Day 43; 18^th May 2010.

We say goodbye to Middle Percy Island and promise to call back on our return trip home. Sails set @ 10:00 we head for Digby Island and arrive at 14.00, 22.4 NM's - Wind S/SE 12-18 knots. Not an attractive Island however a good stopover in fair weather.

Day 44; 19^th May 2010.

Rested overnight at Digby we sail to Scawfell Island 39.2 NM's. 7 hrs sailing we got away at 6:30 & arrived at 13.30. About 27 NM's off the coast of Mackay the water noticeably changed in colour to a turquoise blue and a pod of dolphins a dozen or more came over to greet us and play off the bow.  Scawfell Island although still a little south of the Whitsundays provided us with a taste of what was to come, clear, warm 28c turquoise water, and rugged gum treed filled mountains. We anchored about 200m off the beach and snorkelled around the boat before going ashore to stretch our legs.

Day 45; 20^th May through to Day 56; 31^th May 2010.

We have spent the past twelve days Island hoping from Scawfell Island to Brampton Island - 19.3 NM's (Passing sailors' are not welcome on Brampton) then on to.......

•Ø   Shaw Island - 24.5 NM's

•Ø   Lindeman Island - 4 NM's

•Ø   Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island - 7.5 NM's

•Ø   Hill Inlet - 3.1 NM's

•Ø  Turtle Bay - 7 NM's

•Ø  Sib Harbour - Saw Mill Bay - 8 NM's

•Ø  South Mole - 5.5 NM's

•Ø  Airlie Beach -

During this time we met Beaver - 49 & his son Jay - 14 (who was being home schooled along the way) on board their self built catamaran Zig Zag. They are sailing her around to Broome on the West Australian coast and back to Mooloolaba on the Qld Sunshine Coast and plan to be away for two years. Beaver is the "real bush tucker man" he gets much of his tucker with a casting net and a spear gun & when red meat is on the table it's probably a wind goat, pig or roo that he has shot. The 4 days spent with Beaver & Jay were fascinating they taught me how to throw a net and the sure way to get a crab pot full of muddies. You're not allowed to take the Jennies only the bucks. Each day we put a seafood platter on the table to equal the best seafood restaurant. When we departed I felt Jay was going to get the best education a boy could possibly get along the way and the bond between father & son was special. Sail safe guys and I hope we can sit around a camp fire again one day, soon.

While in Hill Inlet at the north end of Whitehaven Beach I go off to climb to the lookout to take some photos of Goodtimes floating off the pick in this spectacular inlet & to tick one of the boxes that I have dreamt about for 21 months when placing our order for her. On return to Goodtimes there is Yelena on the bow with a fishing rod in hand supporting a 42cm Trevally dancing on the end of her line. I had to laugh because she had been holding this fish for a ½ hour or so waiting for me to return to take it off the hook. "I told her not to be such a big girl" Yelena was very proud of her catch and no sooner had I taken the Trevally off the line, she hooked on again, another Trevally 41cm. Yelena had caught a good feed of fish & "wasn't she happy with herself" so we invited the crew of Zig Zag and John & Kris on board a yacht called "Robyn's Nest" who we had met the day before in Hill Inlet. A good night full of laughter was had by all as stories were shared with a little too much red wine flowing. Our days are filled with sunshine, temperature a nice 25c to 28c, blood red sunsets & star fill night sky's, it's a perfect time to be north away from the chill of winter back home.

Unless information to ponder over for the month of May & Trip To Date -TTD

•Ø  NM's sailed 490.5 - TTD 1189.5

•Ø  Hrs Sailed 94 - TTD 186.5

•Ø  Port Hrs 34.3 - TTD 92.1

•Ø  Star Hrs 34.3 - TTD 93.3

•Ø  Total Hrs 67.4 - TTD 185.4

•Ø  Engine Hrs Per Day TTD 3.3

•Ø  Diesel Burnt 222 Lt TTD 462 Lt

•Ø  Lt per Hr TTD 2.5

•Ø  Tender Lt 20 - TTD 40

•Ø  Generator Lt 22 - TTD 42

•Ø  Gas 9kg

To take a career break for 18 months we needed to set ourselves a budget & if the cabbage runs out it's hi ho, hi ho, it's back to wo, woooo, woooooo, work we go. Gee that a hard word to say. We allowed ourselves $4,000 per month to live on this includes the running cost of Goodtimes but to our surprise the cost has been about half that.  Living on board is like living on an ark you have this whole life support system, solar power, wind power, fuel, water & food. Our batteries are topped up by the sun & when motor sailing or with our Honda EU - 20i generator, we carry 740Lt of water on board and put our rain tarp to catch the rain where possible so far we have collect 85Lt, food most of it comes from the supermarket however we have had 15 dinners & 9 lunches with complements fresh from the sea, moving up the coast is predominately free with the trade wind pushing us along. We really are living our dream and want for nothing, the cost of cruising has been much less than we thought & we are well within our budget, allowing us to splash out in June with the boys coming up and taking part in the Seawind regatta.  Our Seawind 1160 "Goodtimes" is our home on water, everything works and everything is where it should be, she's a very comfortable practical & safe catamaran.

A lot of people are asking "how our little sea dog Summer is coping" she's fine and is loving all the pats & affection from everyone we meet along we way, she has won a lot of hearts and puts a smiles on everyone face. When I get into Airlie beach I'm going to buy myself a dog suit and run along the beach and lap up some of this attention for myself. I think I'll call myself "STAINS" a strong name for a dogs don't you think? I can see it now people calling me over for a pat "come stains come".

Back to Summer; she will sit cross eyed for two days if she has to, she just holds on until we go ashore. She sees me get up in the middle of the night for a shake and must think "he's soft".

We have been cruising north now for 56 days since leaving Sydney (Port Hacking) on the 6^th April, during that time we have had a lot of memorable times, lots of laughs and met some great like minded people. We've spent 24 nights anchored off the pick on an island off the mainland of this incredibly beautiful country of ours "how lucky are we?" 

We are heading into Airlie Beach to restock Goodtimes, wash her down and fill her water tank; 19 days have passed since we had the chance to do this back in Yeppoon. Here we plan to veg out for 4 or 5 days & do the mainlander stuff, shopping, restaurants, sightseeing etc and wait for the gang to arrive.

Our plans for the month of June are....

Blake & Kurt with Penny & Maghan are coming up to the Whitsundays on the 5^th June for 10 days, it will be great to catch up & party in this island plentiful paradise, it's a shame Joel & Emma are not going to make it. During this time I want to take the boys out to Bait Reef & Circular Quay Reef about 50 Nm's off the coast from Airlie Beach for some diving. We plan visit Hamilton Island & check out the new Yacht Club and relax in the resort. We will be sure to take in Turtle Bay, Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet, Butterfly Bay, Stone Haven, Blue Pearl Bay, South Mole Is, Club Croc on Long Island and Airlie Beach along the way. Our week should be chock-a-block, full of fun, good food, great fishing, diving, bush walking with cold beer and wines flowing and some stories will be told of our time together.

The Seawind Regatta is on from the 19^th to the 26^th June and we are looking forward to a week of racing - nothing to serious though, fun & games and a chance to meet up with more lucky Seawind owners. We have good friends Gordon & Lou coming on board for a few weeks and Graeme Nolan from Seawind joining us as well for the week of the regatta. Graeme knows his stuff and I can't wait to get the spinnaker out. If you see a bright yellow spinner sailing around the Whitsundays it's sure to be yours truly with a smile on my face & Yelena breathing a sigh of relief.

I'll let you know how we're getting on, so until then give the people close to you a hug.

30^th June 2010; Day 87

We had spent all of June crisscrossing the Whitsundays taking in the best she had to offer, the Fittler gang flew in for 9 days and our time spent together was out of the ordinary. Then we had a five day layover before the Seawind Regatta began. The weather was not kind to the fleet and some of the best planed destinations were not reached but overall I think everyone had a goodtime.  July will see us back in cruising mode taking in the beauty of the Coral Coast; somehow I feel the best is yet to come.

More useless information to ponder over for the month of June & Trip to Date -TTD

•Ø  June NM's sailed 221.1 - TTD 1410.6

•Ø  June Hrs Sailed 42.5 - TTD 229

•Ø  June Port Engine Hrs 18.3 - TTD 108.4

•Ø  June Star Engine Hrs 16.4 - TTD 109.7

•Ø  June Total Engine Hrs 36.7 - TTD 218.1

•Ø  Average Engine Hrs Per Day TTD 2.5

•Ø  June Diesel Burnt 80 Lt - TTD 542 Lt

•Ø  Diesel Burnt Per Hr - TTD 2.48

•Ø  June Tender Fuel 17 Lt - TTD 57 Lt

•Ø  June Generator Fuel 20 Lt  - TTD  42 Lt

•Ø  June No Gas Refill - TTD Gas 9kg

It's been near three month since we left our home port of Port Hacking on the 6^th April 2010. The trip is living up to everything we hoped it would be. We have seen some spectacular country, met some wonderful like minded people and learnt a lot about ourselves and sailing. I do feel like we've been everywhere man, well not everywhere but here's a summary of the places we've visited so far..... Pittwater, Swansea, Port Stephens, Camden Haven, Port Macquarie, South West Rocks, Coffs Harbour, Yamba, Byron Bay, South Port -Gold Coast, Tipplers Resort - Stradbroke Island, Slipping Sands, Peel Island, Raby Bay, Tangalooma - Morton Island, Mooloolaba, Double Island Point, Gary's Anchorage - Frazer Island, King Fisher Resort -Frazer Island, Bundaberg, Lady Musgrave, Pan Cake Creek, Cape Capricorn, Great Keppel Island, Keppel Bay -Yeppoon, Pearl Bay, Middle Percy Island, Digby Island, Scawfell Island, Brampton Island, Shaw Island, Lindeman Island, Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet, Turtle Bay, Sid Harbour, South Mole Island, Airlie Beach, Long Island, Langford Island, Bait Reef, Blue Pearl Bay - Hayman Island, Hamilton Island, Nara Inlet, Monte's Resort - Gloucester Passage, Bona Bay - Gloucester Passage.

