1,000 MILES INSIDE THE BARRIER REEF

Track of Truce inside the Great Barrier Reef

Of course, the reality of cruising an area or coast is often different from the perceptions. This was very true of my cruise inside the Barrier Reef. I started the voyage in Gladstone, Queensland and finished the Barrier Reef section In Siasea, just around Cape York in the Gulf of Carpentaria, amazingly still in Queensland – Australia is a big place.

January 15, 2024 0

FAMILY CHRISTMAS IN LOMBOK

For a brief few days we managed to get a Christmas family get together - at the same place and time.

January 10, 2024 6

LEAD CARBON BATTERIES – ONE YEAR ON

So overall, I am pleased with the lead carbon battery installation, it has become one less thing to worry about. There are many articles and videos online about lead carbon batteries including all the usual well informed and not so well-informed opinions. But, hopefully, if the manufacturers datasheets about the lifetime and charge cycles of Lead Carbon batteries are correct I may never have to buy another house battery – ever.

January 3, 2024 5

ARRIVAL LOMBOK

Medana Bay Marina Sunset. Photo Ray Penson

The overnight anchorage at Kananga was OK. I slept most of the night in the cockpit and moved inside when the dew began to settle. After my morning cup of tea I decided to head direct to Lombok. Worst case scenario we run out of fuel and end up sailing the remaining miles. It might take a bit more time, but we will get there.

November 25, 2023 4

KOMODO DRAGONS – NAH.

Late afternoon, we anchored in 20m just off the beach at Kilo. The children watched from the beach and by the time we had settled at anchor they had found a leaky canoe as transport to Truce. They had mango and coconut to trade for pencils and biscuits.

November 20, 2023 0

LABUAN BAJO FOR RESUPPLY

By mid afternoon I had had enough motoring and went to anchor in a bay on the south side of a small island called Gilibodo. It took a couple of attempts to find a good spot to anchor, eventually finding a spot in 25m of water just off the fringing reef.

November 16, 2023 0

FOUND AN UNCHARTED SHALLOW PATCH

Whoa! Something wrong, immediately I put the engine in neutral and looked over the side. Amazingly, I could see the coral bottom, very close on the starboard side. The port side seemed clear. I put the helm hard to port and immediately got back into deep water.

November 13, 2023 1

MADE IT TO FLORES

A lovely anchorage and a calm, peaceful night at anchor at Teluk Sagu. I weighed anchor before six in the morning and motored out of the bay, careful to backtrack my Navionics trail of the previous day, avoiding the reefs scattered about.

November 10, 2023 1

ISLAND HOPPING WESTWARD

Truce at Anchor Lembata. Photo Ray Penson

I am still not too comfortable with this reef navigation stuff. People tell me you need the sun at your back and someone up the mast or on the bow. Well, I can’t arrange where the sun goes and being on the bow or up the mast when single handing is impracticable.

November 7, 2023 1

STRUGGLING TO GO WEST

Its so Hot, time for cold Anker. Photo Ray Penson

It’s been a while since I posted a log. I have been working hard for not much gain and not been inclined to socialize much. I have entered a depressed state due high temperatures and lack of wind, frustration has set in. Being hot and frustrated is Aaaagh! I need something to jolt me back into full mojo mode.