Back at sea, for the first time since arriving in Bundy on the 3rd of November. 8 or 9 knots of beam wind. Currently sailing at between 4 and 5 knots, speed over the ground, and half of that is current. Wouldn't have made it into Mooloolabah until well after dark, so heading right on down for Brisbane. Just enjoyed a late lunch - pasta salad, and melted cheese on ship-baked flatbread.

The last time I had looked in the bilge was perhaps two days ago, so, when I opened it up this morning - prior to leaving the anchorage - too much water! Although an oily black layer floated on the surface I tasted it (could have been a leftover of the leaking hot water cylinder) - salty. We discovered a leak in the shaft seal. This normally seals off seawater coming up the tube from the propeller. Dribbling out, it forms a pool in the bilge and the automatic bilge pump had quit. It wasn't broken, thank God. Turned out the bilge pump switch had got accidentally tripped, so that was okay! But the leak continues, until we can haul out, and replace the shaft seal. So I monitor the bilge more often!

When we went to set up the computer as a chartplotter, it was black screen - nothing. Thought it had died. Fortunately, left on charge for a few hours, it returned to life. And we had a backup, in the C-80 chartplotter, which piloted us past the breakers and over the choppy waters of the bar.

So we are out. It will be an all night run to Moreton Island.