To pick a favourite spot would be impossible but I have hi-lighted in red must visit places in our opinion.

We plan to spend from the 1^st July to mid September travelling from Bowen to Lizard Island taking in Townsville, Magnetic Island, Hinchinbrook Channel, Dunk Island, Innisfail, Cairns, The Daintree, Cook Town & Cape Flattery. All going well we will turn Goodtimes south and sail back to the Whitsundays around the 14^th August leaving us five to six weeks to get there. We plan to kick back in the Whitsundays for two or three weeks before heading for home around the 10^th October with the trade winds as they start to swing around to the north arriving home in time for Xmas.

We will keep you updated on our progress north but in the mean time...

"Don't take life to seriously as nobody gets out alive anyway"

Day 25; 30^th April 2010  

The trip up from Morton Island (Tangalooma) on Wednesday to Mooloolaba was relaxing, we motor sailed 28.2 Nm's in 6 hrs winds were light only 3 to 8 kts from the South. Hooked on to a 55 cm tailor on the way, Yelena cooked it for dinner and made fish cakes for tomorrow's lunch.

On Thursday we got way at 8:00 for Double Island Point, today was one of those days that ticks all the boxes. We motor sailed 50.8 NM' winds again were only light 5 to 8 kts from the west. The view over to the Glass House Mountains with the morning sun..... "nice" a bit of Jack Johnson & The Eagles playing along the way, when the rod start spinning it's head off, yibbida - yibbida I'm on about 20 mins later I land a 136cm Spanish Mackerel "oh what a beauty" it's bigger than Yelena. After landing the biggest fish I have ever caught (normally the only way I get fish is when I order chips with it) I applied the old "fillet & release technique" I was able to get 32 steaks out of this big bugger, its fresh fish all the way. Yea Ha! In the afternoon we sailed along Coolum Beach watched the 4WD's make their way from Noosa to Double Is Point along the beach at low tide and admired the coloured sand cliffs north of Noosa. To top the day off we spotted a 2 m yellow sea snake just swimming along and a huge shark sunbaking on the water surface.

This sailing life is exhausting I find myself needing a nanna nap mid afternoon so that I can stay up and watch the 6.00 O'clock news & when BIG DOG comes on to say "goodnight boys & girls" at 7.30pm that's it I grab teddy (Yelena) and go to bed.

 We anchored at Double Island Point on Thursday night (Allan Lucas said it's one of the worst anchorages on the Coral Coast) but Mother Nature was with us, sunset on Rainbow beach followed by a full moon, fresh fish & a bottle of red, capped off  a great day.

On Friday morning we get away at first light on the rising tide to cross Wide Bay Bar.

We contact Coastal Patrol @ Tin Can Bay to get the way points for a safe crossing.

As of today 30^th April they were....  

1) 25o 47.67S - 153o 06.63E

2) 25o 47.36S - 153o 06.63E

3) 25o 48.20S - 153o 80E.

We sailed to the first waypoint everything is fine

 To the 2nd waypoint...we start surfing down waves (I looked at Yelena, she looked like a stunned rabbit caught in a spot light) Yelena said "you can talk"

A port side tack at the 2^nd waypoint to the 3^rd waypoint waves are breaking from the east "we are in the mad mile", it's like a washing machine.

 Go Goodtimes, come on girl see us through, yes oh yes we made it.

 Yelena & and I lost our suntans there for a while we were as white as ghosts.

We make our way to Garry's Anchorage about 14 NM's up the west coast of Frazer Island and arrive at 10.00am. Well that enough excitement for one day I'm for going for a swim so I dive over the side and swim across to Garry's Anchorage walk up the beach to read the sign which says....

"DANGER ESTUARY CROCODILES inhabit these waters" Yelena! Yelena! Yelena get the bloody tender down and come and get me there is crocodiles in these waters and I'm not shitting you.                                                    

Some useless information to ponder

During April we sailed 699.1 NM's.

Sailed 92.5 hrs

Used 240 Lt of Diesel

Put 59 hrs on the Port & Starboard Motors

Ate well and drank heaps

Lived life and we're really having a Goodtime "give me some of that"

Our Plan for May 2010

During the month of May with plan to sail from Hervey Bay to the Whitsundays taking in Hervey Bay, Bundaberg, 1770, Lady Musgrave, Pan Cake Creek, Great Keppel Is, The Percy Island group, Mackay, Brampton Is, & Gold Smith Is along the way.

Stick around it's going to be a lot fun.....

Day 6; 11^th April 2010

The past few days in Port Stephens had been full on, we had a smell of crushed rose petals coming from the starboard head (toilet) on checking the holding tank it was full, Houston  we have a problem, blockage in the loo! So we made our way to the public wharf at Nelsons Bay to use the pump out, "shit" no pun intended, I can't find the connection to screw into the waste outlet so I make my way to the chandlery to buy another, when I get back the ferry skipper is telling me to shove off, I stayed calm and told him to go stick his head up a dead bears bum, pump out completed we shoved off and anchored nearby to sort the problem out.  Goggle's on I dive in to check the outlet hole, sure enough is was blocked with barnacles, all the reefs in the world and these guys want to live in my toilet outlet, "it must me good shit" so I start poking away with a screw driver and YES I find the problem, shit everywhere I gasp for air, Yelena looking over the side (I'm covered in shit) says "did you find the problem" thank god she can cook.

On Friday afternoon at anchor off Nelson Head, I hear cries for help; two scuba divers were in trouble so I raced across in my tender and do the Bondi rescue thing, by the time I got to them the guy grabbed onto the side of my tender, where is the other guy I asked?  His wife, she was just below the water surface so I reached down grabbed her and pulled her up, they both held the tender as I made my way to shore, the ambulance & police came, all was good the lady kept thanking me, the husband walked off with no even a word of thanks, I wonder what that was all about?

On Saturday we met up with Greg & Dianne Allen for dinner.  Greg & Dianne are a lot of fun and were eager to swap stories and enjoy a laugh. They are also heading north in July and we hope to catch up. A few bottles of red latter and out comes the Drambuie "I don't know why that happens" thanks for a great evening guy's.

Tomorrow 12^th April we plan to sail to Camden Haven, the forecast is for wind 20 kts blowing from the WSW on a 2 m swell should be fun, stay tuned.....

Day 7; 12^th April 2010

The sail to Camden Haven was a beauty Goodtimes reached  a new speed record 13.5 knots off Seal Rocks with the wind blowing 20knots from the NW with a SW swell, Yee Ha!!! We had a pod of Dolphins jumping RIGHT OUT of  the water (wait to you see the photo's) I must ring Renee @ Seawind & find out how to upload them. We sailed 84.6 NM's today in 11 hrs a much better result from our trip up here at Xmas which took us 14 hrs.

Day 8; 13^th April 2010

We head off to Port Macquarie today a short 2.5 hr sail from Camden Haven before heading off to Coffs Harbour in the morning.

Day 9; 14^th April 2010

We got away at 7.00 am 2 hrs off the top of the tide to cross the bar at Port Macquarie, heading out it looked pretty good but as we just clear the break wall waves appear with the off shore wind they build to about 2 metres (with a tightening of bum cheeks) motors on full throttle we make a dash for calm water, up and over we go... hoolie doolie we made it! Where did they come from?

With the wind a 10 knots, I know let's get the spinnaker out, "the 1^st time  we got the spinnaker out WHAT A DISASTER" I have read the manual since then. So up goes the spinnaker "oh shit the clip has come off the clew" (what are the chances of that happening!) now the bloody things  flapping madly, so I will just pull the sock over and bring it in, "oh shit the sock won't come down". Think Steve think Yelena is looking at me with that here we go again looks. I know...I'll release the tack rope let it blow out and get Yel to lower the MPS halyard as I pull in it. "It's in, thank Christ for that" Thanks God!

Honey, that's how you do it.

Yelena... you get that spinnaker out again I'll wrap you up in it and throw you over board.

Steve... 1hr wasted on thr spinnaker we get on our way again and we decide to pull into South West Rocks (Trial Bay) and stay the night.  Today we sailed 42.7 NM's in 7 hrs "including the spinnaker disaster No. 2".

We visit the old jail go for a walk along the beach and watch the sun set with a bottle of red and a cheese plater and look forward to sailing tomorrow to Coffs  Harbour and catch up with some old friends Geoff & Donna.

