Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Waiting for a break
Kiella enjoyed Xmas at Lake Macquarie while we have had a wonderful time with our family in Victoria. Weather permitting, always, we will head north in the New Year and bring her back to Port Franklin . The season this year is really odd so we will have to chose our timing well. More on our trip when we have her back safe in Victorian waters.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Yamba today
What a great run we had today from Southport, and now we are safely anchored after Ian took us over the bar. Kiella hit 17.8 kts at one stage, pretty exciting it was looking from inside down stairs as Ian was up top.Tomorrow we are planning to make Camden Haven after a 140nm. run.....big day.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Wet Brisbane
Boy have we done well since we escaped the Marina at Yeppoon on Sunday 29th November at 0430.On to Pancake Creek with a swell that was slowly decreasing after 9 days of strong S/E; it took both of us all day to get in the grove.FA was anchored there with others that had been trapped with the weather,and it was great to see them again and travel back the next days together. As you can imagine, that in the morning of Monday it was a bit like Bourke Street. Alas a yacht didn't make it during the evening as it was up on the sand bar and we have heard later that it is beyond salvage. Hervey Bay and over the Wide Bay Bar on Tuesday and over night at Tangalooma on Morton Island. Sandy's great pizzas with some special wine were enjoyed by both crews on Foreign Affair.It was wonderful that we both could finish this part together, as FA was in home waters and would be at her berth on Wednesday. Steyr have been here checking the motors out and are back again early tomorrow morning. Our plan is to refuel at Raby Bay and then on to the nursery at Southport,[a spot that is close to the entrance and free].Our clocks are then put forward and down the NSW coast we go.......how far, weather depending. Friends in Lake Macquarie have a mooring buoy for our use so that could be it until after Xmas, who knows........
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Windy Still
We are still in Yeppoon and yes it is still windy. Today we visited the city of Rockhampton and checked it out.With our Seniors card we had change from $10 for the 2 of us for our bus in and out.We have met some lovely people while here at the Marina and have caught up with some jobs that need doing on Kiella.We spoke to a 30 meter large power overseas boat that came in 2 days ago and they had waves up to 5 meters and some 6 , so we are staying put.The weather looks like we may be able to leave Sunday, fingers crossed, as the seas will take awhile to abate to make our voyage more comfortable.The negative part is that the coffee shops and hot chocolates are not good for our figures every day ......but boy are they good.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Rosslyn Bay, safe in the Marina
Boy have we been lucky on the whole with the weather since April this year, the maximum we have had to batten down was 4 days at North Goulburn Island and Cooktown……..well Huey is making up for all of that. With a sniff of home, we could make it in ten [favorable weather conditions] days; BUT no way now.
Yesterday we waved good-bye to Flynn and Kai after their 12 enjoyable, rain every day, many fish hits but few landing days with us aboard Kiella .Lucky for us we had booked a berth at Keppel Bay, at Rosslyn Bay near Yeppoon; as with the conditions on the water the marina is full. Looking at the BOM site and reading all the updates issued frequently I think we could be here for over a week or more. In the past 24 hours we have had over 95.6 mls of rain and the wind is getting up to 30kts with some gusts, this data I have found through some great sites on the web.
The Marina offers great service, including free use of their car for 2 hours to be able to stock up supplies with. We have booked it today, as we are going to check out Shearwater who is anchored in the creek still, but we believe that some work has been done to her. Jindinook now renamed, is also in the Marina, so if it stops raining we will take photos as well. Is this an omen that Kiella is to stay here…….well with the present conditions and time running out maybe until after Xmas.
Yesterday we waved good-bye to Flynn and Kai after their 12 enjoyable, rain every day, many fish hits but few landing days with us aboard Kiella .Lucky for us we had booked a berth at Keppel Bay, at Rosslyn Bay near Yeppoon; as with the conditions on the water the marina is full. Looking at the BOM site and reading all the updates issued frequently I think we could be here for over a week or more. In the past 24 hours we have had over 95.6 mls of rain and the wind is getting up to 30kts with some gusts, this data I have found through some great sites on the web.
The Marina offers great service, including free use of their car for 2 hours to be able to stock up supplies with. We have booked it today, as we are going to check out Shearwater who is anchored in the creek still, but we believe that some work has been done to her. Jindinook now renamed, is also in the Marina, so if it stops raining we will take photos as well. Is this an omen that Kiella is to stay here…….well with the present conditions and time running out maybe until after Xmas.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Flynn and Kai's holiday
Eldest son of the eldest son ....times 3.
