On 23rd December I headed off towards Canaipa, a nice one hectare headland on an island and owned by the RQYS. There is a good dinghy pontoon, manicured lawns, a huge barbaque area, loos, showers and, of course, a swimming pool. All very posh. On the way I stopped at Peel Island; I have put in a position report so you can see it on the map or Google Earth. There were only nine boats there. I motored next morning at Canaipa and had the place to myself but friends arrived on Christmas morning and about 20 of us went ashore for a monster communal cook-up. A great feast but I think that I overserved myself with pre-lunch gin and tonics.

Next day, in the face of a poor weather forecast, I headed to Dunwich on North Stradbroke Island. But the small anchorage was full of permanent moorings leaving no swinging room. So back to Peel, just three miles away. By now there were at least 150 boats in the bay, many small and close to the beach. Right on schedule, according to the forecast, rain came in at 0300 and the wind turned 180 degrees to the south and freshened to 20 knots making the anchorage a lee shore. I was glad to be far out. Many small boats were underway in the dark running for shelter.

Next morning I had an easy, if rain sodden, sail in 15 knots downwind back to the marina. Where it is still raining. And forecast to do so for several days. So much for the sunshine state!

Still, it gives me an opportunity to make bookings for my Australia tour...