Day 10; 15^th April 2010

We get away a 6.15 am for Coffs Harbour an absolute beauty of a morning with a hot cooked breakfast along the way a little of the Boss (Brue Springsteen) CD playing "have I told you how much I love this boat", we arrive at Coffs at 11.15 sailed 35.8 NM's had lunch and changed the engine oil, filters and the sail drive oil. (a piece of training to a pissed sailor) All done we plan our activities for tomorrow, let's go white water rafting; Yelena says .... "haven't you had enough of boats and water yet"? I'm going to get my hair and nails done.  

Looks like I'm on my own, no worries I can tag along with another group the booking agency tell me, beauty.

Days 119, 120 2^nd & 3^rd August 2010.

We enjoy a few days hanging around Low Islet walking around the Island which takes 9 minutes literally, snorkelling; yes when the Quicksilver Tour Boat arrived with its potential victims and yes the 3 sharks hung around the boat the whole time we were there & everyone still has all their limbs.

Day 121, 4^th August 2010.

We say goodbye to Low Islet at first light and raise the sails for Cooktown, the forecast issued by the BOM was for a strong wind warming +20 knots with the swell inside the reef 1.7 m. Vs 3 m outside reef. The trip down to Cooktown was a beauty 60 NM's in 8 hrs with wind gusts up to 30 knots. Goodtimes was surfing the swells at 11 to 13 knots, it was hard to hold her back at times from rounding up a combination of too much sail out and surfing the swell at 30 degrees.  We sailed past Cape Tribulation; The Daintree taking in the splendour of the rainforest maintains stretching down to the sea. The further north we sailed the Great Dividing Range retreated away from the coast as if to say it's the end of the line for us guys, sail safe and we will catch you guys on your way home.  We anchored off the town in Cooktown at 14:30 and it was still blowing a gale so we decide to get the tender down and go ashore to have a look around. Cooktown is a little town with a few good pubs full of characters and not a lot more. On talking to a few blokes in the pub they were telling us that this was the windiest dry season they could remember and called over a couple that were cruising up the coast from Townsville. They had stopped in Cooktown a month ago waiting for the winds to abate. There had been a strong wind warming in place north of Cairns to the Torres Straights for a month now and they were cruising north in a 50 ft stink boat. I mentioned to them that if you're going north with it it's not that bad, but they would not hear a bar of what I had to say, and what would I know with just 121 days cruising experience. Poor bastard they should have brought a Seawind. Yelena, Summer & I make our way back to Goodtimes around 19:00 and plan to top up our provisions in the morning at the IGA Supermarket before sailing our final leg north to Lizard Island to reach our target. I would be lying if I said I was not a little concerned about getting back down to the Whitsundays some 385 NM's south by mid September with the trade winds blowing this dry season as strong and consistent as they are. But the target is Lizard Island so Lizard Island it is.

Day 122; 5^th August 2010.

We go shopping as planned and get away from Cooktown at 9:00, we covered 51.5 NM's in 8 hr's another great day of sailing, winds much the same as yesterday +20 knots but the seas were a little less cross. From 20 NM's out we see Lizard Island in the distance, can you believe it there she is. In about 3 hrs we will have reached our target, LIZARD ISLAND. The smiles on our faces stayed with us as we approach, we had just sailed, zig zagging 1,870 NM's over 122 days to get here (with a hell of a lot of sight seeking along the way) A deep sense of accomplishment is felt, knowing we have taken our dream and lived it, to some you may say "so what", but to us it's our time it's our dream and it's our story to tell and share. We arrive in Mrs Watson Bay on Lizard Island at 16:00 and were welcomed by the crystal clear turquoise blue water lapping a white sandy beach "post card stuff" with Cooks Lookout standing proud at 359 metres above sea level and nine other cruisers anchored in the bay. We were both feeling a tad weathered with the past few days sailing behind us, so we will go ashore stretch our legs a bit, cook dinner retire early and plan to tackle Cooks Lookout tomorrow and explore the Island over the coming days. I will take a photo from the top so you can see what we see. We are not sure how long we will be staying at Lizard Island a lot is governed by the trade winds. 

Day 123; 6^th August 2010.

We wake to an overcast day with light showers, down a cooked breakfast and go ashore at 9:00 to climb the 359 metres to the top of Cooks Lookout. The steep sometimes difficult track follows the footsteps of Lieutenant James Cook who visited Lizard Island (Jigurru) in August 1770. Now here we are standing at the bottom of the mountain to follow in his footsteps 240 years later almost to the day. Cook navigated through the dangerous waters of the Great Barrier Reef in August 1770. Caught in a labyrinth of reefs off Cape Flattery was"....altogether at a loss of which way to steer". He climbed to this high point on the island only to find "a reef of rocks ... extending farther than the eye could see, upon which the sea broke in a dreadful surf". Cook noticed a narrow break in the reefs which offered an escape to the open sea. Today the channel is called Cooks Passage.  The 360 view from the top is spectacular, truly spectacular... they say "it not how many times you lose your breath a day but how many times life takes your breath away" Well today is one of those days that life took our breath away. We returned to Goodtimes 4 hrs latter had lunch and went snorkelling off the back of Goodtimes. Only 10 metres off the back of Goodtimes was a reef with more fish of many species than you could possibly count that kept us entertain the rest of the afternoon. We finished with dinner aboard another cruisers yacht owned by Ian & Robin who we had met earlier. Today was one of those days that tick all the boxes.

Day 124; 7^th August.

We go ashore in the morning and walk along the beach to see the remains of Mrs Watson House. The story goes that that in 1880 Mary Phillips became Mary Watson by marriage to one of two partners who worked beche-de-mer (sea slug) from their base on Lizard Island. Mr Watson with his partner, Fuller sailed north to fish the slug near Night Island, leaving Mary now with baby alone with her two Chinese servants. An uneventful month passed, and then one of the two servants went to garden and was never seen again. His pigtail however, was found on the mainland many months later. Aborigines then kept Mrs Watson and her remaining servant under surveillance until they eventually ambushed the servant, spearing him twice before he escaped back into the house under the cover of Mrs Watson's gun. Badly wounded, the servant helped launch a beche-de-mer boiling tub in which the three of them made their escape from the island. Offshore they became a plaything of the trade wind which carried them to Watson Island after a worrying stranding and escape from a reef en route where more Aborigines were uncounted. On Watson Island, the three perished from thirst, their bodies being found a few months later by the Aboriginal member of a passing trade schooner. They were interned in Cooktown where a memorial was erected and stands to this day, and the diary kept by Mrs Watson during her last days, and the tub were sent to the Brisbane Museum where they can still be seen.  

We then walked along the air strip across the other side of the Island to the lagoon, spotting a few lizards, birds while taking a few photos along the way.  The lagoon was sensational. We came back via the resort to check it out and then returned to Goodtimes 3 hrs later. The South East Trade Winds are blowing 30 knots and don't look like abating, so I guess we will be staying at Lizard Island a while yet.  So I will leave you with this quote for the day..... "Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do".   

Day 125; 8^th August 2010.

We just spent the day lazing around, walking along Mrs Watson Bay and enjoying a few swims throughout the day. Another cat came into the bay around mid afternoon and to all the guys delight on board was a little French hottie who had no problems getting her gear off to go for swim.  Now I'll be the first one not to condone this behaviour but the spirit is strong but the flesh is weak and I found myself having a little look. Yelena said "your flesh may be weak but your flesh doesn't needs binoculars off the bow of the boat to have a look" I was doing a little research for the blog and I can confirm that the curtains do match the carpet.

That afternoon all the cruisers (about 15 boats including the French) got together on the beach for a pot luck dinner. A great feed was had by all and it was a great opportunity to get to meet other cruisers face to face instead of looking through ones binoculars. Tomorrow the forecast is for the winds to ease from 25 to 15 - 18 knots from the SE, if this happens we will make for Cooktown in the morning along with a few other boats, we will see what the weather is doing in the morning before a final decision is made.

Day 126; 9^th August 2010.  

The weather forecast remains unchanged overnight so we decide to go. We get away at 7:30 with two other mono hulls bound for Cooktown, a Benetau 42 & and an Adams 13 (43 footer). Another Benetau  42  got away at 6:30 an hour ahead of the pack. It looks like we have a regatta on our hands all the way to Cooktown. We say goodbye to Lizard Island and both agree the effort taken to get here was well worth it and vow to return one day. The wind north of Cooktown measures fair to frightening this time of year, it just blows & blows so when it breaks everyone makes a run for it. We clear Lizard Island and sail to windward at 40 o with the second reef in the main & the jib out, the wind is blowing 22 knots with 29 knot gusts from the SE (so much for the forecast) it's too late to turn back now. Goodtimes held her own from the start and after a few hours sailing she had pulled away from the group of three. Both the Mono Hulls are well behind and we have the other Benetau 42 that left Lizard Island an hour before us fair in our sights. Goodtimes handled the conditions really well and puts to rest my anxiety of bashing to windward this early in the season which we will do a lot of until we get back down to the Whitsundays. Goodtimes takes the lead passing Cape Bedford approx 13 NM's from Cooktown. We arrive in Cooktown at 15:20, 51 NM's in just under eight hours & 40 minutes ahead of the pack. Everyone heads into town that evening for pizza (great pizza by the way) not a word was said, but the smiles on the crew from Goodtimes looked like the cat that swallowed the mouse.                                                  "Now when was the last time I told you how much I love my boat".       

