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COL & ANN...continued |
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They’d been generating too much electricity. When this happens, the controller unit dumps the excess electricity into a heat sink where the energy is dispersed as heat. Somehow the installers had got it wrong and the heat sink almost set the boat on fire. The smell of charring wood alerted them to the problem and saved the boat, and possibly themselves, as fire at sea is the most life threatening of all dangers encountered on a yacht. |
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We gave Col and Ann a little while to settle in, before wandering across for happy hour (three steps). Imagine our surprise when we were confronted by a painted board hung over the rail, displaying their names in spangled letters, and complete with doorbell. “Give it a press,” called out Col proudly. “It can play 100 different tunes.”
Turns out they’d stayed at the very posh Marina Mirage while at the Gold Coast. Apparently the large and expensive boats that hang out in that marina have become infected with a virulent new disease – Doorbellitis – and poor Col and Ann’s boat had caught a bad case. Fortunately the virus involved doesn’t survive for long outside the Gold Coast, which is a lucky thing, and to this day Masala remains disease-free. However, we still have a quick look at her rails from time to time, just in case… |
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UNDERWAY, AT LAST – SHADOWED BY PIRATES? |
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After a sad farewell to Pat & Jim and Col & Ann, we finally departed East Coast Marina on the afternoon of Thursday 10 September. We traveled precisely 1.9 miles and anchored in the bay outside the marina, totally exhausted! It was a bit sloppy and we had no sea legs after being so long in flat water, so a dinner of seasick pills was in order. |
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After a good sleep we got an early start next day and picked up the perfect breeze to sail across Moreton Bay to the Sandhills on Moreton Island. We got to try out our new pole, for poling out the genoa during light downwind sailing – it worked a treat. So did the new boom bag, into which the mainsail falls and is zipped up when not in use. |
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Above: the Sandhills at low tide, looking north towards Cape Moreton |
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We left the Sandhills at noon on Saturday, in very light winds, bound overnight to Fraser Island, 100 miles away. We used the North East Channel to depart Moreton Bay, and noted that three of the four navigation beacons are now missing. We sighted our first Humpback Whale off the only remaining beacon, a sign of good things to come. |
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Left: Leanne climbing the Sandhills |
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By nightfall a horrible beam swell and lack of wind prevented us from sailing. We resorted to periods of motoring interspersed with motor-sailing. The lovely clear night with abundant moonlight was adequate compensation and also made it easier to dodge the occasional passing ship and fishing trawler. |