The second storm front. This is the entrance to Coffs Harbour yesterday.
Nope, we're not on the Gold Coast yet, just further south down here on the Bronze Coast.
Not much action for "Endurance" over the past couple of weeks, but a really interesting port, with lots of stories to tell. There's everything we need just a short walk away so a comfortable stay.
We enjoyed a few lovely weather days that would've been nice for sailing, but with ugly weather predicted, chose to leave the boat for a few days, rent a car, and drive up to the Gold Coast.
The Sanctuary Cove Boat Show was a good excuse for a break on dry land, (And, yes, we were impressed, it's a fabulous show. Lots of nice things that we can't afford!).
So, we stayed with our old friends Rod and Andrea Brooks in Currumbin, and then spent a few more days enjoying their company.
Took in the Broadbeach Blues Festival, shopped around for, and eventually bought, an inflatable Stand-Up Paddleboard and generally enjoyed having wheels for a change.
I was a bit stressed about leaving the boat behind as a shocker of an "East Coast Low" battered Coffs Harbour with heavy rain and 40 knot winds while we were luxuriating on the Gold Coast.
It was reassuring to know that John and Jo from the catamaran "Kirra Kirra" were moored nearby and keeping an eye on our floating home, and we zoomed back to Coffs in time to farewell them off on the next leg of their Northward trip.
Not much action for "Endurance" over the past couple of weeks, but a really interesting port, with lots of stories to tell. There's everything we need just a short walk away so a comfortable stay.
We enjoyed a few lovely weather days that would've been nice for sailing, but with ugly weather predicted, chose to leave the boat for a few days, rent a car, and drive up to the Gold Coast.
The Sanctuary Cove Boat Show was a good excuse for a break on dry land, (And, yes, we were impressed, it's a fabulous show. Lots of nice things that we can't afford!).
So, we stayed with our old friends Rod and Andrea Brooks in Currumbin, and then spent a few more days enjoying their company.
Took in the Broadbeach Blues Festival, shopped around for, and eventually bought, an inflatable Stand-Up Paddleboard and generally enjoyed having wheels for a change.
I was a bit stressed about leaving the boat behind as a shocker of an "East Coast Low" battered Coffs Harbour with heavy rain and 40 knot winds while we were luxuriating on the Gold Coast.
It was reassuring to know that John and Jo from the catamaran "Kirra Kirra" were moored nearby and keeping an eye on our floating home, and we zoomed back to Coffs in time to farewell them off on the next leg of their Northward trip.
Joe Camilleri rocks out with the Black Sorrows.
Where's Wally? We'd planned to leave Coffs Harbour just a few days later, but that didn't quite go to plan. While we'd even organised a local couple, Daryl and Linda, to join us on the next leg of the journey, we cancelled out due to slightly uncomfortable weather conditions. Probably not the right call, as another East Coast Low was forming further south, and it meant another longer than expected delay in port.
So, we settled in as a second big storm came through, with more 40 knot winds, massive swell but fortunately no bad rain to go with it.
This time it was my turn to keep an eye on a friend's boat, as the catamaran "Tell Tails" rested in the harbour, with her owner Mark away off the boat for the week.
The marina has seen better days. All of the floating docks are held together by chains, rope and tie-downs, and everything moves when the swell pushes into the harbour.
So, we settled in as a second big storm came through, with more 40 knot winds, massive swell but fortunately no bad rain to go with it.
This time it was my turn to keep an eye on a friend's boat, as the catamaran "Tell Tails" rested in the harbour, with her owner Mark away off the boat for the week.
The marina has seen better days. All of the floating docks are held together by chains, rope and tie-downs, and everything moves when the swell pushes into the harbour.
The "Owl and the Pussycat", after a month underwater, comes to the surface.
Occ Health and Safety doesn't walk out this far! A few weeks before we arrived in Coffs, there was an "interesting" night in the harbour when a big commercial fishing boat caught fire. She caused havoc when the engine, which happened to be in gear, inadvertently fired up, and the flaming boat took off through the port. She T-boned a cruising yacht, who's owner took a dive overboard before she sank in just a few minutes. I watched as the "Owl and the Pussycat" was raised from her watery grave.
Somebody's cruising dreams rudely shattered.
There's lots of interesting stuff going on. A couple of days ago, Geelong boat "Sapphire Of London" arrived (in the nick of time before the big storm) with it's owner/skipper Grant St. Quentin and former RGYC commodore John Kint aboard as crew. Great to see them and have a chat. After our 4 month voyage from Geelong, we had to have a chuckle because they only took 10 days!
And yesterday I had coffee aboard the stylish old wooden ketch "Aralla", built in Hobart in 1923, while Guy, her current owner, showed me coordinates for the surfspots and anchorages in New Guinea and Eastern Indonesia. He's sailed her there!
Somebody's cruising dreams rudely shattered.
There's lots of interesting stuff going on. A couple of days ago, Geelong boat "Sapphire Of London" arrived (in the nick of time before the big storm) with it's owner/skipper Grant St. Quentin and former RGYC commodore John Kint aboard as crew. Great to see them and have a chat. After our 4 month voyage from Geelong, we had to have a chuckle because they only took 10 days!
And yesterday I had coffee aboard the stylish old wooden ketch "Aralla", built in Hobart in 1923, while Guy, her current owner, showed me coordinates for the surfspots and anchorages in New Guinea and Eastern Indonesia. He's sailed her there!
The lovely and well-travelled "Aralla"
June issue of "Cruising Helmsman". I was stoked to see another of my pics used as a cover shot on "Cruising Helmsman" magazine this month....I am enjoying the camera, and it's inspiring to see my shots in print. The pic was taken early in our trip, and features the Geelong boat "Patternmaker" in Refuge Cove, Wilson's Prom.
And yes, there is surf in Coffs Harbour. I've had a few waves lately, feeling a bit uncomfortable competing for waves with 15-year old bodyboarders, but at least I've been getting wet a little.
We're heading North in the morning.....Gold Coast bound, expecting a 24 hour voyage in light conditions. An overnighter, with a crossing of the Gold Coast Seaway at the end.
And then we'll be in Queensland!
And yes, there is surf in Coffs Harbour. I've had a few waves lately, feeling a bit uncomfortable competing for waves with 15-year old bodyboarders, but at least I've been getting wet a little.
We're heading North in the morning.....Gold Coast bound, expecting a 24 hour voyage in light conditions. An overnighter, with a crossing of the Gold Coast Seaway at the end.
And then we'll be in Queensland!
Thumpin' barrels next to the North Wall. I left that day to the bodyboarders.
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