Day 127; 10^th August 2011.

We get away from Cooktown at first light 6:30 for Low Islet 58.6 NM's south. The wind had dropped off to 12 knots but it's on the nose all the way and the tide is against us for the next six hours. After playing with the sails for the 1^st two hours to no avail I put them away and motored all the way arriving at Low Islet at 17:00. The forecast for the next three days is 25 Knots from the SE so we will sail across to Port Douglas in the morning a short 9 NM's away and wait it out until Saturday the 14^th August when the winds are forecast to ease, and then we will make for Cairns.

Day 87; 1^st July 2010.

We spent 3 days around the Gloucester Passage area visiting Bona Bay, the Eco Resort and Monte's Resort. We caught up with John & Gail aboard Hadja (Seawind 1160) who was at the Seawind Rally last month and agreed to meet at Monte's Resort for dinner. After viewing the menu everyone decided that the Reef & Beef was the go. For $29.00 all agreed they just downed the BEST Reef & Beef we had ever had while enjoying a few reds - as you do. Along with some very interesting conversation with John & Gail who had sailed around to the Kimberley's in WA last year and reassured us that our target of Lizard Island was a good plan and very achievable topped off another great day. John lent me a book called Going Troppo which covers the Bowen to Lizard Island part of the coast in detail (worth getting a copy)  and after reading through it and taking notes it really wet our appetites for sailing further north, so we are going troppo. We arrived in Bowen and tied Goodtimes onto a bow & stern pile mooring (not pretty but we are on) and spent the next four days exploring Bowen. The town is well spread out and a lot of walking was in order to view the many murals on display on the buildings around town. It was refreshing to see no graffiti around town and these beautiful murals left for everyone to enjoy. On day three Yelena & I walked across town to Queens Bay a good 6 km walk for a look and to visit the markets.  On the way home I said to Yelena I know a short cut back to the boat. Yelena said "how do you know a short cut when you have never been here before?" Well I think I know a better / shorter way back. After walking along the beach, over headlands, across tidal pools we came to a dead end. Mangroves as far as the eye could see and no way through, Shit! Yelena said "your sacked I knew this would happen your days as tour guide are over, from now on there is no way I'm going to take anymore of your short cuts, no way". Settle petal we are not lost we are just not where we thought we would be. Yelena was stuffed and I was feeling it to. We had about a half an hour of daylight left and no choice but to retrace our way back out. We finally got back to a main road & this angel of a lady stopped her car to ask "do you need some help" Yes oh yes the gods are with us. We told her we were heading back to the Bowen Marina and she replied that's miles away jump in I'm heading that way I'll drop you off on my way through. Country people you have got to love them, they still care; this would never happen in the city, what a sweetie.

Day 91; 5^th July 2010.

We get away at 10:30 and head to Upstart Bay and arrive at 17:00. 33.2 NM's in 6.5hrs and anchored for the night.

Day 92; 6^th July 2010.

We leave at first light 6:30 and sail to Cape Cleveland. About 7 NM's off Cape Cleveland we see our first whale sighting a pod of whales coming straight at us. Beautiful, WOW, Unreal as they pass us by. Happy with that! We arrived at 15:00. 53NM's in 8.5 hrs and anchored for the night.

Day 93; 7^th July 2010.

We raise the main sail & furl the jib for a short trip; 10 NM across the bay into Townsville. We booked into the Marina for two nights. Nice!  And friendly helpful staff; Townsville is Australia's largest tropical city and much of its mid 1800 architecture is still there. The Strand along the foreshore is just stunning and provides a great atmosphere for both locals and tourists. The V8 supercars are in town this weekend so the place was pumping, night life was ragging so we head out along The Strand to a pub and the Bundy Girls were putting on a show, how good is this? Although it was a little intimidating the Bundy Girls Breasts staring straight into my eyes for most of the night. My eyes, I kept telling them not to stare back but it was no use, there must be something in the rum.  "Ahhhhh the cruising life it's tough".  You know this was the latest we've stayed up all trip, so this is what 2 O'clock in the morning looks like.

Day 95; 9^th July 2010.

We get away around midday and motor over to Magnetic Island, Horseshoe Bay about 11 NM's no sail's up we just motored "I think my drinks were spiked last night honey" "I'm not feeling the best maybe that pizza was a little off" we anchored in Horseshoe Bay. Very Nice and we both had a nanna nap before going assure;                                                                                                                                         What a great little spot this is, a pub right on the beach, how clever is that, great town planning I say. We will spend the next 4 days here on Magnetic Island getting into the Island swing of things. We caught the bus 8 km across the Island to Nelly Bay had some lunch and decide to walk back to Goodtimes. Yelena the clever little chicken that she is gets hold of a map from the newsagency so that I know where we've going. So we take in Bright Point, Arcadia, Arthur Bay, Florence Bay, Radical Bay & Balding Bay a nudist beach, 1.2 km round trip off the main track. Yelena said I'm not going down there you go and I'll meet you back at Horseshoe Bay 900m away. So I head down the track to Balding Bay and the sign said - No Clothing Required Past This Point. Well, when in Rome, what the heck I thought so off goes my shorts & T-Shirt into my back pack, I kept my shoes on for safety and headed freely down the track. There's nothing like getting a little sun on your lizard. A good 400m along the track OH shit people... two families heading my way 4 adults a about seven kids and they all have their clothes on. OH Shit.... so off goes my back pack and after opening every bloody zipper to find my shorts I attempted to get then on quickly, I lose my footing and fall backward over uneven ground and a stick pieces the bag that holds the family jewels. Shit! This is not good two of the kids are ahead of the pack and see the whole thing unfolding in front of their eyes, I pick myself up check the damage and get my shorts back on, the poor kids they will be scared for life. I pulled myself together as the rest of the group trod passed. One of the mothers stopped looked at me and said are you OK? I said yes I just tripped and took a little skin off, I'll be OK. I know what that feels like she said (somehow I don't think you do I thought to myself) totally unaware of the nightmare the kids had just witnessed.  Well that's the first & last time I get my lizard out for a little sun. I made my way slowly back to Horseshoe Bay & told Yelena what had happened, she was in stitches laughing, it's not funny, I'm hurt  so it was back to the boat for a little ice and first aid treatment.                                                                                                                    We had walked about 11 km today and got back with plenty of daylight to spare.                       Confucius says "man with map, smart fellow but forget about nudist beach".                          Everything is OK and everything still works for those of you who are concerned about my accident.                                     On the Monday afternoon we met up with other cruising yachties on the beach for a BBQ giving us a good opportunity to meet more people and hear their stories. There must have been 40 boats anchored in Horseshoe Bay while we were there some will stay here a while as this is as far north as they are going others are going further north to the Hinchinbrook Channel, some Cairns, some Port Douglas and a few to Lizard Island so we will endeavour to link up along the way.                                                                                                                                          We really did enjoy our stay in both Townsville & Magnetic Island and will call back on our way south.  We will sail for the Palm Island group before heading to the Hinchinbrook Channel (Croc Country) on Wednesday 14^th July it should be very interesting so stay with us.

The 2010 SEAWIND Regatta was held in the beautiful waters of the Whitsundays during a wild windy & often wet week in June. Many had come far and wide from this great southern land to take part in what was to be 6 days of racing, socialising & partying. 20 SEAWIND's had gathered for the event, all skippers & crew had met at the Marina Bar & Grill at Abel Point on the Saturday evening the 19^th June for the briefing. The mood was mixed from those that had come for the fun & those that had come to run.

The line up was as follows, all race ready "well sort of" and all of good breading

1160 - Amour de la Mer

1160 - Antidote

1160 - Dream On

1000 - Gattina

1160 - Gypsy Rose

1160 - Goodtimes "give me some of that"

1160 - Hadja

1160 - Lady L

1160 - Leaper

1160 - License to Keel

1000XL - Lulu

1160 - Meltemi

1000XL - Next Phase

1160 - One More

1000XL - Peer Pressure

1000XL - Sequence

1160 - Talisker

1160 - Two Keela Sunset

1160 - Xtsea

1160 - Yaminda

Sunday 20^th June:  Race 1

Airlie Beach to Happy Bay Long Island, 1200 hrs, it was a line start around the committee boat.      Can you imagine 20 Catamarans 10 to 11.6 metres in length over 150 tonnes (even more maybe) of fibreglass & stainless steel.  I'm talking big boats with fridges full of beer, hulls packed to the brim with wine & fine food, all this in the space of a 50 metre Olympic swimming pool racing for the start line with Goodtimes somewhere in the middle ......OH SHIT!    .......OH MY GOD!    ......OH IF I GET OUT OF THIS IT WILL BE A TRUE MIRACLE! ......OH I THINK I HAVE JUST SHIT MY SAILOR SHORTS!

