Settled in Brisbane
NORDLYS
David and Annette Ridout
Tue 1 Nov 2005 01:39
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Settled in the Heart of
Brisbane
Dockside Marina
Brisbane
2nd November 2005
Our trip south from Bundaberg was fouled up by
Aussie rules combined with our own stupidity. On arrival I had been given
a customs clearance and I thought that the guy had said to be sure to
advise them when moving to a new area. This is what one has to do
when cruising in the USA. As we were about to leave with a good weather
window and tides that were big enough for us to tackle the inner route inside
Fraser Island another yachtie asked if we had our cruising permit. A
thorough reading of our 'piece of paper' showed that we had to apply to move
from Bundaberg! This had to be done in town. It was now after hours
on a Friday. Customs closed for the weekend!!! All I will say is
that we eventually left at 0400hrs on the Tuesday with a forecast of strong NNE
winds and neap tides. Much calculation gave us just 30cm under the keel if
we went inside Fraser. It was likely to be a forty mile beat to get
outside. Catch 22. Eventually I chickened out of the inside route
with the prospect of little water and a strong wind pushing us onto the
banks. It was not easy to drag oneself out of bed at
0330hrs with the wind howling amongst the aluminium masts and their
rigging. The noise that is generated in marinas makes the wind sound much
worse than it actually is, especially at this time but this was the sensible
departure time if we wanted a fair tide for our push to the north
east.
 Once underway the wind was much kinder
than expected as it was in fact west of north giving us a sheets just
eased sail in no more than twenty knots. One hour later we were struggling
in forty knots and the whole scene was lit up by almost endless
lightening. The noise to us sounded much as the Somme warm up artillery
must have done many years ago. We were almost as frightened but just kept
ourselves from 'brown pants'. An hour later it was all over and a rather
shaken crew settled down to enjoy a lovely sail. When we bore away round
the Fraser Island northern reefs we had twenty knots of wind, three knots
of current and bright sunshine all in our favour. Thirty six hours after
leaving Bundaberg we were tied up fifteen miles from the sea in the heart
of Brisbane. Bringing Nordlys in to a big city is, we find, always a
stimulating and interesting experience. It was so this time. Now as
I write this a few days after our arrival we have a bank account
opened, local SIM card in our phone, Australian TV on board and
Nordlys is ready to be left. The sad news is that my mother is not finding
it easy to bounce back to full health after a kidney problem and a bad cough so
we are both going home to see her. The prospect of also seeing the
family, not to mention our grandson George is also enticing. Crossing the
world for just a three week visit is never easy but at least
it is not too expensive in these days of much competition between
airlines. This time we are trying Emirates via Singapore and
Dubai.
So all being well we will be back on board by the
end of November and get the old girl down to Sydney for the run up to
Christmas. The plan as it stands is to spend until after New
Year in Sydney and then leave for the trip south to Hobart.
Happy times to you all
David and Annette
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