Dransfields on the high seas

09 November 2010
03 November 2010 | Somewhere off Port Stephens
26 October 2010 | Brisbane River
01 October 2010
20 September 2010 | Bundaberg QLD
07 September 2010 | Noumea, New Caledonia
26 August 2010
11 August 2010 | Musket Cove Fiji
26 July 2010 | Fiji
17 July 2010 | Tonga
15 July 2010 | Vava'u, Tonga
30 June 2010
21 June 2010 | On passage to Tonga
25 May 2010 | Tahiti,
20 May 2010 | The Tuamotu Islands
07 May 2010 | Nuka Hiva, French Polynesia
26 April 2010 | En route to the Marquesas
19 April 2010 | The Pacific Ocean
16 April 2010 | The Pacific Ocean
05 April 2010 | Galapagos

Whitsunday paradise!

01 October 2010
First Mate Hels
Greetings from the Whitsunday Islands! You guessed it! The temptation to sail north to the Whitsundays on our own boat was just too great. After such a fabulous time at Lady Musgrave Island with the Dransfield crew on Manaroa Bay spotting whales, turtle spying and bird watching it was a mere 270 nm up to Hamilton Island. One morning we managed to catch a mummy and a calf whale putting a show a mere 100m from our dinghy for a good half an hour! Absolutely superb!!
So here we are after a week of "boat camping" sitting in resort land at the Hamilton Island marina feeling rather pleased with ourselves. We blasted up here in a 20-30 knot SE which was a pretty fast and furious ride. But just a normal day at the office for Nika who handles it all with aplomb! I am now salivating at the thought of a restaurant meal and clean clothes (not sure which is the more exciting!). We are then really looking forward to escaping out to the numerous protected anchorages to explore, snorkel and bushwalk. We were last up here 9 years ago with Jesse 9 months old in our trailer sailor Pretty Woman. Before that, we were here with JD's folks on their yacht Déjà vu when they sailed it up from Melbourne. The other time was when I did a delivery trip on Brindabella for Hammo Island race week so it all has some good memories for us. We plan to spend 10 days around the islands before starting the big trek south. Hopefully by then the summer north easterlies will have replaced the still howling winter southerlies! Ciao for now the Nikas!
Comments
Vessel Name: Nika
Vessel Make/Model: Bavaria 46 Cruiser
Hailing Port: Sydney
Crew: Skipper JD, Bosun Boy Jesse, Zodiac Zoe, Captain Tykes, First Mate Hels
About: Hail from Curl Curl on Sydney's beautiful Northern Beaches. Love of adventure, and the good life!
Extra: Saturday 6 November 2010 - we arrive back in Sydney at Middle Harbour Y.C. at 1:00 - the end of the voyage...

Nika Profile

Who: Skipper JD, Bosun Boy Jesse, Zodiac Zoe, Captain Tykes, First Mate Hels
Port: Sydney