It was too tight the race committee calls off the start, it's a miracle! we all disperse and I get Goodtimes the hell out of there, change my shorts and get ready for the restart, content to come from the back of the pack this time and allow the valium time to take effect, the race is on, Goodtimes now in 14^th position as she crosses the start line will finish the race 6^th.   Len Peers on Peer Pressure crosses the line in 1^st place on his SEAWIND 1000XL. Len had just sailed the skin off his SEAWIND 1000 XL and had shown he was the boat to beat. Talisker came in 2^nd & Two Keela Sunset 3^rd. All gathered at the Sandbar latter that evening for a Hawaiian Themed happy hour. The presentations for the days racing & best dressed boat & crew were awarded. The Viking Hat was presented to Len and Yelena wins the best dressed in her Hawaiian outfit and later that night I took home that little Hawaiian hottie which capped off a great day.

Monday 21^th June:  Race 2.

The wind was howling 25 to 30 knots from the SE so the race course was changed to suit the conditions, from Long Island to Lindeman Is, now Long Island to Sid Harbour. It was to be a dinghy beach start, no sails up & boat at anchor. Goodtimes gets away to a good start in 2^nd place as we round the top of Long Island with Talisker another 1160 sailed by Alan Hunter & crew were out front, Talisker led all the way by a good half NM with Goodtimes holding on to her solid 2^nd place "someone take a photo we may never see the fleet from this angle again" we hold our 2^nd place position all the way to the northern tip of Sid Island where the wind was lost only a 400 metres from the finish line. We sat in frustration as Peer Pressure inched her way past to take the line in 1^st place and retain the Viking Hat with her second win. Sequence 2^nd & Antidote 3^rd. Alan on Talisker finishing 6^th and had over heated as his commanding lead was lost to his mentor the old bull Len Peers had just made it two from two. Goodtimes 2^nd place at the point slipped away to 8^th as the red wine flowed to ease her pain.

Tuesday 22^nd June: Race 3.

The winds continued to blow 20 / 25 knots SE and the course was set; Sid Harbour to Hamilton Island, Goodtimes had a no start this day and made her way to Hamilton Island ahead of the fleet. We arrived at Hamilton Island and kept an ear on the radio to hear the results. It was on, 19 Seawinds tacking their way to wind ward in tough conditions, there were a few equipment failures along the way on some boats which saw then pull away from the mob to make good repairs but to their credit soon rejoined the hunt in search for line honours. But this day was Talisker's, Alan & crew had done it they had crossed the line in 1^st place and now had the wood over his mentor Len Peers who later that evening would ceremoniously hand over the Viking Hat during the presentation for the days racing. That evening the fleet met at the new Hamilton Island Yacht Club for a mid rally cocktail party & trivia night. The Yacht Club was stunning a real class act; the night was fun and full of cheats I was so disappointed that we did not cheat as well as others. During the evening a few parrot jokes were told and a good laugh was had by all.

Wednesday 23^rd June: Race 4.

The weather continues to close in on us and again the Seawind Committee rework the race plan to suit the conditions, originally it was planned to race from Hamilton to the beautiful White Haven Beach but Mother Nature had other plans. It was back to Sid Harbour. Today was Yaminda's day to cross the line in 1^st place, Hadja 2^nd & One More 3^rd. The Viking Hat was passed on yet again.    Charter Yachts Australian had put on a BBQ Beach Party on Dugong Beach that was a feast to feed 100 hungry pirates, a big thank you to AYC for a great lunch. Then it was the Sand Sculpturing Competition with some pretty talented people hard at work producing some fine art. Sculptures of turtles, a pod of dolphins, whale, dinghies, Renee's Birthday Cake, Hula Girl, Dodo Bird, and Catamaran etc were created with the winning vote going deservedly to the Pod of Dolphins by the crew of Leaper (I think)

Thursday 24^th June: Race 5

The weather just won't abate and another tough day of racing is in front of the fleet. The course is set Sid Harbour to Nara Inlet rounding North Mole Island before a downwind sprint across the finish line outside of the Inlet. Julian Gillard was announces Prime Minister Today so it was declaied a female at the helm day. XTsea was to take line honours with One More crossing 2^nd and the ever persistent Talisker came in 3^rd and yet again the Viking Hat changed heads. I took time out to talk with Alan on Talisker to get a few tips on getting Goodtimes across the line in the top 5 for tomorrow's final race. It turns out that weight is a big factor.  Talisker was carrying little water or fuel the crew were rationed to one minute noodles for the 6 days of racing (just joking) his tender was made of Kevlar to reduce weight. (Not true but you get my drift) it also helps if you know what you are doing Steve. So armed with this information I returned to Goodtimes she was sitting fat in the water full of fuel, water, grog and all the gear for cruising. It was like turning up to Bathurst in a mini bus and expecting a podium finish. But I was going to give it a shot fat or not.  That evening saw several boats party on with music & laughter heard throughout Nara Inlet.

Friday 25^th June: The final Race 6.

It's a windward sail from Nara Inlet to Hamilton Island in 20 / 25 knot winds. The fleet was spread out across the Whitsunday Passage each tacking for position, the sail down was challenging as visibility was limited and at one point the wind died for around 15 minutes which saw boats drifting backwards with the tide, but soon the wind had returned and it was Xtsea crossing the line 1^st followed by Talisker 2^nd & Yaminda 3^rd. Goodtimes crossed the line in 11^th position, oh well it's off to Jenny Craig we go.

The final evening was the much anticipated SEAWIND ACADEMY AWARDS night to be held at a mystery location.  It was fancy dress and everyone got into the spirit, there was James Bond, Austin Powers, Daisy Duke, Dream Girls, Les Paterson, Dolly Parton & Kenny Rodgers, Captain Jack Sparrow even the crew from Gilligan's Island was there. It was the night of nights with all the big names in town. I got the inside gossip on the Gilligan's Island crew, Gilligan had been doing Maryanne all along and the Professor was doing Ginger (no surprise there) but I was shocked to find out that The Skipper was doing Mrs Howell. Gordon Coates who crewed on Goodtimes dressed up as Dame Edna and didn't he look the goods, it's hard to believe that he hadn't dressed in drag before "scary" I slept with one eye opened for the rest of the trip.  To everyone's delight the mystery location was at the Golf Club on Dent Island. "Nice" The atmosphere was in party overdrive. The venue was great, the food delicious, and the entertainment fantastic.  The Academy Awards were given out with Meltemi taking out 3rd place overall, Talisker taking out 2^nd place overall & it was Xtsea that was awarded the overall winner for the Seawind 2010 Regatta. Well done to the winners. Goodtimes finished in the top twenty leaving a little room for improvement for next year. Best dressed went to Dame Edna, there was not enough grog at the bar to make this Dame look good she was real chew your arm off material. Captain Jack Sparrow shared his wisdom & wit with all who would listen. Captain Jack gave reference from the well read Queensland Cruising Magazine said to be the voice of the boating community. Titled "UP MY PASSAGE" Captain Jack talked about surviving Ului and the debate on whether to tie your girl up in the Marina or the Mangroves but overwhelmingly it was recommended to tie her up in Sydney. Then he told you what you could do if caught out in 10 metre seas and 60 knot winds. "You would shit yourself" then he told a sad story of two Seawind sailors that sailed north to Hook Island into Bum Cheek Bay anchored went ashore and were captured by

the BOOGA BOOGA Tribe and where never seen again. For the love of God stay away from Bum Cheek Bay and if you must venture there please wear protection and practice safe sex.

Goodtimes were had by everyone at the Regatta and a big thank you needs to go to Brent & Renee for pulling it together. Thanks also need to go to Graeme Nolan & Mike Rees who on their holiday break at the regatta would answer the call without hesitation to fix any problems or answer any questions that the Seawind fleet had, well done guys.

This is a record of events as seen through my eyes and I readily admit that my recollection of events may have been blurred by a little too much red wine over the regatta so if I have a few of the facts around the wrong way don't let it get in the road of a good story.

Both Yelena & I wish everyone a safe passage home and we hope to catch up again some day soon.

My Best

Steve Fittler

On Board Goodtimes "give me some of that"

It's now the 28^th June 2010; Day 85.

Goodtimes has been washed & restocked back at Airlie Beach, I have updated our blog and it's time to raise the sails and continue on our journey north, the target is still Lizard Island. So stay with us as we explore new horizons as we sail for warmer weather, consuming cold beer and catching more fish in search of adventure and laughs along the way.  

Day 69; 13^th June 2010.

Blake & Kurt arrived with Penny & Maghan as planned, our week together was FANTASTIC, we dined out Saturday night- 5^th June in Airlie Beach and partied the night away.

Sunday we sailed across to Long Island Resort, where the boys hired Jet Ski's and we all made good use of the pool bar and play pool tennis, Kurt & I hit the ball 45 times over the net without the ball hitting the water - beat that! the table tennis got a work out as well.

Monday we sailed to Whitehaven Beach and for the first timers, they were blow away. It's my 6^th visit here and every time I'm come here I'm moved with the sheer beauty & perfection of this place. Victory Cat meets us here, Tim & Ruth have sailed their Seawind 1160 out from the USA and will tag along with us for a few days B4 heading north to Darwin to join the rally going on to Indonesia. We spent the day playing beach cricket, going for a long walk along the whitest sand beach imaginable with crystal clear turquoise water lapping the shore.

