SE change is expected.

View from Carlisle Island

Louisiades photos

I'm sitting at Horseshoe Bay with a cold so have taken the opportunity to update some blog entries below and add photos. Click on the links below to view.

Bagaman Island and Beach Party Time

Island hopping

The trip home begins

Friday, 19 September to Sunday, 28 September 2012
Cairns to Magnetic Island

We spent a week at the Marlin Marina, waiting for an easing of the strong south easterlies and doing a few jobs. We restocked fresh fruit and veggies but have enough cans etc. for months I suspect. Warren cleaned Phase2 and traded tips with Brett from Wind of Change who keeps this yacht immaculate also.

Seawind 1250 and 1160

The marina is well located with daily walks along the Esplanade a highlight.

On Friday 26 September we headed off in a light south westerly that was predicted to go to the east during the day. We sailed to Fitzroy Island then with an easing breeze we motored to Russell Island where we picked up a mooring. The other 3 rally yachts who had left a bit before us pushed on to Zoe Bay, arriving at 2300.

Cruise ship Volendum entering Cairns as we leave

Saturday we left early under motor but by 1100 had the spinnaker up as we passed the North Barnard Island group. The spinnaker is going well after being repaired in Bwagoia Harbour by Kate and Graham from Thalassa who had a sewing machine on board. We blew it apart on a tight reach from Kamataal to Misima.

Head and luff resewn

We carried it passed Dunk Island in perfect conditions that made us change our mind from an anchorage at nearby Garden Island to continuing on to Orpheus Island.  A fast reach under genoa most of the way so we arrived at 1900 having covered 83nm in the day.

Another early start on Sunday to get to Horseshoe Bay before the south easterlies pick up in the afternoon. We plan to spend a few days here waiting for a more favourable breeze and as we both have colds. It could be worse, as one rally member was admitted to Townsville hospital with malaria on his return to Australia. We still have another couple of weeks of anti-malarials to go.

Amazing Louisiades Adventure

Tuesday, 16 October to Friday, 19 October, 2012 
Louisiades to Mission Bay, Cairns

We dropped the anchor at 0145 on Friday morning after covering the 503 nm from the Louisiades to here in 64 hours - an average of 7.8 knots. The rally was an amazing experience that we both thoroughly enjoyed. I will update the earlier posts with photos and more detail over the coming days (weeks??).

The trip home was a more typical Coral Sea crossing than our trip over. We left Duchateau with 6 other rally yachts (5 going to Cairns with us and 1 to Townsville).

Nestasea leaving Duchateau

The first 2 days we had winds of up to 35 knots and large, confused seas. We put in our second reef at 1500 on Tuesday, the third reef an hour later and half furled our self tacker jib another hour later as the squalls continued to roll past. We sailed like this all night and I did not enjoy the conditions at all.

Warren was left to do most of the sailing with a couple of hours sleep when I could stand a watch around midnight. Conditions improved during Wednesday and Thursday was a fantastic sail in perfect conditions. I was back on deck and enjoying some food again and we had full main and self tacker all day. We averaged 8.8 knots during the day and covered 193 nm in 24 hours. This was a great way to finish the rally.

Friday morning we moved to Marlin Marina in Cairns where we cleared customs and quarantine after getting the all clear from Wallace.

Warren loved Wallace's booties

Nearly Home

Left PNG on Tuesday. Now we're about 130nm from Cairns. Should arrive tonight and clear customs tomorrow. Trip rougher than going over but Phase2 handling it well.

PNG: The home stretch

Thursday, 11 October to Monday, 15 October 2012
Nimowa and Wanim Islands

We motored most of the 21 nm from Sabera Island to Nimowa Island where we anchored in 20m of water. Once we would have thought this very deep however after 4 weeks in these waters we consider it average. We went ashore Thursday afternoon for a welcome from the local elementary school.

