Ronald G Hart
The boat is not slipped..
they couldnt do
now our plans up in air..
oh well!!
We r heading back to marina from whence we came
Cathartic is safely in Bundaberg.
Leoni has gone to Yamba to visit her Mum for a few days and Ron is aboard preparing the boat for storage and enjoying the hospitality of the Bundy cruising club.
We will put Cathartic in dryland storage here in Bundy until late Feb so that we can go back to Canada for Christmas, some skiing, and to visit family and friends.
The boat email address will be deactivated effective Nov 1/08 so contact us on our land emails after that.
It has been a great adventure and we and the boat came through it relatively unscathed and richer for the people we have met and the places we have experienced. Leoni can't wait to get back to sea.
Ron
None of the many blogs we have done since arrival have appeared.
So here goes again;
it took just under 5 days (118 hrs)
and all was good. One boat hit a reef 300miles out of Bundaberg and the US couple, in their 60s, are now onboard another yacht and will arrive in the marina tomorrow.
Ron has decided to leave the boat in Bundaberg , its not a good time to sell, esp in Oz $, and we will return next yr in March thru til June, and sail Oz.
Ron is spending this wk in marina awaiting the other boats and associated festivities. I am going home to my son , Jai, who has 'done' his knee and so is not returning to Canada this ski season, and to see my mother; she had another stroke/heart attack (her third) and spent last wk in hospital. She's become my number one priority currently (and I go to work on Nov 26)
whilst Ron's is getting the boat ready to be slipped and stored;
Ron anticipates going to Canada in early December. I will go closer to the 20th, tho with Mum's health nothing can be set in concrete re me.
Happy Halloween.!
Hi Leoni,
James and Ellen are safely aboard Amulet and heading towards Bundaberg.
Should be here on Tuesday morning. Chris said in his email
"All went well and easy with the rescue. They are in good shape with a few
bumps and bruises, reasonably good spirits though I don't think it's really
sunk in yet. They managed to save their yacht papers, clearance and
passports." That's all I can tell you because that's all we know.
We did not mean to be secretive. I think Chris on Amulet may be trying to
protect his 2 passengers until they adjust a bit to the shock of losing
their boat.
The boat has been abandoned. We don't know any details on the boat -
whether it sank or what? I think there should be further info in the
morning
--------------------------------------------------------
The boat that hit Kens reef, 200 miles off Bundaberg, is HOT ICE, fm the USA.
Its part of our rally, wehavent met them. Canadian boat PRAIRIE OYSTER is due in today.
We have been here in the marina since Friday, after a 118 hr crossing. It was easy,, as passages go, tho the boats still out there have had some poor weather and at least one deployed its sea anchor
thats about it
I will go away on Wed and Ron will stay here to 'play' with other boaties and meet n greet. I'll go and see my family.
Thats as far as we are planned so far.
Hoping to have a Xmas get together at our/Ron's place weekend b4 xmas day (as we may go away on 21stDec for 2 wks)..but yet to hear who's available.
???
Ron will be back in Canada early Dec, we think...I'll be a few weeks later.
Been here 2 days now. Its a v good marina.
Have decided not to sell boat but to leave here in Bundy until March next yr when we will return and do Oz.
Have been inundated with visitors already...all land lubbers. have yet to befriend any of the boaties here.
Dinner out last night with old friends, lunch with vistors on board today (they were smart emough to bring food)
people coming for drinks now..
and my son and his Canadian mate this evening for 2 days
It seems my antisocial tendencies have been forgotten
Fortunately I did get in a massage, facial, tint, wax etc..so am nearly looking human
A boat called Hot Ice that is part of our rally, but we dont know them, went aground on Kens Reef, 200 miles out, last night. They set off their epirb
other details sketchy but it seems they released life raft but are not on it
Are sitting in cockpit and other ytachts have been diverted in attempt tp get the people off; their names are James and Ellen fm USA. Ron thinks they must have been relying on electronic charts hence missed the reef and sailed straight over
will know more when they eventually arrive of course
Search and Recs
We arrived yesterday (Oct 24) at around 1 pm at the Bundaberg Port Marina.
