Sailing Escape - Episode 15 Back to the Gold Coast and more Boat Work

This Episode 15 was planned as “Shark Attacks at Cid Harbour”, but there had to be a change of plan.

After losing several months of film footage, that was kept on an External Hard Drive, we didn’t back up (lesson learnt), we sail the boat south again to crack on with boat projects.

We had sailed north from The Whitsundays to Townsville and Magnetic Island. A few days spent out on the reef at isolated Wheeler Reef. Return to Townsville and head for Hinchinbrook Island followed by a few weeks of diving The Great Barrier Reef from Beaver Cay to Pellowe, Miln and Flynn Reefs off Cairns. A few weeks break in Cairns before sailing over 1000 Nautical Miles down to the New South Wales Coast and back to The Gold Coast.

We are getting the boat prepared for several years of international cruising. There had been a build up of many coats of antifouling previously and needed to be taken back to bare hulls and freshly applied.

Leah got fed up with the dust, dirt and mess of the boatyard after a few weeks and had other plans. She got a job helping a Delivery Skipper sail a newish Fontaine Pajot Helia 44 from Mackay in The Whitsundays down to Mooloolaba on The Sunshine Coast.

Jobs undertaken during haulout: –
New solar panels – 2 x 360 watt Sunpower panels replacing 3 x 130 panels. New Victron Solar Controller, and Thermal CB.
Spectra Cape Horn Watermaker needed a service and a replacement head to the Water Pump.Replace hydraulic hosing with nylon tubing from The Clark Pump to The Membrane and new BSP fittings.
A new CB to the DC Panel. New Balmar 165 amp Alternator for Port Engine.
Replace Whale Gulper Water and Shower Pump.
Service and replacement parts for Paguro Generator. New Electronic Fuel Lift Pump for Generator.
New Fuel/Water Separator Filters for both 40HP Yanmars. Oil change – Engine and transmission. New Anodes, rubber boots and grease Feathering Props.
Gelcoat and Fibreglass repairs to Hull and Crossbeam. Polish and wax finish.
2 coats of Primer and International Paints Micron Extra AP Antifouling.
New Code Zero Sail bag, Main sail boom bag repaired and new zip.
Second Hand Mercury 15HP Outboard for back up or to be used as primary motor for tender.
New Dometic 50 Litre Portable Fridge/Freezer. New replacement Smev 2 Burner Cooktop for Galley.

wow!!! hopefully that will keep us going for some time!

The Haulout was carried out at The Gold Coast City Marina and some work was undertaken at a work berth at BoatWorks next door.