The spelling looked right from where the teacher stood

On Friday we all piled into banana boats for a trip up the Fieori River, Sudest Island to swim in the waterfall.

This is a popular swimming place for the local kids and safer than the river where some boats sighted a large croc.

After the river trip, some of us visited the local elementary school to pass on some donations. They had prepared some dances for us and had prepared a very generous afternoon tea.

On Saturday we visited the local clinic where we gave our major donation for the trip to support their work and in particular the Clinic Ambulance that had been donated by a previous rally participant. Sister Sarah proudly stated they are now rated the best of the 40 regional clinics in PNG - partly due to rally donations. While at the clinic, John from Allikat lead a team that rigged up a solar light system for the waiting house for expectant mothers.

Salvaged ex RPAYC start boat now does service as the Clinic Ambulance

After visiting the clinic we played soccer with the local school kids. Warren was manager of the team and had to be careful with team substitutions to ensure that the kids won. All the kids got a gift at the end. We gave some bags that Ben had given us to any kids that had been bowled over by an overly enthusiastic dimdim.

After the game we had lunch prepared by the local ladies. It rained off and on most of the day but this did not dampen any spirits.

On Sunday we motorsailed 10nm to Wanim Island for our last night together and the planned pirate party. Unfortunately the rain had set in and our BBQ on the beach was changed to drinks on Nalukai (50 foot cat).

The Nalukai girls had prepared a great documentary of the trip which everyone loved, Guy gave out certificates to all and I read a poem we had written using the yacht names (see below). It was a great way to finish the rally.

Hope to start trip home on Tuesday.

Phase2 gets creative

Louisiades Rally 2012

The fleet gathered at Yorkey's
Awaiting the Wind of Change
We were off to the Louisiades
Were we brave or deranged.

We left Grafton Passage
For the Deeper Blue Coral Sea
Some of us weren't well
And Desired to sit under a tree.

Cries of Honey Bee a darling
And fetch me a bucket
Oh dear, over the side
We had better chuck it.

Phase2 of the passage
We weren't quite as pale
Gaultine along
Under full sail.

We were all very glad
To reach the Sanctuary of Duchateau
BBQ lobster thanks to men
In sailaus with no need to row.

On to Panasia
Mac showed us the skull cave
Sweet Justice long past
And we got wet from the waves.

Panapompom displayed
The Tradition of sailaus
Prizes for first, second and third
But not Thalassa (sorry nothing rhymes!!)

Then on to Bagaman
The carvings to see
Works of art to adorn
Our Nestaseas.

From the party at Blue Lagoon
On to Hoba Bay
To Investigator the coral
We sought Haven 3 days.

But soon it was Misima
Girls in traditional attire
Had the boys exclaiming
Wow, Nalukai!!

Then to Nimowa
Clinic and at soccer we yield
And see an Allikat
Close to the field.

Now a pirate party at Wanim
As we watch the light fade
Our last time together
In the Seaglass waters of the Louisiades.

Thanks to all our fellow rally participants. You were a great group to share this adventure with and we hope our paths cross again in the future.

The fish was THIS big!

Monday, 8 October to Thursday, 11 October 2012
Sabera Island

We motored to Sabera Island via Kimuta Island and anchored in the crystal clear waters. This is another area that is stunning.

We had perfect weather for our days here and the area was great for kayaking and swimming, although 2 people were stung by jellyfish.

Local kids kept us company

We had a walk over the island to visit the local community school, St Anthony's. 

I was amazed that the year 3 and 4 students were learning about quadrilaterals when they struggled to answer our questions in English.

The boarders, some as young as 8, sleep on grass mats on concrete and have to cook their own meals. Education is highly valued here and until this year parents paid K200 per student to attend school.

Girls dormitory

Big news is Warren caught a 80cm 7kg coral trout!

About to head to Nimowa today. Weather is beautiful, and not too hot. Starting to think about the trip home.

Sabera was certainly one of the trip highlights for us.

