Murphy has been at it again. Just as we were getting over COVID, the next calamity hit and forced a change of plan in our travels.
A few of you might have noticed that we were heading in the ‘wrong’ direction on Marine Traffic after leaving Port Macquarie. We went north instead of south, and have gone back to the Gold Coast. What? We hear you ask. Why?
For medical reasons. Yes… We had our head in the clouds, making plans for Tasmania, lining up visits to friends along the way, a guest on board for the Bass Strait Islands and part of the circumnavigation… getting excited. But we’ve landed back on terra firma… heavily!
Before leaving Queensland we went through the usual battery of medical tests including a breast screen for Chris. Unfortunately she has been recalled for further investigations. We received the notification late last week but had to wait for the clinic to reopen on 3rd January to talk to anybody or organize what comes next. They send you a letter instead of an email as requested, a week passes before it is received, by which time they are closed so you can’t do anything. Hopeless! Had they emailed as asked we would have saved ourselves a whole lot of grief and had the follow ups before Christmas!
Chris is not one for waiting a week doing nothing while keeping worrying thoughts in check. We decided we should use the southerlies to sail back to Southport and arrive just in time for the reopening of the Breast Screen centre. It meant it would give us something to do to fill in time, as well as some control back over an unnerving situation.
Although we had the option to stay in New South Wales and get the investigations done there after the New Year’s break, we figured we should be where our usual medicos are for the diagnosis and somewhere we know well with facilities to park our home Anui safely if we need to stay longer for treatment. Hope for the best, but plan for the worst!
It is frustrating, a little scary and so disappointing, because what comes next will at best delay our Tasmanian trip or worse, cancel it all together and we so need that adventure! Life afloat has been hard off late. Between boat repairs and medical issues, we have both had more than our fair share of set backs to deal with and really need to hit the reset button!
The return trip
We left Port Macquarie last Saturday once the tide was right to cross the bar. With four days of southerlies forecast, we at least could day-sail and not exhaust ourselves doing overnighters… or so we thought, as this too altered along the way. Little did we know we would make the return trip during the roughest weather on the East Coast!
Our first hop was to Trial Bay, an easy 30nm sail under main and screecher. The day was calm and sunny. By late afternoon you could see a storm was brewing, although it did not develop further that night. So up went the drone to capture a few shots of the beautiful bay.
The next hop was a 35nm run to Coffs Harbour on New Year’s Eve. It started well with great conditions for a fast sail. We were doing our usual 9s and 10s under main and jib, that is until the wind began doing full circles and the rain squalls started. We furled the jib and kept the main up with an engine ticking along, thinking it would pass and we could speed along again. But it got worse and worse. The ocean turned into a washing machine, the downpours became stronger, then the thunderstorms caught up to us. Have we ever told you we dislike sailing in the rain, and particularly hate thunderstorms?
By the time we decided we should bring the main down, somehow both lazy jack lines had come undone. Getting them sorted required a winch up the mast, not likely in these conditions!
For the non-yachties among our followers, lazy jacks are a network of lines that are rigged along each side of the mainsail from multiple points on the boom bag to a point on the mast just above the spreaders. Their purpose is to hold the mainsail on top of the boom and guide it into the bag when it is lowered so it is stacked neatly. Without them the huge main can end up sliding onto the cabin roof instead of dropping into the cradle… nightmare!
This was one of the rare times when both of us had our life jackets on and were clipped onto Anui. With the chaotic movement of the boat, the rain still bucketing down, thunder and lightening happening all around us, it was an “interesting” piece of teamwork under pressure to settle the boat into wind but with a 2m swell across the beam, stop the boom from swinging widely and stack the main in the wide open bag!
We motored the rest of the way to Coffs in the middle of the huge thunderstorm, eventually reaching the distinctive breakwater that looks like a fortress wall and turning in, with the easterly swell rolling right inside the harbour.
Next challenge: do we anchor or if one of public moorings is free, do we pick it up? The rain was so heavy we could not see anything in front of our nose. We initially thought it would be too difficult to pick up a buoy in a fairly tight area in these conditions. But as we got closer to the old jetty, we spotted boats anchored on the southern side and no one on the moorings on the northern side. So it was then up to Chris to bring the boat to the mooring and up to Wade to clip us on… mission accomplished first go… that’s when lots of practice pays off!