Trip was 118 hours total for 820 miles. Overall the passage was good though quite windy for a fair bit of the way (20-30 knots) with fairly rough seas, and 24 hrs of motoring in light winds.
Our crew Adrian left for home today.
I will spend at least a week here doing boat maintenance while L goes to see her Mom. We are considerering options after that.
Ron
Its 5 am ,(Oz time)
the sun is rising
Ron and Adrian are sleeping
the sea is dead flat
there is no wind
we are motoring
and we are a mere 8 hrs from Bundaberg
and yes, I'm a happy girl!
My last ocean passage..ever..
and it was very easy; only 12 hrs or so of real yukkiness. The boats behind us are having a worse time of it. They delayed leaving Noumea to avoid the front but hada had 25/30 knots in big seas for over 24 hrs so far
Being in a cat made our experience less nasty than theirs..the rough seas would have had them rockin and rollin wildly.
It took us less than 5 days (4 hrs less)
There are 2 other boats arriving with us today, Friday. We dont know them, yet!
Everybody else will likely hang off as to arrive on the weekend costs $130 extra
I'd have happily paid the 4130 rahter than stay out longer than necessary.
Crewman Adrian has enjoyed his first open ocean passage, and may travel down to Brisbane with Ron whilst I go and see my mother.
Now we have to do some investigating to decide where we will have the boat slipped and get it worked upon (the small matters of a scratched underside, cracked moulding, many loose screws and seat covers to be rejuvenated)
The boat shall probably be put up for sale, but if it doesnt sell (and in current economic climate and the low Aus $, it may not) we'll be back sailing around Oz next yr..but no more passages greater than 2 days or so
Speaking of rejuvenation, it must be time for me to have a massage, facial, haircut........
The sea is dead calm..no wind..Motoring on 2 engines to make up for loss af spedd overnight
Our first 24 hrs of 8 .2 knot average is now done to 7.1, so trying to raise that
Everything and everyone predicts 25 to 30 knots and increasing seas from about 6 pm this evening until tomorrow afternoon. Meanwhile we are holding a path direct west, without going south_ which is where the bad weather is coming from.
Bacon and eggs for Breakfast, planned steak for lunch..We had duck last night..
All a little too easy and unreal at this stage, but we'll be paying for it tonight.
Adrian doesnt particularly like the nights, but enjoys the days. If he doesnt like the nights now he sure as h;;%% wont by tomorrow.
Rons just sighted a ship. Hes very excited.(well theres not a lot to compete with)
Still hoping to be in Bundy by Saturday. Will have to pay quarrantine overtime of $130..but it'll be worth it.
We have a bottle of moet to crack open too, courtesy of last visitors (Reg n Branka fm Brisbane)
It is 8 am and I have just come on watch.
So far it has been a good passage. We left with 25-30 knot SE winds and did 195 miles in our first day (24hr), which is a record for us. We had moderate (3 M) following seas. L decided that she didn't like her dinner and made a sacrifice to the sea gods.
The wind gradually died and for the past 18 hrs we have been motoring. We have about 5 knots S winds. The seas are flatish and the sky is blue so all good at this point. May get BBQ bacon and eggs for breakfast. Had BBQ duck for dinner last nite; very good for a passage meal.
We are scheduled to cross a cold front tonite which will have strong headwinds (25 knt) that will slow us down, but the forcasts seem to be reducing its intensity so hopefully we will be able to punch through it without too much discomfort.
Ron
Fixed the winch and left 4 pm, its now 10 am Monday and we have been averaging over 8 knots , so so far so good. A moderate swell..4 mtrs, 25 knot winds
and theres one other boat out here
Bad weather predicted ahead..may make our 5 day trip 7 days.
Yuk.
Fine weather, half a moon.....all perfect except for knwing what lays ahead.
We wil enter at either Bundy or Bris according to conditions
Adrian, crew, remains keen, never having been in open ocean b4 nor on a cat.
