Southport, Gold Coast Marina.

Around the world with the Aqualunies
Jonathan & Gabrielle Lyne
Mon 12 Dec 2011 07:59
SOUTHPORT, GOLD COAST MARINA, 12TH DECEMBER, 2011

Having spent a week and a bit in Mooloolaba due to weather which was a strong southerly and very stormy with tons of rain we finally left on Saturday. The beach in Mooloolaba was lovely the town a bit tacky.
Coming out of the harbour mouth was interesting, big surf breaking right across the harbour entrance still, but Aqualuna and Jonathan handled it well, whilst I kept my eyes looking aft to make sure we kept the leading markers inline, we didn't even tip .

Wherever we go on Aqualuna we always appear to have a line of admirers commenting on her and asking about her, she is very beautiful, comfortable and the more storms we go through the more my faith in her (and Jonathan of course!) increases she just seems to handle anything and just powers through the waves. Friends who stayed with us recently could not believe a yachting holiday would be so comfortable, with proper showers, good towels, comfortable mattresses and a very comfortable saloon, cockpit and aft deck.

The Christmas light parade which should have happened in Mooloolaba on Saturday night didn't happen due to a massive thunder and lightening storm. We heard a lady in the Marina was struck by lightening but have not heard anything else about what happened. It is ashame as I think the parade would have been fantastic for those that were going to watch it, very professionally lit up yachts and motor boats. We saw one yacht the night before we left dressed up as a massive candle sitting in a bowl of holly.

Now we are in the Gold Coast Marina having made our way up the Camera River near Southport, we hit mud once as in places it can be quite shallow. The stitching in our main sail in the top panel gave away due to the effect of the sun on it but 'Hood', the sail makers, have taken it away today and will be delivering it back tomorrow having mended it and checked the rest of the stitching which is good. We hope to leave tomorrow again to carry on South but looks as though there is yet another storm on its way so we may have to have a rethink in the morning. We are sorting out our port and starboard bow lights as they have gone again, had our battery charger inverter is being checked, the control board made my Victron, which was new a year ago seems to be defective so we are getting a new one but have been told it is not under guarantee........think Jonathan will be writing to them about this as it has not worked properly for awhile and so the trades act hopefully will sort out any dispute, it should be under guarantee and certainly was not fit for use Chris, who fitted it for us came down and said it was faulty and should be replaced.

V. Hot here again and another big thunder storm building up, it is that time of year and just looking forward to heading south where I hope the weather will be better in Sydney although there has been a prediction that Australia is in for one of the coolest summers on record and another wet summer, if anybody tells me Australia is a dry place I will find that hard to believe.