For those few hours in the wild weather, you certainly could not think of anything else… so this episode had its uses, although not quite what we had in mind to distract us from our medical worries! It was one of those violent storms accompanied by massive rainfall that created havoc all along the coast!
The weather on New Year’s Day was forecast to be similar to what we had just had but somewhat better on the next day. So not wanting to torture ourselves nor take excessive risks, we stayed put in Coffs Harbour, and fixed the lazy jacks in between rain squalls.
The next day we set off for an overnighter to cover the 150nm straight back to the Gold Coast Seaway. We had a surprisingly good sail under main and jib all the way, sometimes zooming along, other times slowing right down. The sea state was confused and very choppy, but overall we did well. Here is a clip of what it looked like as we were offshore of Yamba: it looks smoother than it was!
We managed to make the 150nm passage in 21 hours without any rain or storm. It was a relief to cross into Queensland at dawn.
Facing the music
We reached our destination early on Wednesday morning. We are now at Southport and will be floating around various locations until we get a diagnosis. There are restrictions as to how long you can anchor in the one spot on the Gold Coast and it is a very busy place at this time of year.
We are also on several wait lists for a marina berth because if Chris needs treatment, we will be on the Gold Coast for several months. Let’s just hope it won’t be necessary.
We had expected the follow up investigations would be done this week, but not so. They are scheduled for next week, so there is more waiting before we have a diagnosis. Oh joy! Waiting for the clinic to answer their phones or return our calls, waiting for tests to happen, waiting for results… waiting is the hardest thing but at least now we have the start of a plan.
We intend to distract ourselves with visits to friends, nice walks in the hinterland and on the beach, some pampering. It is now about trying to relax knowing we have done everything we could to get organised. Thanks to the special friends who are helping us by lending a hand, an ear, a car… your support is precious.
Stay tuned. And by the way, don’t be shy about commenting or picking up the phone. It helps a lot more than the silent treatment!
Sv-Anui 
I clicked the ‘like’ box naturally not liking the lines I had read at all. Thank you for sharing life – this time its stormy side. It is as it is . . . matters will be more manageable once you know the full facts and can begin the necessary steps towards resolution. Chris – I am a breast cancer survivor of nearly 19 years . . . I even decided to remain ‘lopsided’ and have not regretted that either. Hour by hour, day by day – you will get good advice on the Coast. Huge hugs . . . talk to us when you can . . .
Thanks for your kind words Eha and sharing your own experience. Interesting what we find out about one another. Will know a little more next week and will post again.
Hiya guys. We’ve been following your adventures from the Alice. Sorry to read of your latest news, and we are praying for the best results. Anui is so fast ! – how great that you have a vessel that allows for big adjustments. Hopefully the news is good and you can catch up with your plans.
Thanks Peter, really nice to hear you still follow our travels. Fingers and toes crossed!
Dear Chris & Wade,Good old Murphy is at it again. If anything can go wrong….. But you seem to manage it all. That’s what cruising is all about. We are happy to be heading south, away from Sydney and the crazy east coast weather – just approaching Gabo Is with 10kts easterly and looking forward to an easy passage to Deal Is.Our thoughts and best wishes are with you, hoping that the medical issues can be sorted out quickly so you can resume your southern cruise.Chris & Suzanne.
Hi Chris and Suzanne… dreaming of Gabo and Deal… favourite places in Bass Strait. Have fun and we quietly hope we can follow this summer. If not it will have to be next year. Take good care and enjoy life on your beautiful Discovery.
Hey Chris, doesn’t the waiting game just suck. My beautiful wife of 40 years has just started this shitty journey. Left breast mastectomy and full lymph node removal 4 weeks ago. All of this complicated by her pacemaker from last years heart failure which has had to be relocated to her right side. 5 weeks of radiation starts this coming Thursday. Having said all this we move forward confident that all will be well, and that our cardiology team, breast and oncology team at the Alfred will look after us. Hope your results are good and that you can get on with what you enjoy most ie just getting on with life. Take care and make sure that your other half looks after you properly.
