Welcome Oceans Dream's new look blog - and that's all it is, simply a cosmetic change ...

Five days out of Mooloolaba and strong wind warnings were hampering our efforts to get north. Instead, we called it quits for a couple of days, ducking into a marina only 300km up the coast. Google 'Bundaberg' and you'll soon discover this town is known for it's rum and it's sugar. Heaven!

We made use of the free shuttle bus laid on by the marina to have a mooch around the town centre 17km away. Cyclone Oswald had left it's mark having hit the town just a few of months ago with extensive flooding. Thousands of homes, businesses, roads and bridges were swept away, and sadly, there were a number deaths among the community. There has been nationwide support for the residents and businesses of the town but amazingly, the town centre seems to have pulled through with few visible scars. Many residents are still unable to return to their homes as many are without power, water and sewage support.

The winds eased up and not ones to miss an opportunity, we left Bundaberg with a course set for Great Keppel Island. This would be an overnight passage and one with no surprises other than a pod of dolphins to keep us company for a while. We've literally just dropped the hook with clear skies above, calm turquoise seas below and 28 degrees in the air. Time for some catch-up napping before the 3 hours on/off watches begin again in earnest tomorrow as we head for Digby Island.