Year 2 – 22 March 2025 – Bundaberg (“Bundy”)

If anyone reading this and is free from late June 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 morning when we woke and we had a good breakfast. Trevor got on with finishing the lazarette sticking and David went about doing the daily checks and learning the boat. I did some washing and prepared for Mark Gebbie’s arrival which would be about 12.45pm. Trevor and I then set about lifting one of the solar panels on the doghouse as we think water has been leaking under it into the doghouse and this is most likely from the electrical fitting which goes through the doghouse. This meant removing the seal at the end and prizing it up. We could see the fitting and the hole and cleaned it up and refilled it with sealant. This we left to stick down and hope that will do the trick. We will then have to reseal the end.

We decided to go ashore to the chemist to get me some cough medicine as the cold I have had has gone to my chest a bit and to get some more cokes as David likes them. It was hot walking to the shops but we got what we needed. It was not long after we returned that Mark arrived and was welcomed to the boat. He was actually born in Auckland so is a Kiwi and came to Australia after living in Singapore and has lived in Melbourne since and went to University there. He is a planner, designer and architect of buildings and plots and is now freelance.

We had a sandwich and then I took Mark through the boat outside and then inside. We then had a break and then we went through our emergency procedures etc. It was then time to go ashore for a beer and a meal and to our surprise the restaurant was fully booked at the marina. We therefore had to go back to the Lighthouse Hotel Trevor and I had been to before and thought then we would not darken their doors again!. However, they had plenty of space and we had a good meal and a chat.  We walked back in the dark and had the long dinghy ride back.

We chatted for a while and had an early night. We will head off to Lady Elliott tomorrow. It will be good to get going again. Fraser Island is really the start of the barrier reef and we are now heading to islands with coral.

The picture of the day is Stormbird anchored in the Burnett River opposite the marina.

Need/Opportunity Year Two

I am in need of more crew from late June 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