Christmas Down Under

Ho ho ho! It's Christmas Day here in Mooloolaba, Australia. We're the first ones in the world to celebrate (cause of the date line and time zone and stuff).

It's been a little hard to get into the Christmas spirit since it's 85º and extremely sunny here. We're making an effort nonetheless. Last night we enjoyed our big Christmas dinner. We had duck and cake. There was a bowl of green stuff on the table too, but I managed to ignore that in favor of a second helping of cake. Santa came by in his speedboat last night and left a pile of presents under our decorated artificial house plant. All the stores here were out of Christmas trees when we looked. Since they don't have real ones, the fake ones sell out early apparently.

The kids opened their presents in front of the California grandparents via Skype.

Now that all the presents are open, we're heading across the street from the marina to the beach for some surfing (Annabelle got a new pink bodyboard).


Merry Christmas!

Morning Day 5 to Brisbane- Arrival

Ship's Time: 0545H
Date: Dec 16
Position: 26º 53' S 153º 34' E
Course: 245ºM
Speed: 7Kts
Wind: 10kts E
Distance Last 24hrs: 167nm
Distance to Brisbane: --
ETA: Weds Dec 16th, 1300H at Customs Docks

Light wind all night, we doused all canvas and motored.

Lots of traffic starting at 2300, requiring multiple course changes.

We're abreast of Cape Moreton now and only have fishing boats around
us as the sun is coming up. Next challenge is navigating all of the
shoals as we move into Moreton Bay. Then we will be in the major
shipping channel which will undoubtedly be very busy. Will send an
update tonight after final arrival.

That is all.

Re: Morning Day 4 to Brisbane

Ship's Time: 1800H
Date: Dec 15
Position: 26º 38.47' S 155º 03.48' E
Course: 244ºM
Speed: 7Kts
Wind: 10kts E
Distance Last 24hrs: 180nm
Distance to Brisbane: 94nm (Distance to entrance of Moreton Bay. 40
more miles to customs docks)
ETA: Weds Dec 16th, 0600 (our intended target)

Wind has been light. Motoring all day. Sea has gotten a little calmer,
so things are more comfortable.

We're switching watches around tonight so I will do 9-12 and 3-6 so
I'll be up on the approach to Cape Moreton.

That is all.

Morning Day 4 to Brisbane

Ship's Time: 0600H
Date: Dec 15
Position: 26º 23.24' S 156º 38.34' E
Course: 245ºM
Speed: 7Kts
Wind: 13kts E
Distance Last 24hrs: 180nm
Distance to Brisbane: 160nm (Distance to entrance of Moreton Bay. 40
more miles to customs docks)
ETA: Weds Dec 16th, 0600 (our intended target)

Wind lightened and backed overnight so we didn't make great time. This
morning it is dead astern and light, so we're motoring with the main
up (which is doing nothing but slatting around...).

Things are still pretty uneventful. No traffic spotted yet.

Sea is becoming a little rougher and a lot more confused, so we're
rocking and rolling a bit.

We expect tonight to be tough because of all the traffic. We may need
to put the other engine on today to keep to our timetable. It will
take us about 6 hours to get from Cape Moreton to the Customs Dock,
and we want to get there early enough to avoid overtime fees. Did I
already say all of this in a previous email?

Thanks to our friends the Smiths, Patrick has given me a shortcut that
avoids a very lengthy tour around the banks in Moreton Bay, shaving at
least 3 hours off our trip.

That is all.

Evening of Day 3 to Brisbane

Ship's Time: 1730H
Date: Dec 14
Position: 25º 51.7' S 158º 14' E
Course: 242ºM
Speed: 8.8Kts
Wind: 16kts ESE
Distance Last 24hrs: 185nm
Distance to Brisbane: 271nm (Distance to entrance of Moreton Bay. 40
more miles to customs docks)
ETA: Weds Dec 16th, 0530am (our intended target)

Motored all morning and then the wind picked up around 1500 this
afternoon. We're starting to have to put the brakes on a little bit,
otherwise we will arrive in the dark. We have a full main up and the
genoa is reefed in to cut our speed down.
Sea was relatively calm today. Austin was more seasick than me, for
once! We went through a big squall but only got a few drops of rain.

No traffic sighted so far on the trip, but we expect tomorrow night to
be very busy as we approach Brisbane.

Everything is going well, but we are anxious to arrive.

That is all.

Re: Evening of Day 2 to Brisbane

Ship's Time: 0600H
Date: Dec 14
Position: 25º 30.7' S 159º 47' E
Course: 246ºM
Speed: 6.8Kts
Wind: 7kts ENE
Distance Last 24hrs: 197nm
Distance to Brisbane: 338nm (Distance to entrance of Moreton Bay. 40
more miles to customs docks)
ETA: Weds Dec 16th, 0530am (our intended target)

Wind fell steadily overnight and is now down to 7 knots true and near
zero apparent. Motoring with Stbd motor turning for 7 knots but making
6.5-6.8 due to current. No need to rush now, or we will get to the
entrance of the bay in the dark, which will be dangerous.

