We have been loosely keeping in touch with Steve and Nicole plus Charlotte the Golden Retriever on "Escape Pod" who we tracked from Newcastle to Coffs harbour on the AIS. We ended up moored together at Coffs and enjoyed a happy hour.  See their blog at www.stichinbrine.blogspot.com We see they have now reached Southport. Isn't AIS great!

We have now moved on with a night sail on Monday night up to Brisbane around the outside of Morton Island and across Morton Bay, a distance of about 100nm. We won't fit under the 20.3 metre power lines north of Jacobs Well.
 It was a magic night for a sail with a full moon and 10 to 15 knot westerlies making for an easy night passage.
As we crossed Morton Bay the wind picked up to 25 to 30 knots on the nose which gave us a wet bumpy ride for the last 2 hours into the Brisbane river.
The first part of the river is packed with container  and coal ships and the river edge is very industrial and uninviting. The outlook improved as we motored upriver to our berth at the Rivergate Marina.
The Brisbane river in full ebb runs at about 3 knots so we didn't attempt to move into the pen until slack water.
A voice called out, is that you John? It was Rolly Walker (ex water taxi operator at Beauty Point) who is now skippering Rivercats and living onboard his Adams 40 at Rivergate. Rolly and Gail are leaving shortly to return to the Tamar.
When we moved into our allocated pen we found we were moored next to Rob and Jenny Elwell!!!!They are living on their current boat and still working at Manly. Needless to say we had a great evening with our ex Tassie friends.
This morning we continued upriver with the tide and picked up a set of Brisbane CC pile moorings which are next to the Botanical Gardens right in the heart of the city. These piles are only $70.00 per week and  have full facilities onshore. They are very popular with liveaboards and we were lucky  to be able to pick between 2 empty sets as the other 60 or so were full and many of the boats look very permanent. The boat behind us is NINKEA from Launceston, (anyone know who owns it?).
The botanical Gardens are dog friendly so, apart from the ferry wake every 15 minutes or so it is an idealic spot for a couple of days sightseeing.

 Rivergate Marina with Roly Walkers black Adams and the Elwells yacht next to Allusive

 Sushimi anyone? Spotted Mackerel lunch in Bums Bay

 Approaching Brisbane City

Pile Moorings Brisbane City



We have been a bit tardy keeping this blog up to date so it is time for a catch up.
After 2 nights in Bums bay (one of our favorite city anchorages) we moved up to Runaway Bay marina to assist Andrew in preparing the Chris Craft Corsair he and a couple of mates were buying.
This took most of the week with some out of water servicing and getting to know the ins and outs of this boat (so far unnamed) which is ideal for a very exciting Sydney Harbour cruiser.

I am writing this blog at 2.00AM Friday as not much wind. We have managed to sail all but 2 hours of the past 18 hrs and have covered 104 miles. We hope to keep going until we reach Southport a total of 330 miles from Newcastle. ETA sometime late Saturday.

 managed to get  the MPS up for an hour

 



A day trip around Lake Macquarie. first photo is apanorama of the entrance

Some info about our planned trip to the Louisiades.

We first read about the rally in a magazine earlier this year and decided that it sounded like fun. The aim of the rally is to have fun and leave the places and people in a better state than when we arrive. Embedded in this was the idea of helping the local community. Each boat in the rally is asked to take “goods” to trade or give as donations to the locals. Due to the generosity of many companies and individuals in Launceston, Allusive is stocked to the gunwales, all lockers and storage areas are full with many items to be left at the islands. 

Some of these items include “out of date” medical supplies (dressings etc  along with nearly 3000! Band-Aids), fishing line and lures and rods, diving gear, school clothing, caps, re cycled colouring pencils, school supplies, ropes and small boat sails, sunscreens, cosmetics, reading glasses, knitted teddy bears, hair clips and much more.

We would like to thank the following people (in no order) for their generous donations.

Robyn – C.H. Smith, Adrian West, Eleanor Niles, Andrew Joyce, Steve Duncan – Staples, the girls at St John First Aid Supplies, Tim – Tamar Marine, Paul & Sharon Ellis- Paul Ellis Agencies, David & Michelle Coates, Martin and staff – Kings Meadows Capital Chemist, Mitch – Almasts, Kevin & Vicki, Maria Chan, Vinnies - Youngtown, Scotch Oakburn School Shop, Richard Grant, Ken & Wendy Gourlay, Kay Dawson and her knitters, Kate – Priceline Launceston.

Once again thank you all.

 

 

entering newcastle and view from mast top (changed LED globe fo filament style to stop radio interference)

crew relaxing,Di heading us in the right direction

The delivery crew in Sydney

Richard and Megan on watch just before we reached Gabo Island

Since arriving in Sydney we have enjoyed Andrews company and hospitality. An excellent night was spent on Friday looking at all of the laser lights and images displayed on the skyscrapers, opera house and Sydney Harbour bridge. Hope to post some photos when we get them from Andrews friends.

Saturday morning we made the run up to Pittwater and spent the night next to Hungry beach (the only boat there!). Yesterday we motor/sailed the 35 miles up to Newcastle and plan to stay here for a few days until the westerlies arrive.

Richard the "kingfisher"

Megan on Dolphin watch

two skippers

Squally cove deal Island

Sunset near Deal Island, Bass Strait.

Near Eden. John, Richard and Megan (photo by Ken)

Allusives progress can be followed live at http://marinetraffic.com/ais/
-type in Allusive 111

Starting out

The adventures onboard Allusive have started.

John and crew, Ken Gourlay, Richard and Megan Grant left the marina at Beauty Point 1100hrs Friday 31st May. Good foreacst for Bass Strait, with favourable southerly winds from Gabo Island north.
Di & dogs, (Mac & Tille) took the "soft" option and flew to Sydney on Saturday 1st. Currently waiting at Andrew's to join the boat from Sydney.