G’Day all from Bundaberg Port Marina on Wednesday the 20^th November and we have just port SD2 into dry hardstand storage.  This storage is relatively cheap due to no connection to power or water and you are not allowed to do work or live onboard.  We will put her here until we return in late February for a yard and maintenance period.

 

From our last entry we had arrived in Kepple Bay Marina and said goodbye to Guy, and had Luke and Tina join us on the 10^th November and sailed to the Kepple Islands on the 11^th in great weather.  We anchored in Monkey Beach for an afternoon of swimming and snorkling and settled in for the night.  The following day we shifted anchorages to the north and had a good look around the island and also a few drinks at the resort.  We also stocked up on ice for some sunset margaritas.  Lovely.

 

On the morning of the 13^th we sailed east to Southwest Island Reef and anchored on its southern edge.  Really only something you can do in good conditions.  Luke and Matt tried for some fish but to no avail, se we finished off some more of that ice with margaritas again.  

 

The next day we sailed south to Fitzroy Reef and spent a magic few days in the lagoon.   Great paddleboarding and swimming, though the reef itself was not as good as expected due to cyclone damage a few years back but loads of fun all the same.

 

On the 16^th we moved to Lady Musgrave Island and reef, a favourite of Lia’s and Matt, and spent another great few days’ swimming, exploring and fishing.  One evening whilst Luke and Matt where fishing in the dingy just outside the entrance, the famed local tiger shark came and had a good look at us.  2 metres plus of muscle and majesty just cruised around us and went on its way.  Beautiful to witness and to think I was in that water the day before spearfishing.  Makes you think ;)

 

With our lift date in Bundaberg looming we decided on an overnight sail to arrive in Bundaberg Marina at Bernet Heads on the morning of the 19^th and initially at anchor then to our booked berth in the early afternoon.  Tina and Luke help us turn the yacht over and ready for her lift the next day to the storage area where she will stay until May next year.   Luke and Tina flew out on the afternoon of the 20^th, and Lia and Matt stayed at the local and flew out on the 21^st.

 

We will now spend the summer working all we can in preparation for 2025.  Matt will have a yacht gig based in Sydney and Lia will do tour guiding and contract work.  Matt will return in Later Feb 2025 to do 5 weeks work on her between swings on his summer gig. 

 

Watch this space……