It's getting warmer, even though we are heading further south. Sea is
relatively calm with a 1-2 foot swell running out of the SSE.
Otherwise things are uneventful. Just the way we like it.

3-hour watches are working out well. We trade off sleeping during the
day as well.

Nothing else to report.

That is all.

Evening of Day 2 to Brisbane

Ship's Time: 1730H
Date: Dec 13
Position: 24º 3.05' S 161º 16.37' E
Course: 236ºM
Speed: 8Kts
Wind: 12kts E
Distance Last 24hrs: 200nm
Distance to Brisbane: 474nm (not counting detour for channel in
Moreton Bay)
ETA: Weds Dec 16th, 1000am (computer calculated)

Wind has been falling steadily all day. We motored here and there for
a couple of hours.

Flew the spinnaker for 2 hours and then lost it. During a luff it tore
down the whole shoulder, zzzzzzzttt. It went in the water but Austin
and I managed to pull it out before it shrimped or got caught in the
rudders. Not a big deal.

Right now we're doing 9 knots with 11 knots of apparent wind. We have
about a 4 knot current helping us along, so no complaints. The sea is
quite flat and comfortable. The wind is still dying down, so I fear
some mototring will be necessary tonight in order for us to keep our
schedule.

Austin is reheating curry for dinner.

Things have been slow on board. Biggest challenge has been fighting
the sunburns. Austin baked the top of his feet and one knee... I look
like a lobster in the face, despite lots of sunscreen.

That is all.

Morning of Day 2 to Brisbane

Ship's Time: 0600H
Date: Dec 13
Position: 23º 57.8' S 162º 55.8' E
Course: 236ºM
Speed: 8Kts
Wind: 12kts E
Distance Last 24hrs: 212nm
Distance to Brisbane: 562nm (not counting detour for channel in
Moreton Bay)
ETA: Weds Dec 16th, 0730am (computer calculated)

Wind came down and backed a little al night with the lightest it's
been now. Hoping will pick up again as the sun comes up.

Little bumpy, but otherwise OK. Austin and I did 3 hour watches which
are easier to endure, but the sleep is tougher.

Will check in again tonight.

That is all.

Re: Departure from New Caledonia

Ship's Time: 1800H
Date: Dec 12
Position: 22º 59.48' S 164º 33.6' E
Course: 235ºM
Speed: 10.9Kts
Wind: 25kts ESE
Distance Last 24hrs: 107nm (last 12 hrs)
Distance to Brisbane: 677nm (not counting detour for channel in
Moreton Bay)
ETA: Weds Dec 15th, 12:12pm (this will change as we loose our wind day
after tomorrow)

Excellent day of sailing with almost 10 knots average boat speed. We
have 20 knots apparent wind at 110º off port.

Mostly sunny, although a bit cool. This will be the first crossing
where I gain weight. Austin is cooking 3 major meals a day. Roast
chicken and potatoes in the oven now. Although if I keep typing much
longer, I won't be eating my share...

Sea has been beautiful with waves the color and shape of a Hokusai
painting. If we can keep this up tomorrow, we will have no problem
arriving in time for a clearance on the 16th.

That is all.

Departure from New Caledonia

Ship's Time: 0455H
Date: Dec 12
Position: 22º 19.53' S 166º 19.1' E
Course: --
Speed: --
Wind: 10kts ESE
Distance Last 24hrs: --
Distance to Brisbane: 802nm
ETA: Weds Dec 16th, Afternoon

We are anchored at L'arégnère Island near the Passe de Dumbéa and we
are nearly ready to leave for Brisbane. Winds are forecast as
favorable for the first 2 days and then are supposed to weaken.

Austin and I will be leaving right after breakfast. There is a nice
panettone waiting on the counter.

So far it's a beautiful dawn and the wind is starting to pick up
already. We're expecting 25kts over the port quarter all day today, so
we should be making good time.

That is all.

Update On Our Wherabouts

Logistics continue to be complex, so try to keep up. Austin and I are aboard the boat in Noumea. We're getting ready to sail to Brisbane, Australia in a few days. Sophie and the kids are in Noosa, just north of Brisbane, waiting for our arrival. They are staying in a fabulous beach house that our friends the Smiths have very kindly offered up for the sojourn. They continue to spoil us with repeated and lavish favors. Diana is still in Sydney and will be joining Sophie in Noosa at the end of the week.

The crossing to Brisbane should take about 4 1/2 days and the weather is looking pretty good, at least for the first half of the 810 nautical mile trip. We may have to motor towards the end. Once we get to Australia we have a lot of figuring out to do, first being where to spend the holidays. We plan to make our way down to Sydney during January and spend some time checking out that city which everyone, to a person, has said is just phenomenal.

We will be sending daily updates during our crossing. We plan to leave on Saturday morning. Meantime we'll be getting squared away here at our spot right in front of one of Noumea's busiest restaurant/bars...