On the move again, Mooloolabla, Queensland, to Lady Musgrove Island
After a summer in the UK, and a few weeks of maintenance in boat yard and marina we were ready to go and looking foward to pastures new.
After quite a wait for suitable weather we set off at 5am on Sat. 27th Nov. It was very rough outside the harbour, and the autohelm took umbridge to that or to something and decided not to work. We rigged up the wind vane which was OK for quite a while. But after I had lost my breakfast banana overboard and G felt pretty queasy as well, the wind vane came loose and couldn't be fixed in those conditions. So we turned round and went back and had a proper breakfast at about 9am.
Tightened up the wind vane, got the autohelm going just by leaving it on for a few hours so that it warmed up. Don't know why, but we have decided not to switch it off in future! Left again at 5am Sun. Still a horrible sea, but probably slightly better than the day before. Autohelm fine and we didn't need the windvane. Only problem was unfurling the genoa, furling was fine but unfurling had to be done by hand. Still no big deal and once out it stayed out. Pretty horrible conditions all day and night though the wind was good, just very lumpy seas. However when we got north of Fraser Island and 'turned the corner' things improved considerably and we had a good day's sail to Lady Musgrove Island. The southernmost bit of the Barrier Reef, and about 200 miles from Mooloolaba.
This tiny island is surrounded by a circular coral reef so has a large lagoon. A pass was made through the reef many years ago so that guano could be collected, so entrance to the lovely calm waters is quite easy. Evidently goats were also introduced to provide food for anyone shipwrecked here, and, as goats do, they completely stripped the island of vegetation. They have been got rid of now, and the island is forested again making it a breeding ground for seabirds. Green turtles also lay eggs on the beaches at this time of year, and not surprisingly the whole area is a national park. The nearest mainland is 60 miles away, so although there are day trips here they are expensive and you only get a few hours before returning - so we are not expecting much of an influx. At the moment there is one other boat here.
So out with the snorkels today, for the first time for ages. First a bit of maintenance on the genoa electrics (problem found) and the electric bilge pump which is probably blocked. They say that cruising is doing maintenance in exotic places, how true! Some more food prepared (how good plain rice tastes when you don't feel like eating but need to line the stomach), salt wiped off, and we will be ready for the next leg tomorrow.
