The trip to Mooloolaba can be described with one word...'COLD'. (Actually two words provides a better description!!) We had on wet weather gear, fleeces, beanies and gloves and we were still cold. I have no idea how yachties cope with the Southern coastline let alone Tasmania, and I'm in no hurry to find out. My idea of sailing is cloudless skies, blue seas and warm balmy winds preferably 10-15 knots. The trip was also remarkably uneventful. With 11,000 whales migrating up the coast, we thought we would be dodging them left, right and centre but all we saw were a couple of dolphins and they didn't even come near.

We made terrific time (especially with Ian at the helm) averaging 6 knots in a 15 knot following wind and tied up at Mooloolaba Marina just after 2pm which gave Jim and Ian plenty of time to down a few whiskeys before Ian grabbed a lift home with Mike and Kathryn.

While the boys were drinking, I went for a ride and directly across the road ran into my nephew Michael and his friend Nina who'd been enjoying a day at the beach. I invited them back to take a look at the boat and marvelled at how convenient it was that neither Jim nor I are 190cms tall; you do a lot of ducking when you're that tall.