Broken gear again.....boy what fish we would have had if......
One shark that we set free.
Great beach at Island Head Creek
YEPPOON and more wind
Our plan is to be in Yeppoon on Friday 19th as Flynn and Kai have a flight to catch from Rockhampton on Saturday. We are in Island Head Creek at the moment after a great passage from Brampton Island on Tuesday 16th November. What a change to have an enjoyable passage, even punching into the seas, it was great.
On Sunday 14th we anchored in Muddy Bay…well named at Airlie Beach. After lunch we all went ashore and swam in the best swimming pool ever [according to Kai]. Dinner that evening ashore thanks to Flynn and Kai at a great seafood restaurant.
Monday morning we had coffee with Anita Carr [ nee Fiek] who came from Leongatha and went to school with Flynn. Her family enjoys the life style of Airlie and seems to have fitted in well. Back to the pool for Kai while Ian found a second hand book shop.
We left Airlie at lunch time after taking on 400 litres of diesel, all we need until Yeppoon as it is a lot cheaper there. After booking to refuel, we tied up, after finally finding the correct pump and then to be faced with a lady running down to us, saying, no not there as someone else was booked in. Then they gave us another pump to go to which meant going around the finger to get to, then the hose would not reach the other side so we had to turn Kiella around so it would ……what a disorganized place, no wonder Ian finds the females who seem to run this marina interesting to say the least……finally we headed to Brampton Island using the tide, again the radar was very useful as rain showers persisted and we anchored just before dark.
Another early start and with a couple of safe overnight anchorages on route available to us; depending on crew and weather.
Our second good run since Darwin and Island Head Creek was possible , it had only days before been reopened, as it is a military training area and they play along with the navy, lots of war games. We first anchored here in 1986 with White Rose and remember clearly Don climbing a coconut tree and getting them for the children. Unfortunately those trees have gone, but over the other side we notice lots more, so maybe the sprouting nuts we all found back then and planted have grown, well we like to think so. With the re opening and a slight wind direction change it has been rather busy in here with many boats coming in and leaving very early, as you can hear their anchor winches just on first light, that with the dingo calling out during the night, the call of a bird, that goes hoooop, hoooop, etc. plus the odd jet that is still in training flying over us it’s a lovely spot to stay for a few days.
A walk along the beach we discovered a very recent turtle’s nest, as the tracks up and back to it had her there last high tide.[ Boy after she had laid her eggs she must have been the flavor of the month as we have never seen so many around the boat; and yes one found her.] An array of jelly fish, some OK and some very poisonous, cuttel fish and very few shells. We were also privy to witness a sea eagle fly over the dingy while going ashore and drop its catch; just ahead of us was a half eaten cormorant . Kai has had a real nature study time here.
Just arrived at Yeppoon and the weather pattern looks like we are going to have a forced holiday here for quiet awhile which won’t be to bad…more latter
Flynns bit again.
Airlie was great and Kai spent sooo much time in the ‘best pool in the world’ with dutiful Dad sitting in the shallows trying not to get too burnt. Kai and I then took Mum and Dad out for dinner as a big thank you. Bit of a fill up of fuel with some drama and then off to Brampton. Spent a night there and then the big one, 126 nm to Island Head Creek where we are still at.
Fishing fishing fishing.
Lure count, have lost 5 and have bent/bust 3 x 56 lbs swivels. Then hooked the big one on Mums new big game rig, 10 mins of winding and then an engine warning inside. End result Dad had to have the Port engine running at x RPM forwards, thus all the line that I had won went back out. Interesting conversation that one. Fish got away.
Feel a bit like Leyton Hewitt at the moment, ‘come on’.
Night one in Island Head, bait out the back and 30 secs later 1 meter long shark. Equals 3 mins of fun. Unfortunately he had the biggest hook on the boat, thus operation dentist. Mindful of the nearest Dr being ohh so far away, we managed a successful extraction.
Still have to catch an edible fish on the new set up I brought all the way up here.
Well went for a dinghy ride today and Dad reminded me about the rod, coming back from the walk had Mums good lure out and hooked the big one, 2 mins of fighting the beast, a brief flash of the tail and another swivel lets me down. Gutted.
