Yes We Have Completed The Trip - and yes I have been slack with updating the blog

Our new ship - SV Lieta.

Karen on Lieta's helm - delivery trip from Mooloolaba to Manly.

Funny how the feeling of need to update the blog disappears when you finish a trip.

Well we did arrive safely in Airlie Beach after spending the final week around the Whitsundays. Following Nara Inlet we visited:
- Butterfly Bay
- Maureens Cove
- Tongue Inlet (I'd better check the name of that one)
- Whitehaven
- Macona Inlet

Tiburon was dispatched by truck from Airlie Beach.

The crew had three nights in the Coral Sea Resort and the hunter/gatherer had a good buff and polish at the spa/hairdresser/massage.

We caught up with cruising friends and returned to Brisbane and promptly purchased SV Lieta, a Northshore 33. (see photos at top)

We are currently planning our next trip - shorter this time - a month in September/October this year - with the RQYS Sail Cruising Group, with Lady Musgrave as the key destination.

Nara Treat - The Waterfall Running

A great benefit of the rain while at Nara was that the normally dry waterfall was running - so off went for a dip. Apologies for the thumb - perhaps a shiver. Anyway you can tell that Karen did not think it was too cold and was straight in!
Apologies for the body - Budha was already booked so Mark had to stand in.

So the photos are not too good but the experience was fantastic.

"Boat City" - Cid Harbour

They call Cid Harbour "Boat City" - not hard to see why.

Did we get all the boats into the phot - no way - this is just a sample. However an advantage of the wee boat is that we could get closer to shore and away from most of the fleet.

These guys are keen - Trans Tasman Solo

While anchored at Cid Harbour we had a knock on the hull; Alan from Delphina, a Cheeko 30 (second photo), one of two yachts in the anchorage that had completed this years trans tasman race from New Plymouth (NZ nth island) to Mooloolaba. Lots of these guys are now cruising the coast. You can visit the race website here, regretably not complete. Further info can be found on a media website here.

Alan was anchored with Richard, skipper of Nimbus II, a 22' crewcut. (first photo below). Alan knocked us up as were another small boat. The small boats tend to gravitate together and I think we differentiate ourselves from the larger boats, hardier souls, no comfort for us.



Richard has just sailed from another spot to anchor near us as it was a little smoother. Alan had done the same. Though Richard had demonstrated his skills by sailing off his anchor, through the very crowded Cid Harbour and sailed onto the new anchorage. Richard is a very experienced and passionate skipper and a profile can be found here.

Not to be outdone on the following morning when Tiburon depearted we sailed off the anchor and out through the anchorage. As we passed Richard and Alan were on another of the trans tasman boats and called out that they were proud of us as we maintined the honour of the small boats. Mark was a little choofed - boys!

We met Richard again at Nara Inlet. Interestingly on a day where we left Nara and it was as rough as, and at least one fellow small boat, Peter and Ann on a Hunter 260 returned to anhcor because their 9.9 hp outboard would not push them against the chop, Richard sailed out, upwind, tacking away in the confined area - impressive stuff.

Hamilton Island To Cid Harbour

After two excellent nights at Hamilton Island we moved on to Cid Harbour (northern side of Whitsunday Island).
Shortly after departing Hammo the rains came and hung around for most of the trip. Interesting situation with minimal visibility and able to hear but not see the jets moving in and out of Hammo. The flight path is low and across the popular shipping routes, so low in fact that there are restirictions on where some yachts can go; those with very tall masts, not a problem in wee Tiburon. Once agin into the dinghy for a bit of exploring, here a great little beach with a creek to expolore for some way until the mangroves close over it.
And at the end of the day the rains have gone and we were treated to another beautiful sunset.

That's Relaxin'!

Hamilton Island

You will have noted Mark talking about 20/25 knot winds, others remaining in port, 30 knot gusts, full safety gear, suffixed with "quite safe"!

Well here is the proof. All our heavy wind sailing in Tiburon has been downwind. This guy is heading south between Hamilton Island and Lindeman, passed by Tiburon on Friday. Look, only a small reef in the main, full headsail, and a big happy wave - "quite safe" - but agin best not to look behind because for some reason no photo has done justice to the size of some of the waves. I guess when the big ones are bearing down we aren't taking photos!

Mark wants our next boat to be more of a competent sailer like this one, but of course it must carry a washing machine an on no account heel to the point it spills the champers!

Anyhow we are at Hamilton ISland and Tiburon is berthed down with the dinghys - at least it is close to the toilets.
Our thanks to Graham and the gang from the catamaran behind us in the photo who donated there leftovers as the cleared off from their bareboat. They made up about 50% of our provisions not to mention the rod, reel and landing net - the "hunter gatherers" toolkit doubled in size with that donation.

Tibby does look a wee small compared to it's playmates in the background. At Mackay a lady (new to sailing) commented to Karen at the "knowledge library" ie., laundry, that she was very apprehensive sailing the 42 foot boat from where they had recently purchased it - Gladstone. She felt it may have been a bit small to be safe, or comfortable, for coastal cruising. Enquired of Karen how BIG her boat was; 27 feet the reply - the lady nearly fainted.

Mark just reminds all that John Guzwell (who was sane) circumnavigated in the 20 footer, Traka.

But does concede that the sanity of Serge Testa, who circumnavigated in the 12 footer Terra Australis, may be questioned!

Anyhow we have enjoyed Hammo:
- hot showers
- most expensive marina so far
- least impressive marina so far
- but with access to all island and resort amentiies for $45 a night it's great
- capucino
- a gr* chinese feed on Friday night
- a great Italian feed last night
- sitting by the resort pool yesterday afternoon with too many Pina Colada and Margarita.

We are off today for 8 nights amongst the Whitsundays, hopefully some snorkeling, and arrive Airlie Beach on the 10th.

Tiburon on a truck on the 11th and should be back at RQYS on the 13th where she will be antifouled, buffed and polished ready for the coming season at RQYS.
We stay in the Coral Sands Resort for three nights. Karen gets a buff and polish ready to return to Brisbane looking as usual beautiful and not at all like a galley slave.

And Mark cannot deny looking forward to a night in a bed after three months, particularly his own, a ride on the Trumpy and giving the kids a cuddle.

We fly home on the 13th where we will see Erin and then the three of us will fly down to Newie on the last weekend in Sept to celebrate Shannon's 23rd birthday.