The festive season has been a total fizzle for us… While everybody is celebrating with family and friends, we have been isolating, trying to get over COVID. This has put the brakes on our plans to head south.
We often say Christmas is just another day for us. With no kids nor parents alive, we generally spend the day on our own, or with cruising friends in a similar situation. But this time was particularly antisocial! We spent a few nights at Whiting Beach, Yamba, hiding from people, southerly winds and storms. Yet it was a very nice, protected anchorage and we waited there for the northerlies to return.
It has not been very celebratory: no company, no present opening. Our gift to each other, a tandem kayak, was supposed to arrive while we were at the Boat Works, but it is now going to be redirected. Our days have been spent watching lots of Netflix, napping and trying to get over the dreaded plague. The only one who had energy was Bengie who enjoyed morning beach walks.
By Christmas Eve, the northerlies had returned but we had some mighty thunderstorms and heavy downpours, so we stayed put. The severe storms battering the East coast of Australia have been wild, destructive and worrying. People on land have suffered serious damage to their homes and cars from cyclonic winds, fallen trees, hail stones the size of golf balls and flooding. Cruisers on boats like us are not immune to the carnage either. We know of a few people whose boat was hit with hail and lightning in the past, and were out of action for months for repairs to their rig, electronics and systems. We can only hope we continue to dodge the storms.
Christmas day was a little more promising, and we headed off to Coffs Harbour, a 50nm run. It was an early rise to get to Coffs before the forecast thunderstorms.
Part way through, storms played havoc with the wind direction. We did not get wet, but ended up with the wind on our nose, dropping all sails and motoring for the rest of the way… so much for a Christmas sail! We reached Coffs early in the afternoon and picked up a public mooring, just in enough time to top up the fuel at the automatic bowser, and hide from the next downpour!
We kept going the next day and had a gentle sail to Port Macquarie, a 70nm passage. We love coming here and generally catch up with two sets of friends who live in Port.
But this time we are keeping our distances till we are both clear of the lurgy. We are moored in front of town.
Although it certainly is not the way we envisaged spending this end of year, there are worse places to sit and wait and with the southerlies returning, we can’t go south for a while anyway!
Sv-Anui 
Whether on land or sea methinks you have more than adequately told the ‘Christmas 2023’ story for many Aussies on the East Coast. All one can do really is be grateful if things were not worse. Glad you are on your feet with the lurgy and the boat has not suffered and Bengie is enjoying herself . . . don’t hurry . . . matters are not sweeter further south either . . .
Hi Eha, yes we are grateful we dodged the bullet on all those storms. Getting over the lurgy, both testing negative at last.
Well, you still have each other and that’s important! I hope you guys shake the damn covid off very soon. The views are fabulous as always! Anui looks great with her new wrap, lovely colours. Get well soon. 👍🏻😊🇦🇺
So sorry to hear about all the Christmas woes. We have managed to avoid Covid so far – I hope you both recover soon. The weather in Sydney, like the rest of the East coast, has been pretty wretched this summer, although nothing compared to cyclone ravaged Cairns and FNQ. We’ll be heading south after NYE and plan to get around to South Australia. Anui is looking brilliant in her new livery!
Chris & Suzanne Discovery II
Hi Chris and Suzanne
Lovely to hear you have plans for South Australia. We’ll be watching with interest.
Hi Chris and Wade,
I drove past this morning on my way home from an early morning row (way too many jetskis and runabouts). Anui was definitely gracing the bay on the courtesy mooring. Hope you are not too sick and recover quickly. Let us know if you need anything,
Hi Meredith, we both tested negative at last this morning so things are looking up. Have reprovisioned and leaving tomorrow. Will message you.
Glad you’re negative. Hopefully catch up with you next time.
I’m sorry to hear both the weather & covid have made times challenging & difficult for you. All the best for feeling heaps better & hoping you manage to have a Happy New Year & all the best from us for 2024. Lindy Phil & Ella Bleu from stormy Sydney ⛵️⛈️🥂🐈
Hi Lindy, happy new year to all three of you. Let’s hope the storms abate for all of us.
Happy New Year Chris & Wade,
hopefully you are now lurgy free! I know the feeling I’ve had something similar over Christmas – urk!!
Let me know if you are stopping around Sydney. It would be fabulous to catch up again!
Matty
Hi Matty, you are back! Happy New Year and lovely to get your comment. We are over the lurgy but facing another challenge that will delay us. We will know more next week.
Oh No!!
I hope that it’s nothing serious!
Let me know when you know more.
Matty
Happy New Year and I hope by now you are over all the ailments.
Yes the weather on the east coast has sure been wild indeed. Hopefully its not something that is with us for ever. Take care get well and may 2024 be good to you both.
Happy New Year to you and Mary. Better now.
May you have furtive fun and fine, fair winds for 24!
That would be nice! Happy New Year to you and Claire.