Mum kindly went straight back out with me and we got a 30 cm coral cod, but still waiting. The fish and wildlife in here is amazing, with something leaping out of the water or sticking its head up for a look all the time. Unfortunately only 2 nights to go, but looking forwards to seeing the wife and Piper.
On Sunday 14th we anchored in Muddy Bay…well named at Airlie Beach. After lunch we all went ashore and swam in the best swimming pool ever [according to Kai]. Dinner that evening ashore thanks to Flynn and Kai at a great seafood restaurant.
Monday morning we had coffee with Anita Carr [ nee Fiek] who came from Leongatha and went to school with Flynn. Her family enjoys the life style of Airlie and seems to have fitted in well. Back to the pool for Kai while Ian found a second hand book shop.
We left Airlie at lunch time after taking on 400 litres of diesel, all we need until Yeppoon as it is a lot cheaper there. After booking to refuel, we tied up, after finally finding the correct pump and then to be faced with a lady running down to us, saying, no not there as someone else was booked in. Then they gave us another pump to go to which meant going around the finger to get to, then the hose would not reach the other side so we had to turn Kiella around so it would ……what a disorganized place, no wonder Ian finds the females who seem to run this marina interesting to say the least……finally we headed to Brampton Island using the tide, again the radar was very useful as rain showers persisted and we anchored just before dark.
Another early start and with a couple of safe overnight anchorages on route available to us; depending on crew and weather.
Our second good run since Darwin and Island Head Creek was possible , it had only days before been reopened, as it is a military training area and they play along with the navy, lots of war games. We first anchored here in 1986 with White Rose and remember clearly Don climbing a coconut tree and getting them for the children. Unfortunately those trees have gone, but over the other side we notice lots more, so maybe the sprouting nuts we all found back then and planted have grown, well we like to think so. With the re opening and a slight wind direction change it has been rather busy in here with many boats coming in and leaving very early, as you can hear their anchor winches just on first light, that with the dingo calling out during the night, the call of a bird, that goes hoooop, hoooop, etc. plus the odd jet that is still in training flying over us it’s a lovely spot to stay for a few days.
A walk along the beach we discovered a very recent turtle’s nest, as the tracks up and back to it had her there last high tide.[ Boy after she had laid her eggs she must have been the flavor of the month as we have never seen so many around the boat; and yes one found her.] An array of jelly fish, some OK and some very poisonous, cuttel fish and very few shells. We were also privy to witness a sea eagle fly over the dingy while going ashore and drop its catch; just ahead of us was a half eaten cormorant . Kai has had a real nature study time here.
Just arrived at Yeppoon and the weather pattern looks like we are going to have a forced holiday here for quiet awhile which won’t be to bad…more latter
Flynns bit again.
Airlie was great and Kai spent sooo much time in the ‘best pool in the world’ with dutiful Dad sitting in the shallows trying not to get too burnt. Kai and I then took Mum and Dad out for dinner as a big thank you. Bit of a fill up of fuel with some drama and then off to Brampton. Spent a night there and then the big one, 126 nm to Island Head Creek where we are still at.
Fishing fishing fishing.
Lure count, have lost 5 and have bent/bust 3 x 56 lbs swivels. Then hooked the big one on Mums new big game rig, 10 mins of winding and then an engine warning inside. End result Dad had to have the Port engine running at x RPM forwards, thus all the line that I had won went back out. Interesting conversation that one. Fish got away.
Feel a bit like Leyton Hewitt at the moment, ‘come on’.
Night one in Island Head, bait out the back and 30 secs later 1 meter long shark. Equals 3 mins of fun. Unfortunately he had the biggest hook on the boat, thus operation dentist. Mindful of the nearest Dr being ohh so far away, we managed a successful extraction.
Still have to catch an edible fish on the new set up I brought all the way up here.
Well went for a dinghy ride today and Dad reminded me about the rod, coming back from the walk had Mums good lure out and hooked the big one, 2 mins of fighting the beast, a brief flash of the tail and another swivel lets me down. Gutted.
Mum kindly went straight back out with me and we got a 30 cm coral cod, but still waiting. The fish and wildlife in here is amazing, with something leaping out of the water or sticking its head up for a look all the time. Unfortunately only 2 nights to go, but looking forwards to seeing the wife and Piper.
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