The majestic overnight sail under the lunar eclipse of the moon was the perfect and fitting final leg of our FNQ sailing adventures.
Condesa in all her might has covered
5,000 Klm or 2,500 nautical miles since 10th June, gracing Queensland's beautiful coastline gems along the way.
Wide Bay Bar had our full attention from 7am sharp 18th November. Like every other leg, He Who Hums weighed the anchor and set the sails. I was at the helm, and proof that the bar was ready for us was the sight I had of the Captain remaining out the front decks watching the small breaking waves here, there and everywhere around us as I navigated the coordinates marked. He called the final shot taking the best path through the last segment that had 5ft under the keel. Before we knew it the morning was behind us as was the smiling assassin, The Wide Bay Bar.
We could now say we were "officially" headed for home, confident the overnight sail would be the easiest part of our day.
Noticing Coolum Beach around 2pm (👋🏻 sis) and Nth Stradbroke (👋🏻bro) around 10pm, we calculated our SYC docking for around 2.30am.
The day sail was a light ENE breeze resulting in a motor sail, and ending with NW breeze which helped flatten the seaway.... a nice welcome back to us! 🤗
Literally like ships in the night we heard the log-on radio call with Seaway tower from one lonely vessel headed for Iluka NSW. Soon enough we spotted the tiny navigational lights coming through with the rise and fall of the seaway swell.
We, not long after radioed Seaway tower (knowing Tin Can Bay had forwarded our details onto them). We thanked them for their coverage and advised we were safely back inside the pass.
With that we turned silently into the sleeping Broadwater where all the background lights streamed across our path making it near impossible to identify the channel markers we know so well. It still astounds me that they are intermittent flashing single lights that always feel like an eternity when waiting to confirm your one red or green marker against the ever changing traffic lights in the background. Once your eyes adjust to life back in civilisation things become a little clearer.
So looking way back to June on our first day out where everything seemed against us, I can say our last day had been the complete opposite. Everything unfolded in our favour for our return passage.
Another docking in the dark but knowing our home pen like the back of our hand, we can almost do blindfolded.
We shutdown Condesa's navigational systems and turned out her steaming lights, lavishing her with the praise she deserved as we opened up all her portholes to let the perfect sleeping breeze in.
It was now 3am our supper ritual was ladened with respect and gratitude all round.
Until next year it's goodnight from us three, and a warm thank-you from me for following Condesa's voyage and my ramblings with your messages of support and interest.

Sleep tight!

👨🏼‍✈️He Who Hums
⛵️laCondesaDel Mar
🥰 & moi!