Frazer Island Sunset

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Chillin at Hervey Bay

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Top End Frazer Island

Enjoying the sunset at Frazer Island.

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Hi res pic crossing wide bay bar

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FW: Day 6 Friday - Mooloolaba to Wide Bay Bar

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---- Original Message ----
Subject: Day 6 Friday - Mooloolaba to Wide Bay Bar
Sent: 24 Jun 2017 8:42 am
From: Geoff Montgomery <geoffmonty@bigpond.com>
To: Geoff Montgomery <geoffmonty@bigpond.com>
Cc:

Up at a sparrows fart, and away at 6:00am bound for Wide Bay Bar. Swells have been moderating for a couple of days now it appears we are not the only ones held up in our efforts to get north. We are accompanied by 10 other yachts. Plus pairs of whales all slowly swimming, sailing or motoring north. The whale sighting is brilliant.

We are keen to make an evening crossing. Some of our companion boats veer off under Double Island Point to stay the night and do a morning crossing.

So the crossing. All good, in fact very busy we are the second boat to start our way thru, at 3:45 pm, with at least another 8 behind up. It got a bit jiggly, and we has a small nicely controlled  surf. Fishermen, who must have been holed up for at leas a week were also keen to get is was a it of a challenge as they passed with net booms fully extended.
A yacht behind us got pooped and turned around and headed back out to sea. That must have put the wind up those yachts lined up wanting to come in.

All good for us. Anchored up at Pelican point by 4:45pm.




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Day 5 Manly to Mooloolaba

We calculated a 9:00am start would get us to Mooloolaba by 4:30 pm that afternoon if we averaged 6 knots. We thought we could sail and easily achieve that target. The wind didn't play its part so we motor-sailed 80 % of the way in a 12 knot predominantly sou'wester. Happy in the thought that the swells would continue to moderate from the 4 meters that had been keeping us at bay in Manly. 

Several whales sighted. Sweet.
Maritime reports expressed caution be taken when entering Mooloolaba Bar as there has been significant sand build up at the eastern wall of the breakwater and a dredge was operating inside the river mouth. All though. We grabbed a newly constructed marina pen in front of a house construction site and spent a comfortable night. Off to Wide Bay Bar tomorrow, based on a moderating predicted 1.5 meter swell. Only concern is we will cross a bit early than recommended so we can get in before dark. Sunset is 5:07 pm. High tide 7:00pm.

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Day 4 still in Manly

But I have a new best friend..  Her name is Phoebe,  and Australian Shepherd.  She belongs to Simon and Cheryl from Duo, whom we me at the Marina Andre doing the trip north. and we are baby sitting Phoebe while they have a night put.  What a lovely dog.

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Dreamtime Sail: Crossing the Wide Bay Bar

Dreamtime Sail: Crossing the Wide Bay Bar

While waiting for the sun to come up, I found this excellent post detailing crossing the Wide Bay Bar.
Very impressed. Thanks to Rob and Karen on Dreamtime.

Day 3 Still Hole Up in Manly

Red sky in the morning sailors warning. That kinda sums it up . Beautiful morning here in Manly, light breeze sunshine, some cloud with a beautiful red flow, just perfect, how would you know that just 50 miles away the wind is blowing a gale and at Double island point there have been a couple of gusts up to 50 knots during the night. . Thank goodness for the Internet and BOM.

Gallery of Modern Art

So my trip to Brisbane cultural precinct went well. Not so impressed with the museum - lots of dead stuff, and art gallery - much of the gallery had been turned over to offices. But the Gallery of Modern Art was great. I think maybe the floor space of the Art Gallery when I was last there served a dual purpose for art and modern art and has been reduced with the building of a dedicated modern art facility... Who knows?

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Day 2. Off to the Brisbane Art Gallery

The predicted change has finally arrived, 48 hours late and the wind has picked up a fair bit now. At 25 k it's not such a problem as it would be from behind us,  however the swells coming with it preclude any chance of crossing the Wide Bay Bar by the time we arrive should we leave now. The bar will now not be open until Saturday at the earliest according to predictions.

So, it's a lay over day. John has a business meeting to attend, so I'm off to the Brisbane Art Gallery by rain from Manly Stn .  Haven't been there for over 10 years so I'm interested to seen what it is like now and what changes may have occurred.

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Day 1 Spirited 1 Trip to Frazer Island

Arrived  at Manly Qld last night after flying in from a great couple of days staying with Sue and Mikaela John and Collene had brought Spirited One up from Boat Works on the same day, via the inland passage. Just had to dodge overhead power lines.
Forecast not promising so will be hole up here for a couple more days.  The marina is humongous with 1700 pens. All full of big boats. We are enjoying the hospitality of the RQYC. 

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Just soo proud of winners Montgomery Family Ladies Skipper Race

So cool Helen.
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Snuck a pic

I snuck  a pic of Mikaela over dinner. She looks at Gran and says " That's not funny".  Final pic, we all have a good laugh.

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Happy in Sydney

Yayyy.

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The things Grandchildren Say

at a recent visit to the Bacchus Marsh mob.

1. Owen and Alannah (now at 5 yo, in here first year of school)  take gran onto the garden owen is asking names of respective plants. On about the 14th plant to be named. Gran paused to think on the name of a small Himalayan shrub with small multicolour flowers. The delay was too much for Alannah, who pointed out to Gran , very coyely , that " that's the second one you don't know the name of."

2. Later I was interrogated . The question was "what's the name of the substance that behaves like a liquid, but is solid" hmmm I thought. Baaap too long. "It a non Newtonian liquid Pop. "  Alnaana went on to explain all about non Newtonian fluids , what they are , how they behave, she even had are recepie for same.

Current winter project is under way.

$177 delivered, plus 5 hours tying ittle bitty knots... Better done before a glass of red... And she is ready to go sailing.

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That Sugar Film

Hey everybody I know, go to SBS on Demand and watch "That Sugar Film" by Damon Gameau.

Gives a great insight into the difference between calories from sugar and those from fat.

You might just change what you eat a little.