We had a good sail to Hunter Island. Once there, we went for a walk and discovered deer when we accidently frightened them from where they were sleeping in the long grass. I’m not sure who got more of a fright me or the deer! That night we had a few drinks around a fire on the beach with John and Mara from SV Chikita and also Irwin and George from SV Walt-zee.
We left Mooloolaba early and had a horrible rolly sail to Wide Bay Bar. It was a disgusting sail, Thorfinn was being tossed from side to side as the three metre swell hit us broadside. However, we had no problems crossing the bar and were soon sailing in the flat protected waters of Fraser Island, aahh bliss. After stopping the first night at an anchorage called Garry’s we went on to Kingfisher Bay. We took the dinghy ashore and went for a walk. After having a good look around we found ourselves back at the jetty just in time to see a couple of humpback whales put on a show for the arriving on the barge.
After an overnight sail from the Clarence River we arrived at the Seaway Spit. This is another bar crossing and Dwayne told me to take the helm on this crossing. I’d like to tell you that the swell was huge and the waves were crashing all around us, and that I held my nerve and navigated through the wild seas with courage and skill….. however, it was fairly flat, little to no waves breaking, and although I crossed the bar unaided I don’t think there was anytime I needed an extraordinary amount of skill or courage. I just followed my GPS! BUT Dwayne says a bar crossing is a bar crossing and I can now say I have helmed over one.
On our sail from Coffs Harbour to Yamba on the Clarence River. I saw my first water spout! The sailing was down wind the entire way and Dwayne spent most of the day at the wheel. Crossing the bar into the Clarence River was not the most fun I’ve ever had. We crossed at low tide with a 2.5+ metre swell and blowing 25 knots. We found out later that day that the fishing boats had not gone out that day… and if the fishing boat don’t cross the bar, you shouldn’t. Oops!….
We anchored between the jetty and the breakwater in Coffs Harbour about 1630. As soon as we set the anchor we had to clean the Marlin we’d caught. A big messy job! Our bait board, on which we usually clean our fish, was just a little too small (2 metres too small) so we cut the marlin up on the cabin top…. Wait! Did you say Marlin? Yep… read on for more about our tasty catch!
At 0930 I got a hit. The rod started screaming as the fish started running my line out. I grabbed the rod and realised I had a pretty big fish on it. I screamed out for Kelly to wake up. Kelly came staggering out of the cabin all groggy from sleep and I started yelling instructions to her…”get me the gimble belt for the rod”, “motor the boat forward”, “get a photo”, “go to the port”, “go to the starboard!”, “are you getting photos?”, “reverse!”, “go to the starboard”, “get my gloves”, “forward.. to the port”, “take a photo”, “get the gaff”, “starboard! starboard!”, “tie a rope on to the gaff”, “reverse”, “here it comes, get a photo”, “I need a drink, get me water”, “reverse, to the starboard” …
Jervis Bay is a travellers delight. Whether you are travelling on land or in your own sailboat, Jervis Bay is a place of abundant beautiful, natural attractions and things to do. A popular place for fishing, scuba diving, whale watching and bush walking; it is a place rich in maritime history and indigenous culture. With beaches of fine white sand, rugged cliffs and natural forest, Jervis bay was high on our list of places to explore.
By the time we arrived in Eden we were well and truly ready for a night on shore… well an evening anyway. So we did our chores and had a couple of drinks onboard before heading to the pub for dinner. The pub served great meals at a very reasonable price and we let loose a bit and partied into the night. Headaches in the morning, but more chores needed to be done so, while Dwayne slept, Katrina and I walked to town and did the washing, shopping…
This is the beginning. We have finally begun our journey! Kangaroo Island to Cape Jaffa, South Australia. – sailing, travelling, cruising, aboard a yacht! Penneshaw, American River, old fish cannery.