Crossing the Bar

The crossing of the infamous Wide Bay Bar at the southern end of Fraser Island is the stuff of many a hairy tale amongst salty dogs in marinas along the east coast. The Bar is crossed via a zigzag series of 3 navigational waypoints and has a section known as the "Mad Mile" (between waypoints 2 and 3) due to a narrow passage with breaking surf on both sides.

Sailing lore suggests that it is bad luck to embark on a voyage on Friday  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailors'_superstitions.

Bimini by Murray, bunting by Sophie.

Moreton Island to Mooloolaba

Thursday 3rd April, the second last day of school for Term One, saw us pulling up anchor from beautiful Moreton Island and following the west coast of Moreton Island northwards towards Mooloolaba. The Second Mate, Third Mate and Ship's Monkey all had online assessments to complete with their teachers to wrap up the school term. These were completed as we dodged amongst the shipping traffic of the Northwest Channel. This was the Third Mate and Ship's Monkey's first open water voyage.

End of term assessments in the Northwest Channel

Engine troubles at Slaughter's Gutter



Farewell East Coast Marina.

Finally all the odds and ends had been tidied up and Arjuna was set to depart from Brisbane. The final elusive bearing for the autopilot and been tracked down and the car had been repaired.