Grandkid crew! Lanikai and Alex. After all that time on the Gold Coast, we'd only timidly ventured out to sea once, on a quick whale-watching trip with the grandkids. Who'd promptly got seasick, but did see some whales.
But the icy clutches of Winter were creeping up on us, and it was time to start heading North.
Baby steps indeed, and we puttered off gently up the Coomera River towards Moreton Bay.
Our first moments of terror occurred in sheltered river waters when we had to pass under a drooping overhead power line. The charts and guidebooks all showed the cable as being lower than the height of our mast, and it took a phone call to the previous owner who reassured us that we'd squeeze through at low tide.
We'd been following another yacht up to that point, and were looking forward to him going under the line before us. But the sneaky buggar stopped, did a U-Turn and slid up behind us so we had to go first.
On with the rubber-soled shoes and we slipped through with a metre to spare, but it was tense. From there, out into the bay, and first stop would be Manly Harbour in the suburbs of Brisbane. A comfortable night and the beginning of The Travels Of El Gato.
But the icy clutches of Winter were creeping up on us, and it was time to start heading North.
Baby steps indeed, and we puttered off gently up the Coomera River towards Moreton Bay.
Our first moments of terror occurred in sheltered river waters when we had to pass under a drooping overhead power line. The charts and guidebooks all showed the cable as being lower than the height of our mast, and it took a phone call to the previous owner who reassured us that we'd squeeze through at low tide.
We'd been following another yacht up to that point, and were looking forward to him going under the line before us. But the sneaky buggar stopped, did a U-Turn and slid up behind us so we had to go first.
On with the rubber-soled shoes and we slipped through with a metre to spare, but it was tense. From there, out into the bay, and first stop would be Manly Harbour in the suburbs of Brisbane. A comfortable night and the beginning of The Travels Of El Gato.
An obedient crew. Not. It was a significant night for us, because, without question, we were intimidated by the sheer size of the boat, especially in comparison to the 38' Endurance Of The South. The very process of docking the craft, in strange marinas, using twin engine steering rather than a wheel, was completely new to us. But we coped.
In the morning, the world was new again and we woke to a spectacular sunrise, brought in the lines and headed out into Moreton Bay. The plan was to overnight at Scarborough Marina, as we'd done on our previous trip. But during the day we started to relax in the winter sunshine and realise just how quick and comfortably the big El Gato travels. So we kept on going, out of the bay and along the somewhat shoal coast to Mooloolaba.
It was a worthwhile exercise, and we cruised over the shallow patches and steep but small swell with ease.
In the morning, the world was new again and we woke to a spectacular sunrise, brought in the lines and headed out into Moreton Bay. The plan was to overnight at Scarborough Marina, as we'd done on our previous trip. But during the day we started to relax in the winter sunshine and realise just how quick and comfortably the big El Gato travels. So we kept on going, out of the bay and along the somewhat shoal coast to Mooloolaba.
It was a worthwhile exercise, and we cruised over the shallow patches and steep but small swell with ease.
 A Manly sunrise! |  It may be Queensland, but still gets chilly. |
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