Bundaberg

Port Bundaberg
The last night we sailed along at 8-9kn with the tide that held out till midnight before dying off. The boat slowed to 7-7.5kn and we were heading for an early arrival. Our ETA was lunch or just after but with 12hrs at full tilt we arrived at the outer harbour marks at 6.00am. By seven we were anchored at the quarantine area near the marina. We had company for the night as well, as two hitch-hikers (booby's) sat on the spin pole all night and only left as we turned to enter port. They had covered some sixty miles with us so we hope that they were happy with our destination. Of course they paid for their passage by leaving plenty of poop all over the pole and foredeck. At 8am we moved onto the quarantine dock where we were cleared to enter Australia. It all went very well and our officers on board were polite and friendly and helpful in answering our many questions. We then move into another berth in the marina. It is hot here and we have plenty to do. We are also looking forward to getting into town and buying the odd things that we have not managed to get for some time. We hope that you have enjoyed all of our trip with us so far. We do not know what's next, but that's the joy of cruising. If we leave here and head off somewhere else we will let you know... but for now that's it.

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Bundaberg tomorrow

Colin and Sandy Cruising with Papillon
On route to Australia
06h00 UTC 7 November
Course: 222 °
Distance covered last 24hrs until 01h00 GMT: 171nm
Distance to Bundaberg: 84nm
Position 23°54' S 153°41' E

All's well on board.

What a trip it has been so far. We have made very good time and have had pleasant weather. At the moment we have the wind on the beam and we have been averaging 8+kn for the last four hours. We will be getting into the Port of Bundaberg around mid morning tomorrow. There are a few boats arriving tomorrow and even more on Wednesday. There are many yachts scheduled to arrive this week. I guess that it will be party time in Bundy all week. Many have been waiting for a weather window and then leave together which does create little flotillas from ports where one holes up.
We have very mixed feelings about getting in tomorrow... besides customs etc.... as this ends this amazing trip that has taken us halfway around the world on Papillon and has dished up some totally fantastic experiences. Today was our last blue water day (for a while) as tomorrow we will be in at the coast. We should pass the tip of Frazer Island in about six hour and enter Hervey Bay, but then there is the other side of all the new opportunities that beckon us onward to meet new challenges. Is it all so fantastic!!!!!!!!

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Good ride to Bunderberg

Colin and Sandy Cruising with Papillon
On route to Australia
11h00 UTC 6 November
Course: 222 °
Distance covered last 24hrs until 01h00 GMT: 172nm
Distance to Bundaberg: 240nm
Position 22°23' S 155°49' E

All's well on board.

The exit through the reef went well as we followed Nine of Cups the other yacht that was at the reef with us. The wind on the outside was 12-15kn and once we were settled in with all the sails set we rolled along at 7-8kn. We reefed down for the night but the wind came up so it made very little difference to our speed. Having put 172 miles in the bag so far we should reach Bundaberg on Tuesday should we maintain our 5-6 kn. The winds look as if they will hold. At the moment the wind is on the beam and we are hoping that the grib files are correct and that the wind will turn more easterly overnight. The seas have been a little bumpy since last night and we really got the salad treatment... so we move onto the floor at the mast to sleep. So far that's worked well. Time to go... till later

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Chesterfield Reef to Bunderberg

Hi again its Friday and our last day in this wonderful paradise. Tomorrow we will be leaving for Bunderberg with another yacht "Nine of Cups". The weather looks as if it should be good for the 440nm we still have to go. All going well we should arrive late on Tuesday or slow down a little if we are not going to get in before dark should the winds be lighter that predicted and arrive on Wednesday morning. Once we clear customs we will either anchor in the river or take a berth in the marina if there is one available. Last time we were in a marina is when we arrived in St Lucia almost two years ago. So the last leg ... we will update you as we go.

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Chesterfield Reef the place to see

We are so pleased that we decided to make Chesterfield Reef one of our stops. The sun is setting on our fifth day of another great experience. It may get dark now but life keeps going on the islands that are like a chain all along the eastern side (Way off to the west on the other side you again have a number of cays that you can just see from here). Soon the turtles will be heading for the shores to dig their massive holes and lay their eggs. For some this takes all night and you can see odd ones still heading down the beach in the early morning totally exhausted. The birds keep calling all night and the sky is full of birds feeding at night with the odd ones stopping for a rest on the boat.
As you go ashore through the rocks and coral in the shallows that guard the beach in an array of blue hues one is confronted by hundreds of airborne birds circling over the island. Stepping onto the white sand one stops immediately to pick up a beautiful shell or two. At the top of the beach every bush has a few nestlings, from Boobies to the Lesser Frigate birds, a variety of Terns and Dotterels... the list goes on. The Gannets seem to pull up on any part of the beach, some barely above the high tide mark and lay their two eggs. As you walk past they watch you and once you have passed give you a skwaak almost to say: "that's it keep moving..." It's just bird's birds everywhere. The rock pools are full of fish and the occasional little black tip reef shark. The eels hide amongst the rocks and some even slither out on top of the rocks. The crabs are colourful and some fairly bold and other very happy to head for the holes in the rocks to sit and watch you go by. We found some hermit crabs in shells that were twice the size of a golf ball and looked like they needed to trade up to an even bigger home. It is just wonderful. The whales are still here and there were 2-3 just out from where we anchored earlier this afternoon. They have been hanging around here for the last few days.
The fishing has been good and we have been feasting on mackerel, but have caught large Cod, Queen Fish, Giant Trevally and a few large ones that went the other way, but shook the lure out. We stick to eating the pelagic fish as they would be less likely to be carrying Ciguatera poison.
The weather here has been good and the weather for heading to Bunderberg looks as if it will dislodge us from this wonderful place on Saturday. It will be sad to go but the experience we have had here will always be remembered. For a true natural experience this must rate as the highlight of our trip... What a way to finish. We should be on a high all the way to Bunderberg.

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