Sailing Adventure 2018 - All Aboard

As we embark on our 2018 sailing adventure for 3 months I  reflect on what it means to own a sailing yacht, whilst we are sitting dock side at Keppel Bay Marina, Roslyn Bay Yeppoon awaiting a special gas pipe line to be delivered and installed.

Capt Up Mast checking Radar

New Fender Step from Denmark so I don't have to do a leap of Faith every time we dock

The yacht has had much work done over the past few months but even with the best of attention to our running gear and safety equipment, we have had enormous difficulty in the past week with unexpected failures.

At the beginning of the year Sens de la Vie went on to hard stand to get hull cleaned and new antifoul, new flanges on shaft, plumbing and new configuration of our silage holding tanks and the list goes on.  We made the huge decision to pull out the 200kg Onan generator that allows for the use of 24o volt electrical appliances whilst not plug in to shore,  replaced with smart eco friendly power generating systems , that are quiet and not burning fossil fuel.  New technology in 12 volt systems, with very efficient batteries, solar panels and wind generators give the boat its power system as well as motor.  We have yet to install the wind generator optig to test what we have now set up first.
We travel  simply onboard with most appliances including TV and electronics are all 12 volt. Removing the huge generator enabled us to retro fit another 200ltr stainless steel tank for long range cruising and reconfigure battery bank to house the new fancy batteries we have installed.

Every nook and space is filled with stores

After stowed away

Alot of planing is involved making sure we have all notices to Mariners for hazards downloaded, All charts up to date, provisioning dry foods, alcohol and personal supplies for 3 months including medications which required me to get special script dispensation for for a three month supply of my injections. Getting  clearance from all specialists looking after my current medical conditions of a swollen lymph node at the base of skull, a full tear muscle on my shoulder,cardiologist,  dental, and Rheumatoid specialist all takes time. Capt Teza did the same getting skin cancers cut out and  dental work.
 Home property in order thankfully our Daughter Jacqui is house sitting for us over this period.

We manged to fit in a shake down cruise with the family the weekend before departure which was magical with whales coming to our yacht and swimming underneath and beside us .

Teddy and Ben on the Helm

Tanya showing Teddy the Whales

Whales went under the Keel

Whales off the Gold Coast

On the eve of departure the configuration of the new batteries and electrical system was not charging and a good deal of frustration from Capt was making our departure unpleasant. With some help from Steve Carmody, Ross our mechanic and Trevor our marine electrician the problem was finally resolved at departure with our electrician waving us good by on dock.  The process of elimination to find the fault had us  pulling off the motor alternator to get tested as part of the diagnostics, in the end it was a faulty cable.  
Whilst this was all going on our sea water pump that cools the fridge, freezer condensers failed. A spare emergency pump was installed until we could pick up the ordered new pump at Moolooaba as we intended to depart whilst weather was good and tides in our favor in the next couple of days to cross Wide Bay Bar. Capt Teza was keen to get his long awaited 3 months off work holiday underway.

Our first mishap was in the passage to Moreton Bay in the Broad Water where we hit bottom on dead low tide.  The Seaworld Rescue Boat and Crew were travelling past and came to assist but unfortunately could not pull us off but we had a great chat about a recent whale rescue  the coast and whale snot. The rescue team wear full masks for safety as whales blow a lot of snot.  The Seaworld rescue crew were coming back from Morteon Bay having collected Jelly fish for a new exhibit.  The marine scientist was on board so whilst stuck on the bank we learnt a lot about the habits of jellyfish.

The broad water is slowly becoming silted up with sand banks now in the middle of channels and there seems no budget to fix the channels, normally we wait for high tide to traverse but the Capt was keen to make way.  So we waited until the tide released our wing keel from the sandbank.

As we made passage it was evident that something was wrong with our gas supply.  
At Moolooaba we installed new gas bottles but overnight my Iphone was destroyed with a recharge cable that failed and burnt the port.  This was devastating as navigational APPS , sailing safety information and communications was lost, not to mention all my personal stuff.
Thankfully I did do the last back only days ago.  A mad rush at 4pm when we got to Moolooaba  to get replacement and restore resulted in a mutiny with Capt to stay at port until all this was sorted including the pump that Australia post failed to deliver overnight and left at post office without contacting me. Big thank you to Phil Rankin who assisted me with tech support.

We had missed best times with tides to cross Wide Bay Bar resulting in doing a night sail to cross Bar in the early morning and make passage up Great Sandy Straights without hitting the bottom. It was very cold and as I was still suffering from a chest infection. we were greeted by a beautiful sunrise. Whilst I was on the helm Capt Teza had a shower and the quote of the day from the Capt was
" I can add being able to shave on a trampoline to my resume".  
The Bar crossing was effortless and we congratulate the Tin Can Bay Coast Guard for the excellent up to date information that is now in place after Sens de la Vie hit the bar 18 months ago.

Sunrise 

Capt Terry and a doctor from Brisbane worked closely with Maritime services and State Minister to get the necessary changes to directions being given to cross the bar by Tin Can Bay coast Guard, and this has now resulted in no major ship landings on the Bar since Sens de la Vie incident.
Mind you they still have not changed the leads as there is no budget to fix, so yachtsmen unaware following the leads into the passage will hit the bar.  I don't understand why fixing the leads is not a priority.  Its like leaving a traffic light on Green at a train crossing.

Great Sandy Straights early morning

F#*k PC Cocktail

We anchored at Big Woody Island at the northern end of Fraser Island and rested.

Cape Capricorn

On our next leg to Bundaburg it became clear that our gas issue was not resolved which meant that we would have to miss going to Lady Musgrave and make passage to Yeppoon to get fixed. Lady Musgrave will be on our home passage. This meant no hot food or drinks for the next couple of days but we both agreed if we are going to be at dock whilst this gas issue is getting fixed we would enjoy being at Yeppoon. 
Gas fitter was organised, special copper pipe was courier up from Brisbane overnight and all going well we should depart for the Percy Islands today or tomorrow.
In the meantime, we have done a lot of little maintenance jobs, explored the coast via the use of the Marinas curtesy car, socialized with other yacties and  dined at the very good restaurants in the area  for breakfast and dinner.

Cleaned and stained the teck

Our Treasured Procession 

 Almost 40 years ago a young couple madly in love with dreams of sailing the seas went to Birkenhead Point Marina to look at a couple of yachts that were for sale
Sadly we could not afford a yacht at this time in our lives so we purchased our most treasured procession of a little brass porthole ash tray
That has travelled with us during the 11 times in 10 years we relocated around Australia for work then finally settled in Beechmont
Many years it lived on our home mantle where ever we were in Aus.
The little brass porthole did not represent opportunity lost but opportunities to be found, discovered at yet to come.
Just gave it a polish and this little procession we cherish now has a home
On Sens de la vie

Looking towards the Marina at Roslyn Bay Keppel

We are relaxed  and whilst frustrating waiting for tradesmen and parts we have exhaled after the  mad rush of our departure from Gold Coast

Sailing requires you to be agile and flexible to manage conditions of your boat, the seas, the weather and comfort of the crew.