Tuesday we sailed to Butterfly Bay for some snorkelling, the boys & I decide to get the spinnaker out; out it goes, in it came, out it goes, in it came, a little man talk and the lads telling their old man to take a chill pill, Victory Cat on the Radio wanting to know what the hell are we doing' out it goes, it's up, yes it up Yea Ha! how good does it look? A few cruisers in Tongue Bay - Robyn's Nest and Nimrod see us and get on the Radio and celebrate with us. We had 12 knots of wind up our backside and we sailed effortlessly at 8 Knots all the way to Butterfly Bay. Truly... this is better than Viagra and I don't have a stiff neck when it gets caught in my throat. Blake, Kurt and I dance around Goodtimes giving ourselves high fives with the girls looking at us as if to say "it just a sail" We arrive at Butterfly Bay and everyone enjoys an afternoon of snorkelling B4 sailing around to Langford Island where Victory Cat & Robyn's Nest joint us. Blake, Kurt & I go ashore to cook up a camp oven roast and drink a few coldies to toast our spinnaker success. The weather looks good for us to venture out to Bait Reef on Wednesday, Victory Cat & Robyn's Nest agree.

 We all sail off at 1^st light Wednesday morning for Bait Reef 20 NM's off Hayman Island. No sooner had we sailed between Hayman & Hook Islands up goes the Spinnaker, it's up 1^st time, the boys and I have that little how clever are we grins on our faces. About 12 NM's out to the reef the wind blows up to 18 knots so we bring it in. It wasn't pretty but it's in and our smiles are still on our faces.  ( A little more bringing in practice is needed here)  We all manoeuvre over the reef and grab a courtesy mooring each. We look over the stern and see these huge black shapes in the water so Blake sticks a face mask on and has a look, they're not sharks says Blake so in we go it was a little spooky at 1^st these huge fish swimming right up to us with no fear at all. Meghan has travelled and snorkelled a few hot spots around the world and she called it     " its everything they said it would be and more". We snorkelled the day away over colour filled reefs abundant with marine life and watched the sun go down over the reef with the mainland in the distance, we were treated to a blood red sky that afternoon followed by a star filled night sky. The girls were a little apprehensive about sleeping out in the ocean 35 NM's off the coast but I assured them all was good and that we had a good hold on the courtesy mooring. Mother Nature was looking over us that night the sea was like a duck pond.

Thursday we sail to Pearl Bay off Hayman Island and spent the day snorkelling and just chilling out. We said goodbye to Victory Cat who sailed north and wish her safe passage.

Friday morning we sail to South Molle Island straight into a 25 knot Southerly with gusts up to 30 knots and a very lumpy, cross sea, we put the 1^st & 2^nd reef in the mail sail and made our way to South Mole Island, we sure will be waiting for the northerly winds on our return trip home later this year if that's anything to go by "beating into a southerly not fun" . The day spent on South Molle Island was spent lazing around the pool, playing tennis and exploring the island.  

Saturday we sailed to Hamilton Island (under similar conditions as yesterday) and booked onto the Marina for a couple of nights. We hired a couple of golf buggies to explore the Island. Saturday at sunset Yelena made a cracker of a happy hour esky full of munchies & drinks and we drove up to the lookout to watch the sunset over the Whitsunday Passage. "Nice" We then made our way over to the new Yacht Club for a few more pre-dinner drinks "Nice" B4 tucking into the Italian restaurant for a night of good food & wine and a chance to reflect on the week shared together.

Sunday afternoon the Fittler gang fly's home safely and Yelena I go about doing some chores on Goodtimes... both of us feeling a little flat as we won't get to see the boys and their partners until late September when they return.

Yelena & I will head into Airlie Beach tomorrow ,I need to get some new Zincs for the sail drive and put Goodtimes up on the beach to change them, we also need to get Goodtimes ready for Gordon & Lou & Graeme to come aboard for the Seawind Regatta starting on Saturday 19^th June 2010.

Day 26; 1^st May 2010

We left Garry's Anchorage and made our way up the Sandy Strait and called in @ South White Cliffs, McKenzie Jetty Ruins and on to King Fisher Bay Resort we motored with the Jib out 19.4 NM's.

We made the best of the resort pool, spar & bar that afternoon until it was discovered that we were not staying at the resort (guests only) that's OK we had a fabulous 2 hrs before leaving, I find it's much easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. On the way out the gate Yelena is giving me the "I told you so talk" no harm done honey you enjoyed the spa didn't you?  We go over to the day visitors centre, order a couple of drinks and a large works Pizza w' extra olives & anchovies (not bad a little pricey though $28.00)

Day 27; 2 May 2010  

We hoist the sails at 6:00 and head to Bundaberg. Yelena cooks a great hot breakfast as we sail then goes back to bed; it's you and me Summer on watch. With morning sunshine resting on my shoulders and sailing along (goosed winged most of the day) at a steady 7 kts with a following sea it was another great day. I played a little Fleetwood Mac along the way and reminisced of a young man of 17 boarding a grey hound bus in Sydney bound for Kapooka (Wagga Wagga) on the 17^th July 1977 to joined the Army and played "don't stop thinking about tomorrow over and over again" I also air drummed   to a little Rob Thomas along the way. I didn't want the day to end the temptation to sail right by Bundaberg was real but we were running low on beer. 

Sailing.... everyone should experience it for themselves at least once it their life. I recon "Life should go by at 7 kts" you get to take it all in that way.

We got into Bundaberg at 15.30 sailed 53.2 NM's booked onto Port Bundaberg Marina washed Goodtimes & filled her water tank. We stayed in Bundy until Wednesday 4^th May. On the Monday we went up river 8 NM's to the town of Bundaberg to get some provisions; there is a good size IGA Supermarket 2 blocks from the public wharf with a good range and reasonable prices.

You see and meet some colourful characters along the way; we came across what could be only described   as a 40ft floating Banana with a veranda on the side. I got the tender down to check it out and met Trevor a well weathered chap in his early 60's. The sign above the door said; MY PARK BENCH, This floating? ??? Banana for want of a better description was Trevor's pride & joy a real homemade job  made of just about anything he was able to get his hands on. Trevor was about one month off finishing his Banana before heading north and sailing the Curtis Coast. I had a few beers with Trevor & wished him luck, a nice guy, a little out there though.  Somehow I could not help but think Trevor would come undone on his Banana in an unforgiving sea. "I hope I'm wrong".

Yelena goes into town to have a look around and comes back with a set of detailed maps of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park covering Bundaberg, Gladstone, Mackay/Capricorn, Whitsundays & Cairns area and all points in between and they were FREE! What a clever little chicken!

On Wednesday we got up at 1^st light to sail to Lady Musgrave Island, I turned over the Starboard engine but she wouldn't start. So I get the manual out, it suggests that I'm getting air in the fuel line, so I bleed it to no avail, so I go over to the ship yard and find a Yanmar Diesel mechanic, Gary Dann from Marine Torque 0412 739 000 Gary came straight over and discovers the main primary filter O ring has a split in it and was letting in air. They say on boats "the spare part you need is the one you don't have on board", but this time I'm lucky. Primary filter replaced and primed and she starts. We thanked Gary with a $50.00 note and we were on our way.

It's 8am and we set sail, no wind to speak of only 4 knots from the south all day so we motor sailed to Lady Musgrave Is, arrived at 17.00, covered  52 NM's in 9 hrs. We negotiate our way through the reef, anchor in the crystal clear lagoon on sunset. Can't wait until the morning, we plan to explore the Island and go snorkelling for sure.

Day 31; 6^th May 2010

Anchored at Lady Musgrave we are 35 NM's off the mainland the night was still the lagoon was like a mill pond but by 7:00 the next morning a southerly wind 20 to 25 knots come in. (Where was this wind yesterday on the sail up?) When you're surrounded by coral reefs your mind turns to the anchor "will she hold?" we have a Plough Anchor on Goodtimes which we put to the test in Batemans Bay in 40 knot winds, but if your ship moves it could be claimed by the reef so I decide to put my Fortress Anchor out as well for peace of mind. I tided 2 ropes together (say 30 metres ea) with a bow line for extra length. I get the tender down jump in and go around the bow of the boat, I asked Yelena to feed the rope out to me as I find a good sandy patch to drop the anchor. Wind blowing at 25 knots and a good chop on the water surface I move off. I'm say 100 metres off Goodtimes? Yelena sees a knot in the rope and unties it. Love I said pet, pet I said love, love I said pet what in the name of Homer Simpson did you do that for. Yelena yells out "the rope was in a knot, I didn't want it to get tangled". AAAhhhh BLONDS, ropes retied 2^nd anchor down we go ashore. We walked around Lady Musgrave Island and through the forest a easy 30 min walk. We took some photos and fossicked around in the shallows for a few hrs and looked across at the waves breaking on the outer reef, Ah...Island life, you have got to love it!

