Dear diary….
We are stranded! On anchor close to K’gari Island but still 16Nm from my favourite stopover, Kingfisher Bay resort.
Yes! We are stuck with a mechanical hiccup, stranded, going no where, until help arrives.
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The next day - resigned to the fact that we were there to stay until our problem was resolved, one way or another.
I was doing dishes, the aroma of my hearty chicken soup filling the galley when… (I kid you not) hundreds of birds in a flock passed so close I could have reached out and touched them. So surprised I had to just take it all in. Privy to this mass migration of black beauty framed perfectly by the porthole. Sadly, He Who Hums missed it as he had already set off in his dingy. He was a man with his own mission, eager to collect mechanical help from miles away.
What transpired last night ? Well firstly and most importantly we successfully navigated through the Sandy Straits. We had just 2ft nashing their teeth at us in the shallowest part of our otherwise, “full moon and full tide journey of the heart”. I note He Who Hums doesn’t hum when it is shallow, but I suspect you’d hear his heart pounding. I was giving the running commentary of depts and direction, willing for the depths to be as per GPS data. There was no one else moving about, just us. Condesa’s navigation lights were luminous against the eerie backdrop for the hours it took to navigate the straits.
Once anchored safely, we could enjoy a hot meal and shower. The generator ceased and so total silence reined all round. Ahhhhhh, we were all set to retire turning off the last of the galley lights when I realised a sound of trickling water was coming the bilge.
It took him/us time to work out exactly how long, how much and from where Condesa managed to purge salt water. Even with my limited knowledge of mechanics, I know a salt water backwash is never a good sign. I had my head in and amongst the motor with him, following his torch light, to be of some support. Calls were made, and eventually the cause was identified. A bung was then secured firmly enough for us to get some sleep.
This non-syphon valve situation would have been catastrophic, if it happened mid Wide Bay Bar crossing…OR anywhere throughout our Sandy Strait passage. We had waited for this new moon that gifts us the super-tide required for our 2.7mtre draft. Kingfisher Resort was our destination. Wait, back up - Imagine navigating shallows without a motor! #yikes 🙈
Life is one big adventure. Any boater past or present, can testify that problem solving is one skill you must have! Quickly followed by another, which is …to be ok without having the answers!😆 Or how about just keeping your “chin up”. Or “fake it till you make it”, and any other attributes it takes to travel around unscathed out here and still see the beauty that comes from all directions.
I watched those birds all spearheaded a direct line for the island, to safely settle in for the night after travelling for miles. As we now are settled, minus - “spearheading the land” bit. 😅
It’s GOODnight from us, with one ear listening out.

PS. The “saltwater gate” mission was rectified with big tools and (you got it) even more skills and expertise.Thanks Daniel for coming to our aid. Love your work.
Condesa is out yet again, flying under the radar and heading north!🥰🙏🏻