Vanuatu to Bundaberg 
October 20, 2017 - October 27, 2017

After 6 fabulous weeks spent in Vanuatu it was time to start the journey back to Bundaberg, Australia.
We left Aore Resort in company with SV Cruising Kitty, at 5.30 am October 20, 2017, we had main and headsail up running port motor. Winds were 15 knots SE with a 2m seas, it was very sloppy and uncomfortable for the first four hours, we then settled for a few hours of good sailing. during the days that followed we had 3 to 3 1/2 m seas at times with plenty of water coming over the sides and into the helm. Our crew member Geoff took a bath sitting in the cockpit after he had just showered and changed his clothes. A first for Sans Souci taking on that much water.



Sans Souci on the way home from Vanuatu

Our sailing company Cruising Kitty decided to stop at Chesterfields, we decided to push on as we had a good weather window for the next couple of days.

The weather didn't do as it was forecast which is pretty unusual Oh um! we had a day of glass with no wind then 25k NW kicked in for the last 24 hours. The seas were 3 1/2 m and they were coming over the side of Sans Souci giving our cockpit a bath. Hugh dropped the main sail and we had a half headsail for the rest of the journey.
We arrived at Bundaberg at 10pm dropped the anchor in the river with great relief.....we broke out the rum and coke and had our first drink for 7 days.
The trip took us 7 days, 16.5 hours. We were under full sail for 43.5 hours and motor sailed the 141 hours, total 184.5 hours,  1097 nm, averaged 5.96 knots, used 436 litres of diesel.

Bundaberg

Getting through customs the next morning was pretty uneventful even though we had two dogs going through the boat. The young dog in training found vinegar in a cupboard and thought it was heroin....apparently they smell the same.....we had a bit of a laugh.

We had joined the Go West rally to come home so we had a week of festivities at the marina and a great time was had by all.

Our welcome entertainment Go East rally

The storm that hit us Cup Day in the marina saw gusts of winds reaching 67kn, our side covers on our boat were shredded from the wind and rain coming horizontally into the back of Sans Souci.

Storm at Bundaberg Cup Day 2017

Awesome looking clouds

On the end of our marina finger two other boats broke away, one of them hitting the finger on the other side and ended with a great hole in the side which caused her to sink. People came from everywhere in dinghies and pushed the catamaran over to the boat ramp where they were able to float her. The owners and friends worked through the night pumping out water and trying to salvage the boat. Two cranes attempted to lift her out but she was too heavy being full of water. they ended up towing her down the river. She was written off in the end and by the insurance company, the owners were able to buy another boat. It was a very traumatic time for the couple who were overwhelmed with the support they received from everyone.



SV Felix  being dragged up the bank at Bundaberg

Lady Musgrave
November 1, 2017

We spent 4 days at Lady Musgrave with SV Zofia, they had onboard as guests Sue and Paul SV Supa Trooper who did the rally to New Caledonia along with SV Zofia, Brian and Eva.
On one of our nights ashore for sundowners we were lucky enough to see a turtle laying eggs.


Sundowners on Lady Musgrave



Turtle preparing to lay eggs.

Hervey Bay
November 16, 2017

Catching up with good sailing friends Judi and Warwick Suttor SV Bamboozle, meant a night at the Yacht club for Shaggers, always a good opportunity to catch up with many friends.

Judi and Warwick Suttor..Warwick's looking very excited about something,
 must have been the fact he was seeing us.

Mooloolaba
 November 18, 2017

We left Hervey Bay 5.45 am and decided to head straight home to Mooloolaba, we crossed the Wide Bay bar and headed back to our home port taking 18 hours, 100 nm to arrive  just before midnight tying up to our jetty in the river.
It was nice to be home safe after being away for  7 months.



Sans Souci at home at Mooloolaba

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