Yesterday, when we got up at 6 AM, the conditions in Pelican Bay were almost flat calm and the water was glassy smooth. On talking to the VMR (Voluntary Marine Rescue) people in Tin Can Bay we got the info. that the bar was also flat and plenty of depth, so off we went. On leaving Wide Bay you get a series of GPS co-ordinates to follow on the way out. The engine was doing all the work for the first few hours, but then the onshore breeze gradually got stronger, so we sailed for most of the way.
Approaching Mooloolooba, I just had to sail into here due to the wonderful name, the wind started rising, as did the sea. The forecast was for a raging thunderstorm soon in the area. We shot into the narrow entrance to the harbour and followed the channel all the way into the smaller marina in the farthest corner of the harbour, bypassing the main marina on the way.We cleaned the keel again in the 4 metre deep channel!
As we tied up the sky was getting darker and darker to the south of us. We all sat in the cockpit and watched the lightning start its show, gradually getting closer to us. There was a 3 hour show with the most amazing lightning display. It all slowly moved over us and then on north toward Fraser Island. 1 person died in the heavy flooding in Brisbane. At one point Val was standing on the entrance steps when there was a large flash and a hell of a bang almost instantaniously, so just overhead. Val shot down the steps like "greased lightning".
More Scrabble in the evening after some delicious steaks done by Michael.
The forecast for today is south easterlies, but not too strong and tomorrow is forecast to go round to North East, so we will head to Manly in the morning. 7 miles to the the Brisbane Channel entrance and then about 45 miles in the channel to Manly where we will tie-up BlueFlyer till the end of December on the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron marina. We hope to remain longer in Manly or Coomera further south.
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