Queensland and the Coral Sea

It's goodbye NSW, goodbye to the East Australian Current, goodbye to the ocean swells and hello Queensland. We are on the Gold Coast, anchored in Marine Stadium, or as it is otherwise know, Bum's Bay and we fit right in.

It was a hard slog up the coast north from Laurieton. Not because of weather or seas, because we were pushing against the East Australian Current. The worst was between Port Macquarie and Smokey Cape (South West Rocks). It's strength in this section was between 2-3 knots and we were close to the coast which is suppose to reduce its strength. In other parts of that coasts it was between 1-2 knots. The only way for us to get through this part of the coast quickly was to have the motor running quite hard and some help from the wind.

We left Camden Haven after breakfast bound for Coffs Harbour. We logged on with the Marine Rescue and gave them an E.T.A of 23:00 but because the current is so strong here we didn't drop anchor until 3:30 the next morning. We moved into the marina after some sleep.

It really is a small world. There was a guy that had worked for Telstra in the catamaran that was tied up next to us. He worked in Crookwell Exchange the same time that I was there in the late 90's. They were delivering their cat, Nomad to Brisbane and eventually Townsville.




Small world, Hudson and I and Coffs Harbour

We had four days to wait for favorable weather in Coffs. The days are hot and to cool of we jumped off the jetty in the Harbour. The jetty isn't used commercially any more but local kids and fishermen make good use of it.

The water looks flat in these photos, it doesn't show an annoying swell that can give you no sleep if you anchor in here on the wrong day.

Daniel takes a jump

From Coffs it was three big days in a row to the Gold Coast with overnight stops in Iluka and Ballina. We wouldn't normally push so hard but our older kids are coming up to be with us at Easter(tonight). It was such a relief to turn west at Point Danger and see the high rise buildings because our passage was nearly over and our speed went from 5 knots to 7 knots.

Nomad passing us on route to Iluka

Cape Byron, Australia's most easterly point

Full moon rising over the Seaway Tower at The Spit, Gold Coast

From here on the cruising gets a whole lot more enjoyable. Protected waters and trade winds will soon kick in as will warm water and coral. At the moment we are playing with the idea of joining the Indonesia Rally. Over 100 boats leave Darwin each year in July to sail the waters around these islands. If we decide to do this it means that we would have to be in Darwin by the end of June. It is easily achievable but means we will have to "rush" up the coast to Cairns. I'd like at least 2 months to explore Cape York and Northern Australia before we get to Darwin. That leaves us a month to get to Cairns!