Woohoo! 29 hour passage to Iluka from Mooloolaba. Yay for our girl Valiam, 30 years young and still got it. A few anxious moments as always with me but glad to be here.
So now she’s a NSW registered boat but Mooloolaba is still her home port for Australian Ship registration.
We were faster than we thought so reached the Iluka bar just before low tide. Muddy water coming out the Clarence due to all the recent rains. Captain Underpants steered us in beautifully while I watched the depth sounder like a hawk. The good thing about anchoring at low tide is you know you aren’t going to hit the bottom! So currently in 2.3m ( 2.1 m keel) . We are still waiting for a permanent home for our girl so will be stayed on board last night to make sure the anchor is well dug in. Our home is a few blocks away. Good to be here at last. Happy 47th wedding anniversary to us!

It's been a while since I've posted here and also a long while since I've sailed! Bill has sailed recently delivering another yacht with its owner to Sydney.

I was happy to help as crew on this trip especially as I've never sailed on a catamaran before. After flying to Airlie from Brisbane the owner of Dadandi met us at VMR Cannonvale where the airport bus dropped us off. Dadandi was on anchor and after showing us around we used the dinghy to provision and to get bits and pieces we needed. The dinghy misbehaved a few times not wanting to start so eventually Bill walked to BCF before it closed to buy a new fuel line. This seemed to fix the problem.
Dadandi is spacious compared to Valiam and we certainly enjoyed the extra space. Getting food and drinks up to the saloon from the galley kept me fit going up and down balancing on the steps. After the first day of sailing Bill decided to anchor at Brampton island. We were still getting used to the boat and a rest did us good. Being on anchor again after so long for me was such a pleasure as we watched the sun go down.

Up early the next morning we took advantage of the northerly and sailed overnight. It was a getting stronger and a bit bouncy so Bill hand steered towards the Keppels. It was easier to manoeuvre the boat into the southern anchorage at North Keppel in the strong northerly. The steering was difficult so Bill rang the owner. After instructions on how to adjust the hydraulic steering, it was fine after that. The anchorage was very peaceful with not many yachts. Next morning Shambala came past which we recognised although now with a new owner. We first saw Shambala in Richards Bay, South Africa also with its home port of Mooloolaba. This was unusual and I don't think we saw another boat during our circumnavigation with its home port as Mooloolaba. Shambala was berthed opposite Valiam in Mooloolaba marina for the last few years.

Next we anchored at Second Beach at the top of Great Keppel due to a southerly. Another boat we know Cynosure from Mooloolaba anchored next to us with Mona and Bruce on board. They popped over for a chat and it was nice to see them away from the marina. A long walk to the resort just in time for Happy Hour that day was good exercise!

Waiting for the northerly we spent another night on anchor next to the resort this time. Great Keppel has a lot to offer - walks, snorkelling, a bar, restaurant and cafe with tourist shops. No groceries though! We were starting to run low on a few things but ate up big at the resort before heading off early the next morning with the northerly.

We knew the northerly would blow for a few days by checking the Prefict wind app so decided to make run for Mooloolaba around Fraser Island. Two nights at sea which were quite comfortable doing 4-5 hours watch each at night. A beautiful booby bird hitched a ride for a while.

On the last day, a strong wind warning and thunderstorm was predicted for later that day so I was anxious to arrive in Mooloolaba by lunch time. We motor sailed at 5-7 knots the whole way.

It was good to see our home port of Point Cartwright ahead and after a call to Colin Plant for directions to the private berth organised we made our way up the Mooloolah river, passing Valiam at the marina on our way.

Throwing the lines to Colin we recognised the house where the jetty was. We lived there in the early 90s when we launched Valiam. What a coincidence!!
The house looks the same but the jetty where Dadandi is now is new. When we first launched Valiam in 1994 our neighbour Rick rented us his jetty for $25 a week. Ricks house is gone now and replaced with a modern 2 storey building.

It was great experience sailing a cat but we prefer our beloved Valiam. Later the storm came through while we were happily having a drink on board.

My book Sailing in my Sarong - around the World, a 30 year dream has just been printed as a SEVENTH edition! It’s great to know people are still interested in our circumnavigation story in our home built yacht. My book has many images of my artwork including this one - a sketch and wash I completed on board anchored at Bora Bora, French Polynesia. On Friday 8th September from 2pm to 4pm we are having a relaxed celebration @iluka.emporium to enjoy a drink 🥂 and have a yarn with me and my Captain Underpants ⛵️ If you would like a copy it’s $45 and of course I’ll sign it for you. ($10 for postage) 378 pages of stories from 30 countries and heaps of colour images. I guess I’m a bit proud of this first book 😍

Exciting news - After numerous requests I will be publishing the SEVENTH edition of Sailing in my Sarong our circumnavigation story with a new epilogue. Release date will be announced soon!

I can’t believe it’s nearly 30 years since we launched our home built boat Valiam. She’s taken us on so many adventures which we hope to add to in the not too distant future.

If you wish to pre order a copy it will be $45 plus postage and I will sign it of course with a free card of my artwork. 😍

Email Linda : artistinthebush@gmail.com