Australia East Coast 2010 2014

Launched in May 2010 Sunny went to Sydney. Prolonged commissioning and a trip back to Wollongong. Experience sailing, moored at Drumoyne marina.

A very wet year. Just North of Sydney Pittwater/ Hawksbury harbour is a playground for saiors, with limited land access and national park moorings it's unspoilted. Tessa and I learned more of sunny in the rain haha..

Tessa unable to come sadly, so, Steve moule and Jamie Reinhardt crewed from Sydney to Southport via Pitwater, Newcastle (rough trip) Port Stephens, Port Macquarie, Hat Head, Coffs Harbour, Yamba, Ballina, Tweed heads (jamie left) Southport, Steve left and Tessa arrived :) We were a pretty green lot and too often ariving late into port ... whoops

Southport fun, Stradbroke Island adventures :( to Horizon shores marina - fix up rudder (Jacobs Well) Rolf Tamsin, Kurt and Julieanne, FIFO. Then to Brisbane and headed North with Kurt to Mooloolaba dropped off Kurt and then up to Harvey Bay (Urangan)

Since Sunny launch, the rain started and continued. At year end the rain intensified, we sailed to Burrum river then Bundaberg several days after the Burnett River floods... Round Hill Head, town of 1770 and out to Fairfax Island and Lady Musgrave Is, lots of rain and new friends, turtle researchers and lots of Noddys and Boobies.

The trip back from New Caledonia with Jean Michel was good, but, OMG Aus customs problems due to short arrival notification...all goodin the end. Made good friends with Duncans and Russell Rooster + others. Coffs Harbour great place. Tessa and I sailed to Sydney via Trial Bay, Hat Head, Port Macquarie, Camden Haven, Crowdy Head, Port Stephens, Lake Macquarie, Pittwater and Sydney Harbour. Ready for Tessa's Mum Sister and Niece (Tete, Paula and Alice).with Jean Michel

Sydney Harbour ..... what a great place for a holiday, the best possible first stop for visitors to Australia. Straight from the airport to Sunny Girl, on board and off sailing, fantastic. After Tessa's family left I had to re anti-foul the boat bottom at Sydney City Marine, also had ails overhauled and 4 reef added, a bit of a mission.

After Sydney we sailed back to Coffs harbour and re-established for a while before heading back to Queensland, this time not stopping. The goal of going all the way. Nice to see the places we knew from before. Stayed in Manly Marina flying back to WA.

Leaving Brisbane .... in a strong wind warning forecast. Bypassing Moolooaba we had to go outside Fraser Is - a 30 hour passage. Poor Tessa ...not too well :( Strong currents and messy seas slowed progress for a while at the Nth end of Fraser Island, but still a quick trip.

Gladstone Marina in the middle of THE BOOM 12,000 working on Curtis Island - crazy resource development and frantic port movements....Kurt and JulieAnn nearby. On departure Kurt came too....thru the narrows and on to Yepoon. The we parted, North to Mackay.

Helen's visit corresponed with Aunty Helen and Hank being in central Queensland. Bill and Roger took holidays and we all met together in Airley Beach, Able Point Marina. It all worked..

Townsville to Cairns is maybe the best coastal passage. Hinchinbrook Island is a highlight. The 'failed' Cardwell project and the failed tourist resort!! Zoe bay - a highlight and very luck to have perfect weather for the ocean bay. Then fantastic reef weather.

Cairns is great, beware SE trade wind 20 Kts off shore most of the year.
George Brelaz visits from Atherton, good to hear about Lindy and the family. Darren and Dan came over November 2013, Sue and Glen April 2014, then Helmut and Russell for the PNG trip July 2014. 2014 New year in Daintree River when TC Dylan passed by out to sea. In April TC Ita crossed Cooktown / outback then Cairns, but, cat1 by then...

It's magic to get out in calm weather, there is a lot of it!! The reef is in trouble, 2011 was a hot bleaching year. Branching corals seem most affected. Nutrient - at Magnetic Island, the water is GREEN. Overfishing, spot the Coral Trout!!! these agressive feeders are vanished!!