This weblog publish is a fast recap of my very first multi-day crusing expertise aboard Malaika from New South Wales’ Central Coast to Redland Bay, south of Brisbane.
I initially had components of this publish on a fast information to Crusing the Australian East Coast. Nevertheless, since we’ve simply accomplished our 11-week crusing journey, I believed I’d replace that publish with extra insights to assist cruising sailors.
So, if you happen to’re enthusiastic about studying abit about our self-built crusing vessel; Malaika and her first huge journey, right here you go.
Our Vessel: Malaika
Throughout the early years, my household labored on a
After 10 years of exhausting
READ THE AUSTRALIAN CRUISING GUIDE: WHAT IT’S LIKE SAILING UP THE EAST COAST OF AUSTRALIA
From New South Wales to Queensland
Quick-forward a couple of years later from Malaika’s Christening, we made our first interstate, 4 night time crossing from Hardy’s Bay in NSW to Redland Bay with a couple of good mates from faculty.
The journey was introduced on by my mum or dad’s relocation to sunny South East Queensland. One of the simplest ways to get a yacht 400 nautical miles North is to sail her. The plan was to sail day and night time with a gradual north bearing up the coast. At common cruising pace, we have been hoping to perform this in roughly 4 days and nights.
Journey Highlights
I’ve all the time shared my dad’s dream of absolutely self-sustained crusing. There’s one thing about captaining your personal vessel and plowing the bow by way of the waves that evokes a real sense of freedom and journey. If the dream laid dormant earlier than, this journey undoubtedly sparked the objective.
Becoming a member of the humpback whale migration
The September months on the Australian East Coast is prime Humpback migration season. Throughout this time, the whales make their approach from Antarctica to hotter sub-tropical waters to breed.
Coincidentally, the humpbacks and Malaika shared the identical heading. We noticed so many whales that we misplaced rely after the primary 24 hours. Effectively over 50. Some whales cruise previous us, solely permitting a single glimpse of their surfacing. Others appeared to observe beside us on the identical pace, accompanying us for hours.
Dolphin greetings
We additionally noticed some large dolphin pods that like to surf on the bow. Among the pods contained numbers of as much as what should have been 40 dolphins. If you happen to pay attention fastidiously you may hear them speaking in clicks and echos.
The very best East Coast sunsets
It’s no lie that the perfect sunsets are witnessed from the ocean. If you happen to’ve by no means watched sundown from a ship, I extremely suggest it. It’s as if all the colors are exaggerated and the reflections from the water appear to torch the sky alight.
Grounding in Moreton Bay
Among the best reminiscences of the journey have been additionally one of the crucial traumatic on the time. After 4 days at sea, we have been eager to step onto dry land. This prompted us to rashly energy by way of the shallow sand bars close to Redland Bay at low tide. We knew the channel depths have been in all probability too shallow for the tide, and the beginner resolution prompted our first grounding.
It was fairly humorous, we’d crossed 400 nautical miles over 4 days and 4 nights, solely to return to a sudden halt solely 20 metres from the vacation spot. I used to be pressured to tie a protracted rope from the mooring line to the bow cleat and await the tide to rise in order that we may pull ourselves in.
Future Crusing Plans
The East Coast journey was our first lengthy crossing and it undoubtedly has impressed me to plan a life on the ocean. Though it was solely a comparatively brief protection of the East Coast, it was undoubtedly sufficient of a style to get me hooked on the life-style.
My dad’s dream of dwelling aboard Malaika and crusing full-time are set to lastly occur early subsequent 12 months. If journey plans allow, I’m hoping to affix them on some extra adventures crusing within the Nice Barrier Reef.
UPDATE: Quick ahead and we’ve simply accomplished our first multi-month journey up the East Coast of Australia. – You may learn the primary crusing log right here.
READ THE SAILING LOG