Misima

Saturday, 6 October to Monday, 8 October 2012
Bwagoia Harbour, Misima

The 24nm trip from Kamataal to Misima was a great spinnaker run until we blew the head out of our spinnaker. 17 knots of wind, tight reach and lumpy seas added up to our lovely red spinnaker floating into the ocean after ripping across the head and down the luff.

Misima is the largest island in the Louisiades and Bwagoia Harbour is the “big smoke” around here.We had pre-purchased fuel to be picked up here.  The anchorage was tight for 15 yachts so we rafted up with fore and aft anchors set on all boats to stop us moving too far.

Saturday afternoon we were entertained at the Misima Guesthouse by dancers, singers and performers from villages on the island. Some had travelled long distances to participate in the event.

The large crowd enjoyed the many acts and especially liked the Misima competition for young girls in traditional costume. I was one of the 2 dimdim ladies asked to judge the event. Not an easy task and subject to much debate that night!

The local ladies were also keen to have a Pem Pewa with us (exchange of gifts). They had gone to a lot of trouble preparing their baskets which looked beautiful. 

On Saturday night, dinner at the Guesthouse was followed by an auction where each yacht donated something useful and something weird. Everyone entered into the spirit and the kina raised were donated to the Nimowa Clinic.

Bwagoia could not be called picturesque so many yachts stayed just one night. We stayed an extra night as Kate and Graham from Thalassa had offered to help fix our spinnaker as they had a sewing machine on board.

Island Hopping

Monday, 1 October to Wednesday, 3 October 2012
Hoba Bay, Panaumala Island

Another beautiful anchorage just 3nm from the Blue Lagoon. Nalukai arrived with a monster Spanish Mackeral on the back steps that they presented to the local village that we visited in the afternoon. 

The whole village assembled to shake our hands as we entered under their hand painted sign. Village elder Bernard George welcomed us all and Guy presented the village with gifts and the school kids with bags of books and pencils.  

The elementary school performed some beautiful songs and dances in traditional costume. They enjoyed when the dim dim kids joined into the fun dance and laughed when some of the adults tried to do the actions. 

They are very proud of their culture and later demonstrated to us all how to make fire, bagai (shell necklaces), grass skirts and baskets. 

No batteries required

 

The local ladies were keen to do a “Pem Pewa” with us - an exchange of gifts. We filled bags with clothes, soap, food, bowls or other goods we thought they could use while they had prepared baskets full of bananas, pawpaw, pumpkin, eggplant and hand made goods. We formed 2 lines and then exchanged gifts with the person opposite. Afterwards there was much happy singing and dancing to celebrate the exchange.

This was a great anchorage in the winds which kept up around 20 knots for several days. Good snorkelling, fishing and a nice beach to walk along.

Wednesday, 3 October to Friday, 5 October 2012
Robinson Harbour

With a few days before our next rally event we split with most of the fleet and head further east to Robinson Harbour, which proved to be well protected from the strong south easterly winds.

Allikat at Robinson Harbour

We trade for mud crabs here and make friends with some local kids while out for a walk.

Their English is limited to dim dim, lollipop and balloon but they lead us to their hut where Dennis is building a new hut.

This family is from nearby Gigila Island but their garden is here and they spend several days a week here tending it.

Clearing for a new garden which last 3-5 years

We head back to the boat to get some gifts for them.

Next morning Dennis comes by as he has lost his fish hook - we give him our handline, spare line, hooks and sinkers and he is keen for us to return next year when his hut is finished to visit him again.

Friday, 5 October to Saturday, 6 October 2012
Kamataal

19nm under spinnaker to Kamatal.  This is one of the most beautiful spots we have visited so far.

We go for a snorkel in the crystal clear waters and visit the yacht club here, which opened in 2009.

Not the Folie a Deux we know

Phase2 is now on display after paying to have a plaque carved and hung in the hut. Another 1m mackeral caught today. Tomorrow we head to Misima to get fuel.