At this stage he can understand the boredom thing, but yet to experience the thrill of bad weather.
Recently a boat on this route with only him and her on board..the boom slammed into his head and kiled him instantly. She had to be airlifted off and a crew put on the boat to sail it in.
And thats the news for today. a no news day, which is a good day for us.
Due to lack of poplular demand we no longer blog......
however, if anyone does notice they havent heard from us..its Sunday 2 pm and we are about to head off to Australia.
We shall first poke our heads out to the open sea and see what we can see,see, see
and if too bad shall retreat, regroup..and depart tomorrow am instead.
Either way, it looks like we can expect winds 20 to 30 for the first 2 days, followed by 15 to 20 on Tues, which will be lovely..
and then a front passes over us on Wed and it will be hellish (squalls..winds to 40 maybe)
We anticipate being in Brisbane on Friday late..tho more likely Sat if we have to heave to during the 12 to 24 hrs of shite on Wed.
We could wait til 24 or 25th, but we dont know what weather is following then.
Think of us (dont pray for us. rather that "he" didnt know we were out there in case he chooses to wreak revenge...God knows he has a strange sense of humour
aborted already..and we havent left the harbour
one of the winches doesnt work..hasnt been serviced..nothing ever is til it breaks
stay tuned!
we about to reanchor
Happy happy day to all you Canuks, stuffing yourselves like turkeys.
Pls write and tell us what u did and with whom.
x
Well we went out with our friend..and helped him inflate his kite..and 'boom'..overinflated
It did look like fun tho; there were 15 of them out there, and thats our next thing to try. Not here tho as its $300 a half day, and I would be sure to run afoul of all the other kiters
The base is simply a wakeboard, so snowboarders and kiteskiers are naturals at it.
We snorkelled today in the marine reserve. Lots of big fish, especially wrass that cling on other fish and feed off them/clean them.The fish were intimidating as they are used to being fed and so swim into your face. I did not like it.
The big ones at our boat come to eat bread and look very similar to sharks (but no dorsal fin)
Had friends for dinner and served canned duck/cannard, again, Very yummy. Truly,
Rain and cloud next 3 days.
My brother and sister in law(ex) coming on Saturday for a few days. Then its off to the mercy of the elements
speaking of which, the boat ILLUSION that was abandoned when the skipper was injured enroute to Bundy in August washed ashore in perfect condition, on an island..and was stripped bare in 24 hrs,Was not insured. Owners would have preferred it sank!
We had been told that prices here in NC were high..and they truly are. Even Ron has passed comment that he doesn?t know how people can afford groceries if money is an issue. (Money used to be an issue for us too, but it all seems pretty futile now in the light of how much poorer Ron wakes up every day. Another $100 here or there is hardly worth losing sleep over)
For example, at a supermarket it was 450 francs for a small peanut butter (fm Aus). Tjat equates to $9 New Zealand, or about $5.50 Canadian. 995 franc for fly spray..
The twice we have shopped we have spent NZ $300, and it fitted each time in one back pack and a small carry bag; so it is dear. Very. Chocolate bar, 100 gm, 695 franc.
$50 NZ for mahimahi to feed 4 (which means the fish we caught was worth almost $300)..
and we spent 4000 franc at the chocolate shop and 5000 franc at the patisserie..all for stuff that we will consume today (but its good value in that it will live on via my hips long term. So its an investment in voluptuousness)
Are French women (in New Cal) thin? We think more skinny than thin. Yesterday we walked the boulevarde where restaurants are parallel to the very busy and picturesque beaches and saw several topless women. Alas, their breast are of little concequence..they don?t have hips or thighs either tho so its to be expected. The native women, on the other hand, are not overweight as in the islands (where life is sedentary). They tend to be well rounded, soft?appealing. The men, too, are lean and often dressed colorfully with dreadlocked hair and rainbow headgear. Jamaican sort of flavour.
Saturday November 01, 2008 @ 12:26 AM GMT+00:00
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