In the afternoon I was talking to this guy, Jimmy on board his 50 something foot Riviera, he had been fishing the outer reefs and said he didn't catch a thing and that he had put 6,000 Lt in the tank in the past 4 days "that's insane" I didn't have the heart to tell him about my 136cm Spanish Mackerel, as his red wine was flowing and I didn't want to piss him off and ruin a good thing. He asked me about Goodtimes and how she goes on the juice, I told him she only drinks about 2 Lt per hr per motor but every chance I get I hoist the sails then she drinks Zero, Zip, Nil. Then the discussion turned to you don't get anywhere in a hurry. That's sought of true I replied; but after travelling along a 7 / 8 Knots you get the see a lot more and one thing is for sure fuel is only going to go up in price (currently $1.60 per Lt at the Marina) and the wind cost today is what it was at the beginning of time....     FREE! Jimmy FREE!

I return to Goodtimes, Yelena gives me that how much have you had to drink look;

Yelena had spent a lazy afternoon doing puzzles "she's happy" we put a couple of those Spanish Mackerel steaks on the BBQ topped with a honey-soy sauce along with a satay stir fried rice, played a little of an Acoustics Evening with Jonny Diesel while the sun set over Lady Musgrave Island and then watching the movie "An Officer and a Gentlemen" with Richard Gere B4 retiring. Tomorrow we a off to Pancake Creek, bring it on!

Day 32; 7^th May 2010

We sailed from Lady Musgrave to Pancake Creek after a lumpy night & not much sleep, winds were 20 to 25 knots from the south we covered 37.9 NM's in 5 ½ hrs with a few waves breaking over the port side along the way "ah, taste the salt" what a great little spot Pancake Creek is we even have TV reception & we can catch the footy tonight. Aust vs. NZ & City vs. Country "happy with that" tomorrow we will climb to the light house apparently it's a 4 hr return walk. I need to put some crab pots out tomorrow it's mothers day on Sunday and Yelena will be feeling a little low, it will be the 1^st Mothers Day without her boys in 25 years so I want to cook a roast in the camp oven on the beach & serve up a little fresh crab meat Thai salad as a entre.  Yelena laughs and says; "I wonder what I'm going to get" Yea of little faith. 

Day 33; 8^th May 2010.

Yesterday afternoon we caught up with Brian & Maxine on board No Fear (Seawind 1160 - Sail on 11) along with Joe & Annie who we had met briefly on Frazer Island on the 1^st May, we tell them about our planed walk to the light house and they agree to come along. We got away at 9:00 it took us ½ hr to find the track near the power lines before making our way up to the lighthouse. Much of the track is overgrown with our clothes full of prickles a few scratches, sand fly & mosquitoes bites and walking into a million cobwebs (where there is a cobweb there is a spider & I hate spiders) by 11:00 we have made it. I was not the most popular tour guide on Bustard Head when we arrived at the lighthouse. The Bustard Head Light House association had done a great job restoring the lighthouse and the cottages with spectacular views over Pancake Creek, the mountains to the west and south looking back to 1770. We visited the graves nearby and were moved by the challenges & tragedy our early day pioneers had endured. On the 15^th May 1889 3 people had lost their lives by downing in Pancake Creek also a baby of 7 weeks was carried from the farm house and buried by her mother in this resting place.

We made our way back to the boats it turns out we must have taken the scenic route up because the way back down was much, much, much easier you could say it was a walk in the park. All good, I told everyone when we got back down, its happy hr on Goodtimes at 5, so go & have a lie down & we will see you all then. "Come on Yelena lets go B4 I end up in that cemetery up there on the hill" you could say I was not popular. "Not happy Jan not happy".

We had sprayed a whole can of OFF insect repellent on us, you know the add; OFF you don't know you have got it on! Nor did the sand flies & mosquitoes!

Day 34; 9^th May 2010. HAPPY MOTHERS DAY HONEY and guess what I have for you?

No Fear and crew head for Gladstone "I wonder if we will hook up later along the way"

Yelena gets phone calls & text messages from Blake, Kurt & Joel wishing her a Happy Mothers Day which puts a smile on her face. It's only 25 sleeps B4 the boys and their partners joint us in the Whitsundays and we will celebrate Mothers Day ,Kurt's 24th & my  50^th birthday in style.    In the morning we go for a walk along Pancake Point Beach for 4 hrs "nice". Yelena said I'm look forward to the crab meat Thai salad & camp oven roast tonight. Oh bugger! Guess who forgot to put the crab pots out? Ah it's the thought that counts honey but you can count on the roast.

That afternoon we spotted Hooks, Brain & Jane on board their catamaran who were introduced to us by Greg Allen back in Port Stephens, they must have sailed in while we were walking on the beach, I'll go over later and say hello.

Day 35; 10^th May 2010.

We sailed from Pancake Creek to Cape Capricorn 40.6 NM's in 8 hrs, wind were SE 10 -15 knots we played a little Russel Morris, Brian Cad & the Oil's along the way. The Tropic of Capricorn is the sun's southern limit of declination at 23o 30' it passes through Cape Capricorn so to celebrate we are in the tropics we make a few Daiquiris... a little Coconut cream, Galliano, Bacardi & Pineapple Juice. (Steve's maniac soup).

Day 111; 25^th July 2010.

We spent the past 4 days anchored off the town of Innisfail, rain, rain & more rain. So we go into town and purchase a half a dozen movies and settle into watching them. While in town we purchased a water filter to connect to the hose to filter the water prior to it going into our holding tank; it works well. Innisfail has the highest rain fall in the country; talking to a local at the irrigation shop Innisfail had already had 3 metres of rain fall this year and everywhere you look there is mould along the paths & retaining walls. An elderly guy at the Marina Centre was complaining about the weather and said I'm over it, I said "have you been in here long" & he said "yea my whole life" I guess he was not going to make a decision to move away soon, oh the  joy of living in a rainforest region.     How to make good out of the poor weather, I know we will fill our water tanks, so out goes our rain tarp and we capture 280 Lt and fill our 700 Lt tank. It's Monday the 25^th July and the weather does not look any better for the next 5 days, we are Innisfail out so we decide to sail on to Cairns. We leave Innisfail at 7:30 to get the high tide (needed to cross the bar) and sail 58.8 NM's and arrive in Cairns at 16:30 passing Fitzroy Island & Turtle Bay to wet & windy to stop. Cairns was wet, we spend the next 4 days in Cairns. Cairns is a major tourist and boating centre with all the facilities to match. While in Cairns we hired a car and drive off to explore the Atherton Table Lands, visiting Kuranda, Millaa Millaa Falls, Zillie Falls, Ellinjaa Falls & Paronella Park along the way a very beautiful drive if you ever get the chance.

Day 116; 30^th July 2010.

With the weather clearing we sailed to Port Douglas 37 NM's north of Cairns. We arrive at 17:00 and anchor Goodtimes up river in Packers Creek. It's hot - 29.5 C, humid and the mozzies and sand flies are out so we light the coils burn the citronella candles and screen up the tri-fold doors & hatches. The next morning I grab Summer in the dingy to find a spot to go ashore and find that we are anchored in Croc lane. Holly shit, check out the photos and you will see what I mean. I return to Goodtimes (you're going to have to hold on Summer) up anchor and motored back up the creek closer to Port Douglas in Dickson Inlet. It's hot and there is no way we were going to swim around here so we get the tender down and go ashore at the Port Douglas Yacht Club and spend the rest of the day looking around the town. Port Douglas is a vibrant, trendy little town with lots of eateries & shops with a good feel about the place with its Queenslander style architecture.

Day 118; 1^st Aug 2010.

We decide to leave Port Douglas & leave behind the mozzies & sand flies in Dickson Inlet (they can pack rape the flying foxes instead of us for a while) and sail over to the Low Islets; 8 NM's to the North East. We arrive at the Low Islet at 13:30 a short 1 ½ hour sail from Port Douglas. We anchored off the sand cay and were met by an exhibit of fish swimming around the boat, large Batt Fish, Big GT's and Trevally, Yelena said lets go snorkelling, I said let's not check out these sharks. There were three sharks about 1 to 1.5 metres in length circling the boat. Great if it's not crocs, mozzies, sand flies, stingers, its sharks, ah North Queensland you have got to love it. I said to Yelena if we go snorkelling now and these sharks bite it's a 50% chance that it's you or me.  If we go tomorrow when the Quicksilver tour boat comes out with a boat load of victims the odds will decrease significantly, Yelena laughs and said good point. Now you know why I'm the skipper.  Do you think I have a phobia with snakes, sharks & crocs?

More useless information to ponder over for the month of July & Trip to Date -TTD

•Ø  July NM's sailed 339.4 - TTD 1750

•Ø  July Hrs Sailed 68 - TTD 297

•Ø  July Port Engine Hrs 17.3 - TTD 125.7

•Ø  July Star Engine Hrs 14.2 - TTD 123.9

•Ø  July Total Engine Hrs 31.5 - TTD 249.6

•Ø  Average Engine Hrs Per Day TTD 2.1

•Ø  July Diesel Burnt 69.3 Lt - TTD 586 Lt

•Ø  Diesel Burnt Per Hr - TTD 2.34

•Ø  July Tender Fuel 19 Lt - TTD 76 Lt

•Ø  July Generator Fuel 20 Lt  - TTD  62 Lt

•Ø  July  9kg Gas Refill - TTD Gas 18kg

The days are starting to get a little longer now, every day we wake to another million dollar view; we don't take for granted how lucky we are to be living our dream as we dwell in possibilities.

