Blog Entry 33 - 13th November 2008

Hi Everyone,

Well we are still in Mackay Harbour with light South Easterlys blowing.  We have our Customs clearance but that was only current for 24Hrs so now we have to apply for another one before we can leave Mackay.  Bruce had to return to Sydney because we are not underway yet and Jack and John Magiros are coming up on Monday.  Tuesday should see the wind back into the East Nor East which will allow us a good run south if we have a five to six day window we will make the run of 1000 odd mile with out stopping which will put us into port hacking on Sunday.  In the mean time we will be here twiddling our thumbs.

 

Cheers for now,

Roger.

SPECIAL POST

SCOTT: 

Hey all,

I wanted to make an extra note with this picture of Jack with Dick Smith while we were staying in Musket Cove.  We were fortunate to meet Dick, owner and founder of Musket Cove Island Resort.  In 1880's an American sailor sailed into the bay of Malolo Lailai Island, Fiji, and decided to stay. In 1959 Dick Smith sailed into the same bay and couldn't bring himself to leave either!  In 1976, he divided the Island in two and still owns half the Island today at the age of 75.  He had just returned to his paradise after visiting Sydney for hospital treatment.  It was an honor to meet him and we wish Dick and his family all the very best.

Blog Entry 32 - 9th November 2008

RECENT PICS!

Here is one of many bulk carriers we passed in the Hydrographers Passage.

This is 'The Waterfront' restaurant where the seafood is famous for a very good reason.
The little holiday island inside Port Vila Harbour.
A happy boy with our 12 pound fish.

Hi Everyone,

It is now 9:00PM Sunday in Mackay.  We arrived Mackay harbour at about 6:00PM Friday and at the wharf waiting for us were Customs, Immigration and Quarantine.  Formalities took some time – they were efficient and friendly.  The Quarantine officer did not finish with us until 7:30PM, after he had relieved us from a large store of food, including our stock of spaghetti bol – we were not too distressed about that even though it was a first class meal because we had eaten so much of it since San Diego, but the seizure of our frozen dinners was another thing and our steaks which I had been marinating since noon was our dinner that evening.  So after the friendly Quarantine officer bade us goodbye loaded down with our evening meal, frozen dinners and spaghetti bol, plus a stack of other stuff we walked ashore to the nearest restaurant and had a meal and a bottle of red – that softened the blow somewhat.  Our progress south to Port Hacking has stalled because of a south easterly change which came through last night and is expected to last until Tuesday and we then only have a narrow window to get south before the next front.  Scotty drove Brian to the airport at 5:00AM this morning with a car loaned by a friend and business associate of Jack’s, David O’Connell.  We lamented Brian’s departure over a Tapas meal and red wine last night – we all came away from that one hungry but had a good time.  Officially we are stalled here until the 21^st November because the vessel is being imported into the country and can’t move it out of Mackay until we receive written permission to do so but the Customs officer assures me he would fast track that so we can all get home.  Scotty will head over and pick up Bruce at 6:30PM this evening, so we are a crew of three again and when everything is in place we will move on south at the first opportunity.  We are looking forward to Jack joining us in Coffs Harbour if business permits. 

Cheers for now,

Roger.

Blog Entry 31 - 7th November 2008

Hi Everyone,

After a really enjoyable passage from Vila we entered the hole in the wall in the Great Barrier Reef - The Hydrographers Passage - 0600 today Friday and felt we had truly arrived in Australian waters.  It is now the hundred odd mile run into Mackay where we will clear in - that will be 1800 to 1830 this evening.  We are sad to see Brian leave us, he flies home to the USA on Sunday morning early.  He only intended to come as far as Honolulu to familiarise us with the systems on the boat, but decided to stay on for the experience - we are glad he did.  Big Bruce Munro will be joining us for the week and in that time I hope that we can make Coffs Harbor allowing for the weather and then its the 250 NM run to Port Hacking where I will hop on a plane for home.  Jack is still under the pump with business back home but hopes to join us in Coffs for the final leg.

Cheers for now,

Roger.

Blog Entry 30 - 5th Nov 2008

Hi Everyone,

We are at 18 40S - 157 21E.  Well the last two days have been extraordinary.  I haven't experienced conditions quite so calm - the wind has left us for the time being and the swell is barely noticeable.  One can walk around the boat without grabbing for a handhold.  Tuesday morning we set the line early, about 8 AM, and shortly after caught a 12 pound Dorado.  There are three meals in that one for the three of us and we have enough chardonnay to wash it down - it doesn't get much better than this.  Our cameras have been recording it all and when we get to Mackay (Saturday morning) Scott will patch them through to the blog site.  Although this experience has been very enjoyable home beckons us all and the company of loved ones. 

Best wishes,

Roger.

Blog Entry 30 - 5th Nov 2008

Hi Everyone,

We are at 18 40S - 157 21E.  Well the last two days have been extraordinary.  I havn't experienced conditions quite so calm - the wind has left us for the time being and the swell is barely niticeable.  One can walk around the boat without grabbing for a handhold.  Tuesday moring we set the line early, about 8am and shortly later caught a 12 pound Dorado.  There are three meals in that one for the three of us and we have enough chardonnay to wash it down - it diesnt get uch better than this.  Our cameras have been recording it all and when we get to Mackay (saturday moring) Scott will patch them through to the blog site 

Blog Entry 29 - 3rd Nov 2008

Hi Everyone,

Time: 1100 hours. We are at 17 43 S 165 09 E.  After re-fueling in Vila thanks to a substantial motivating probe (bribe) from Jack (they don't normally pump fuel on Sundays) we left Vila at 1100 hours on the thousand mile passage across the top of New Cal to the hole in the wall, known as the Hydrographers Passage.  This is a frequently used passage by bulk ore carriers transporting coal from Hay Point, just below Mackay, to destinations in China.  Once inside the protection of the Great Barrier Reef, and out of that south east swell that Speedbird doesn't like, we make our way through the maze of reefs that will take us to Mackay where we intend to clear in.  This passage is well marked but intricate with a number of course changes that will take us through the outer reef and into Mackay.  This territory is familiar to me having spent time here in the early eighties.  Then its the coastal hop south some one thousand miles to Port Hacking and the end of our very enjoyable journey.  Jack had to leave us in Vila and fly home regarding business and remarkably the weather took on a state of complete tranquility with soft winds and smooth seas for our final destination to Aus.  There may be some crew changes and Jack will re join us for the final passage home.

Cheers for now.

Roger.