Year 2 – 12 March 2025 -Brisbane – We are off – Departing Brisbane!
If anyone reading this and is free from now and all or some of April to mid July 2025 to come to Australia then do contact me as I am short of crew during this period at present.
It was a lovely day when we woke and most of the debris around us had dispersed although there was some twigs etc at our stern. We had a quick breakfast and prepared to leave by making slips (running lines so one undone can we slipped past the cleat and brought on board). We rigged the preventer lines so that they were ready for when we sail. We got rid of the rubbish and liaised with the marina. They said they will come about 8.15am to help us so we got ready to leave.
They came on time and we slipped our lines and eased out of the berth but had to be mindful of the current going out and if we were not careful it would push us back on to the boats between the exit and the next pontoon. We managed it well and were soon out into the river. It was a filthy brown colour and we had to be on the lookout for trees, logs and other rubbish etc. It took us a little time to put our lines and fenders way and to go into Gori (the most efficient setting for the propeller). We were soon motoring along with a bit of help from the tide at about 8-8.5 kts. The picture of the day is us looking back at Brisbane as we go down the river to its exit into Moreton Bay. It was warm and sunny and felt so good to be on the water and going again after just over two weeks. We enjoyed Brisbane for the first 5 days or so and then Cyclone Alfred put a spanner in the works. However, it meant we were in a safe place and no damage had been done.
We continued down the river and came across the Cruise Ship terminal and then the docks working away. The river was a very dark brown colour and we had to dodge wood floating around. We then left the river and entered the channel out keeping to the side as a cargo ship came in past us. There was a bit of wind but it was on the nose. Once we exited the channel we bared away Northeast and put up the sails and were soon cracking along about 10kts. Stormbird seemed to be enjoying herself and felt free again. We sailed up various deeper channels toward Moreton Island but there were some rain clouds looming and we had a downpour for about 10 minutes and then it passed.
We sailed on well and fast on a close reach until we reached the cardinal buoys adjacent to the island and picked up the channel we came in on just over two weeks ago. We then sailed out of this channel and began to feel a bit of swell from the open sea. The forecast was for winds East/Southeast 15-20 kts, swell from the East 1-1.5m. Apart from a brief spell we had experienced 10-14 kts and we had the swell. There was the odd spell of 7-9kts. In fact, the wind all day was really 10-15 kts not 15-20.
Once out of Moreton Bay we headed up the coast and came across a cargo/oil ship anchorage. There were about 18 large vessels at anchor (probably waiting for Brisbane which closed during Alfred) and we decided to go outside them as this kept our wind angle at a beam reach which was faster. We sailed well and fast but we had the swell to contend with but on that angle we were fine. After the anchorage we had to bear away on to a broad reach (further away from the wind) with the wind on our starboard rear quarter and the wind was only 10-12 kts. The problem with this is that the swell rolls the boat and the wind gets behind the sail (as the wind is not strong enough to keep it filled despite the roll) and then when it fills again it slaps or snags. This is not only annoying but it puts strain on the boat and the sails. If we had the 15-20 kts this would have stopped this.
We carried on as best we could and wanted to arrive in daylight if possible at Noosa Heads. I therefore decided we had better motor the last couple of hours. Whilst we then made good speed without the sails we rolled but c’est la vie. We arrived just outside Noosa Heads at 6.00pm and then had to motor round into the bay. Sunset was 6.07pm and as we came into the bay we had just enough light to see where we were going to anchor.
We tucked in as much as possible and the anchorage is sheltered from the South/Southeast winds. However, the swell is from the East and so the swell was still entering the bay. We found a spot as close as we dared, in about 5.3m and anchored which held well. The wind was slight so initially our bows were into the swell which was not too bad. However, with tide changes etc we can be sideways on to the swell which is rolly. I had thought it would be more sheltered than it is. Really there is no alternative for tonight (except going out to sea for the night) and we shall assess in the morning. We are in for a rolly night. Despite this it is good we have moved on and that we are moving North again.
We are on our way to Frazer Island and Noosa Heads is a stop we can make on the way. Noosa Heads is a coastal town and suburb in the Shire of Noosa, Queensland, Australia. It is a popular holiday destination and tourism is a major product of the town particularly for its beaches and surfing. The suburb is bounded to the west by Weyba Creek and the Noosa River and to the north and east by the Coral Sea and is at the northern end of the Sunshine Coast. There are a number of headlands, lookouts, bays, and other coastal features along the Noosa Heads coastline, many of them on the coastal walking track through the national park, including (from north to south). My daughter Rosanna came here and it was one of her favourite Oz towns. She said it is expensive and pretty.
Need/Opportunity Year Two
I am in need of more crew from late April to Mid-July so if of interest do email me at hine.nick9@gmail.com
In year two I will be going from New Zealand to Sydney and hen up the Eastern Australian Coast, Indonesia and then through Bali, Singapore and on to Thailand to end year two about the end of November 2025.
The blog will continue as we continue the journey. If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog then do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com