Follow the blog of 'Nimrod', an 1160 currently cruising the East Coast of Australia.

http://nimrodcat.blogspot.com/

Day 22; 27^th April 2010

We spent Thursday 22^nd looking around Surfers Paradise (what a Zoo) picked up some fresh produce and retired early.

Friday we motored up Tipplers Passage to Tipples Resort - 11.1 NM's (now closed) on South Stradbroke Is & finally lap up some sunshine.

Saturday was us motor up Canaipa Passage a narrow, shallow stretch of water inside North Stradbroke Is and anchored at Slipping Sands - 7.5 NM's for the night.

Sunday 25^th April - Anzac Day "heres cheers - to the brave men & women that too many paid a price incomprehensible to us today so that we may live in peace in the best country on earth, thank you soooo much".  Today we motored out of Canaipa Passage and hoist the sails for Peel Island - 19.1NM's, if you think the anchorages in Sydney Harbour get a little crowed then take a look at this place there must have been 200 boats out here. We met a lovely couple Jim & Betty also aboard  a Seawind 1160 "Jireh" -sail No.11, (Goodtimes is sail No 79) later that afternoon we both sailed across to Myora - 9.5NM's which is toward the top of North Stradie Is for a safe night anchorage as a strong  wind warnings was forecast - SE winds 30 to 35 Kts were due to come in early Monday morning . We anchored up and had dinner aboard "Jireh" both Jim & Betty were eager to share their local knowledge of Morton Bay and of their trip last year to Townsville and all points in between which Yelena & I were very appreciative of. Great Pizza guys thanks, we enjoyed your company.

It's a wonderful way of life this cruising life, along the way you catch up with friends that you have not met yet, "Australia it's a great country" if you don't love her, leave.

Monday we sailed over to Raby Bay 10.6 NM's where there is a public jetty and a large shopping centre which allowed us to restock up on a few things like Beer, Wine, Nuts & Bait.   

Tuesday we sailed to Tangalooma off Morton Is - 20.5 NM's and anchored off the wrecks. What a great little spot. Crystal clear water, fine snorkelling and a huge sandy beach we also took a little time out to visit the resort. It's a shame we can't stay a few days here but we will be sure to call back in on our way home.  

Day 23; 28^th April 2010 

Today we are sailing to Mooloolaba Harbour on the sunshine coast and plan to stay overnight B4 making our way to Double Island Point on Thursday. The forecast is favourable on Friday morning for Goodtimes to cross Wide Bay Bar on the southern end of Frazer Island, this mad mile of water is a narrow stretch of water with waves braking on sand bars either side. We have heard so many stories about this bar and the boats it's claimed we want to cross it under the best conditions.  All going well on Saturday I'll update the blog, stay turned......

Day 11 & 12; 16^th & 17^th April 2010

Yelena heads into town for some shopping and beauty therapy and I catch the bus to go white water rafting. The weather is overcast with showers forecast. I arrive at the white water centre just south of Coff's and board a troop carrier with 4 poms as crew mates for the day, Karen, Brook, Leslie & Anna (how's that for luck) about a 1hr later we arrive at the drop off point the girls took the piss out of my Aussie accent along the way.  I learnt to say "would you like a cooper" that tea in Aussie. A few pointers from the guide (a cool dude) and we are off. No sooner after you get clear of the 1^st set of rapids then you could hear the next lot coming it was like that all day, one set had us free falling around 100m the river was pumping the girls were screaming, me too the boat looked like a wet T-shirt white water rafting competition, I'm not religious but I don't know how many times I thanked God during the day. When I got back to our boat around 19:00 Yel was worried what took you so long. It was an all day thing love, I told her about the day and  my crew mates , who are also making their way north in a camper van, they said they would look me up in the Whitsundays and come sailing, Yelena said "I don't think so", we'll see what happens.

We spent the next day looking around Coffs.

Day 13; 18^th April 2010

We sail out of Coffs Harbour at 4:45 and sailed 60.8 NM's to Yamba 8 ¼ hrs later we arrived at 13:00 crossing the bar on a incoming tide. We spent the afternoon walking around the town of Yamba and the following day doing some of the great walk tracks on offer.

Day 15; 20^th April 2010

We sailed to Cape Byron to anchor for the night we did not get away until 9.30 am waiting on the tide to cross the Yamba bar a little scary, big swells, really lumpy but it didn't break. We made Byron Bay at 5.45 pm just on dark and anchored with a lot of chain out, today we sailed 63.5 NM's. We rolled around all night (it wasn't too bad) the yacht near us had it a lot worse than us. (Go the Multi Hulls)

Day 16; 21^st April 2010

We sailed to Southport on the Gold Coast. Yee Ha! We are in QLD waters the start of the Coral Coast. On the way up the weather was rough and a yacht about 15 NM's ahead of us was in trouble he had broken is rudder & torn his main sail and was calling for assistance from the coast guard. We were making our way to him and were only about 1 NM's from the distressed yacht when the Water Police & Coast Guard boats turn up to rescue us, I quickly pointed the distress yacht out to them at which time the yacht lets off a flare. They saved the day and towed the yacht about 10 NM's north through the Sea Way at the Gold Coast. On the way into the Sea Way the Coast Guard was called to another yacht in trouble NE of Morton Is with injured crew on board. It's nice to know these guys are there when you need them.  Well done guys! (Go the Coast Guard & Water Police)

This was our 1^st day we had experienced big seas on our Seawind 1160 and Goodtimes handled it really well.  It was rough with wind gusts up to 35 knots on a lumpy sea but both Yelena and I felt safe. Have I told you lately how much I love this boat?

Crossing the NSW / QLD border today was a great feeling, when I reflect back on the past 6 month and how much we have learnt about sailing (with much still to learn; like how to use the MPS) and just how far out of Yelena's / my comfort zone we have come I can only smile with a complete sense of satisfaction, I'm so proud of Yelena "she made of the right stuff"

We plan to spend the next 5 or 6 days lazing around the Gold Coast, Stradbroke Is & Morton Is before heading to Mooloolaba.

Stay tuned....

Goodtimes " give me some of that"

Allow me to introduce the crew of Goodtimes  to you.

Steve & Yelena Fittler our dod Summer (Jack Russell X Foxi) we live in Thirroul a coastal village 1hr south of Sydney. We have been married 28 yrs we have 3 sons Blake, Kurt & Joel. The boys plan to catch up with us in the Whitsunday's in June.

Our sailing experience dates back to the 26^th September 2009 when we took delivery of our Seawind 1160. As you get to know me my friends affectionately call me "all the gear and no idea". We have both taken career a break for the next 18 months or so to live our / my dream to sail the Coral Coast of Queensland, Australia. Lizard Island is the target; we plan to return home for Xmas.

How hard can it be?

The 1^st time we put the sails up it was blowing 30 knots but the gauge was reading only 8 knots, who am I to challenge modern technology so up went the main sail "oh shit we are going sideways, "down the sails".  The 8 knots on the gauge was the depth of water, it pays to read the manual first. To quote some dumb ass "experience is what you get when you don't read the manual"

We have learnt much over the past six months, like how to sail (with help of some very competent sailors) We / I'm ready to start living the dream Yelena is still not so convinced but she's coming along anyway..... That's why I love her so much.

We also spent the past six months customising Goodtimes with all the gear "and she still floats". Bonus.

So it's time to go, it's the 6^th of April 2010 we are heading north, I just need to keep Australia to our left, with grey skies and the trade winds  with us there is a chill in the air as we sail north for warmer waters, colder beer and bigger fish to catch.

Yelena insists I tell you the wind is blowing from the North East and we will be sailing to windward "so much for your trade winds are with us Steve".

Honey, don't let the facts get in the road of a good story.

Anyway come along for the ride and get to know us. Many have sailed this way before us and many will follow long after we are gone but this is our story, it's our time, and it's our / my dream so join us it's sure to be a lot of fun.

I better go Yelena is yelling we are drifting off our anchor.

Days 2 ; 7^th April 2010

We sailed to the Pittwater yesterday to catch up with Vivian & Kathy who also own a Seawind 1160 "Vivacious" Vivian is a QANTAS pilot and Kathy is a scream, next time I'm at the QANTAS check in counter I'll be sure to drop Vivian name and left them know my best mate is flying this plane, I'll probably get an upgrade!

Today we sailed to Swansea 48.1 NM's in 7  1/4 hrs Wind NE at 15 -20 kts, we plan to stay the night before making our way to Port Stephens tomorrow.

Day 3 ; 8^th April 2010

We got away at 6:00 and sailed to Port Stephens the wind was 15 - 25 Nts from the NW with gusts up to 32 knots, Goodtimes was powering along reaching speed of 13 knots; YEA HA!!!

We arrived at Port Stephens (Nelson Bay Marina) at 12 noon, 6hrs sailing 46.2 NM's happy with that! We plan to spend 4 days at Port Stephens catching up with Greg Allan who also owns a Seawind 1160. On Monday we plan to sail to Port Macquarie for a few days.

Follow Steve as he makes his way from Sydney to Perth via the top end and the Kimberleys. The Kimberleys are one of the most remote and spectular cruising grounds in the world.

http://upload.tripsailor.com/blogs/2234-camelot-its-only-a-model