Jon
Oh Jon, life is so tough at times. I feel for Jenny and for you. It is a shocking and harrowing story but she is still with you. I hope our path will be gentler. Hugs to both of you and thank you for your thoughts.
HI Chris & Wade, We were about to send best wishes for the New Year when we read your latest. It is now more important that we send them and in the meantime we are impressed by your clear thinking and action taken on a difficult matter. All our good thoughts are being directed north to you both. Tom&Lou xx
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Hi Tom and Lou. Thanks for your good wishes. We hope all our prep ends up being unnecessary but until we know more, it helps settle our nerves. Wade is quite steady in a crisis, me… less so. I fluctuate between being super organised and freaking out. Feeling quite fragile but we’ll get through it. Hugs to you both.
Hi guys, enjoyed your vivid sailing exploit descriptions, I could almost taste the salt water. Chris our thoughts and prayers are with you both. You both have enough health matters that would flatten most normal people. It may or may not be helpful, but Claire’s experience in medical research, especially oncology led her to say that most test results are about ‘there may be something, best come in for further tests ‘. Here’s hoping!
Otherwise, it was great seeing your pics of trial bay. It was one of our favourite camping spots… Great memories.
Be well!
Elgar and Claire xo
Hi you two, glad you enjoyed the tale of our wild sail back. Definitely not the conditions we would have normally chosen to go in after the first leg! Trial Bay and Coffs are special places.
We dearly hope Claire is right and that what we see and feel is benign. We are beaten up already and I personally don’t know how I’ll cope if it is not.
Hey Chris, you’re the sheila who flew her paraglider 100km, landed backwards in strong winds and survived unscathed, probably not known by many people ….. words like, ‘tough as old boots come to mind!’ (that was a compliment by the way). Stay strong you two!
Good timing with this reminder… feeling very fragile!
From: Maree Forte 06/01/2024
Hi Chris, thinking of you and wishing for the best ♥
Reply to Maree Forte
Thanks Maree, appreciate it.
From: Boocru65 06/01/2024
Sorry to read about your news. Thinking of you guys.
Hope everything goes well for you.
Reply to Boocru65
Thank you 🙏 and hello Mick & Lyn, now that I realise it’s you 😊 Good to have a chat.
From: Amanda 06/01/2024
Our thoughts are with you Chris. The waiting is so hard. Very tough writing about this too, but your posts are always honest & tell it exactly how it is. Glad you got back to Southport safely with this ‘cray-zee’ weather. Liked the video!
Reply to Amanda
Hi Amanda, it’s a funny thing, writing helps although there were a few iterations of the post… from angry and unpublishable to the final edit! And the little video… I need to do more of this.
From: Grichardson25
Fingers crossed for no big negatives Chris. Difficult times, but stay positive.
Reply to Grichardson25
Thanks Graham… trying to!
From: John 6/1/2024
Wow, a six-foot swell is a pretty good size but Anui seems to take it in stride. I love the video looking astern at the sugar scoops! It’s one thing after another isn’t it? That’s happened to me and my family too. I hope the Covid is gone now. I said a prayer for good health for Chris. Be well guys! ❤️😊
Reply to John
Thanks John. Yes it was an interesting trip back but Anui is a strong boat. As for the health side, it is one thing after another… difficult time.
Follow up comment from John
Stay positive and active.
Comment from Helene Young 6/1/2024
Ah no… I hate those dreaded recalls for breast screen, but hopefully you’ll be given the all clear and can head south again soon. Sending hugs from us xx
Reply to Helene Young
Hope so but feeling like I am on the edge of the precipice! Thank you for saying hello.
Comment from Matthewmorris104 6/1/2024
Oh Chris, how frustrating and worrying for you both. I’m wishing for only the best possible outcome for you!
Matty
Reply to Matthewmorris104
Thank you Matty. As you know it is the waiting in limbo that’s hard to take. Thanks for your good wishes.
Am honoured to be walking beside you on this part of your journey. Anything that you need, you have only to ask, my dear friend. 🥰
Thank you Bill. We are glad you are here for us.