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The bearing seemed to have collapsed making the steering wheel very loose. To get us back to Brisbane I cut up a nylon chopping board to make a couple of bushes which seemed to hold the steering in place better.

When we got back to Brisbane I started disassembling the helm. With several calls to a friend in Sydney (thanks Gordon) I discovered the only way to fix the problem was to remove the entire helm. With Ben and Greg’s help we disassembled and replaced the bearings.

I remounted the helm on the boat, connected the rudder up and it seems to work.

In removing the helm, had to cut out all of the fibreglass housing which meant now I had to build a new helm station. Instead of using fibreglass I built this one out of timber so the back could be removed if anything ever needed repairing again. All this has taken approx 3 weeks to do.

Everything on the boat takes longer to do in this heat and humidity – a trip to the hardware store for bolts takes all day. This week we hope to take it for a test sail.

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We spent Christmas in Bundaberg with Ben, Amie, Lachlan at Amie’s parents.

We’ve spent a bit of time with Lachlan, taking him to different playgrounds, to the movies, South Bank Beach (a man made sandy beach, series of large swimming pools and water features for kids to play around) and to the interactive reef at QUT where there were other interesting displays and some crafts sessions which included controlling a robot sphere around an obstacle course.

Fixing the steering wasn’t as easy as it could have been.

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We arrived in Bundaberg today after spending a couple of days at Fraser Island. On the way to Fraser Island the helm (steering wheel) started making a funny noise. When we got to Fraser Island, Andrew tried to oil it and discovered a bigger issue. We’ve now cut a “view door” in the helm pedestal so we can now see that the bearing needs replacing.

Being this close to Christmas, it may be an issue as many places have closed already. (There is an emergency tiller if it totally packs up but we don’t plan on going too far until we can get it sorted).

On the way up to Bundaberg we were meet by some dolphins jumping and frolicking across the bow.

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We moved to Moreton Island today, where we can swim and escape the party boats going up the river and cool off as the temperature today hit 41.5 degrees C.

We will head up to Fraser island in the next few days

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Still working on the boat.
Everything take 10 times longer on the boat. If I require a pipe clamp or extra screws or even getting groceries the process goes: lift the dinghy off the deck and into the water, lower the motor onto the dinghy. Lock up Imagine, dinghy 15 minutes to a secure dinghy jetty. then depending on what we want, it’s a 3km walk to the shopping center or a 20 minute ferry ride and 1.5km walk to the hardware shop.

But we do get to watch the sunset while having a wine on the aft deck and have feasted on fresh prawns. We get to meet up with Ben, Amie & Lachlan and see him with Santa. I have even dined on Chickens feet, when Ben took me out for my birthday (thank you for all your good wishes)

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GPS: 27 28.041S 153 01.960E

Run: 4.3nm (7.8km)

We are still anchored in the Brisbane river. Not in the CBD, but closer to the mouth of the river. The cruise liners pass us every couple of days as they go up river to the passenger wharf.

Still busy with maintenance on the boat, we’ve ordered a new mainsail and the mizzen sail is being re-enforced. We bought and loaded new anchor chain onto Imagine (no mean feat) and a few other bits and pieces needed including replacing the blades on the wind generator that some bird thought he’d have a mating dance with! It’s been great to catch up with Ben, Amie & Lachlan a few times and we are looking at spending Christmas with them in Bundaberg if weather permits.

Then maybe sail down to Pittwater just north of Sydney for a few weeks before heading back up to Brisbane to prepare for next season and then around March/April, up the coast through the Whitsundays to Cairns. From there we will head back to Vanuatu to visit the other islands we didn’t get time to see and to take some things to Chief Sofren (Awel Island) and a couple of other villages to help make their lives easier.

We think we will then head north to the Torres islands, Santa Cruz islands, then Solomon islands We like to give you an idea of where we’re going in case anyone wants to come and catch up with us for a week or two as some of you mentioned you’d like to. Let us know if you are interested as we are starting to look at where we are going, approx when we will be there and we are also starting to look for crew for some of the journeys and we’d need to make sure we have room for you! As is the normal for anyone sailing, itinerary is “loose and flexible” as weather plays an important part.

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GPS: 27 26.723S 153 05.906E

Run: 4.3nm (7.8km)

Last night after sending the blog, Brisbane put on a fireworks display (to farewell Cindy).

We all arose early and had our last breakfast with Cindy. Two hours later Cindy was packed and we headed to shore. We walked Cindy to the train station, to make sure she got on.

Returning to Imagine we hauled anchor and headed down river. It was a quiet ride with no-one vacuuming, cleaning up or screaching the words to songs no-one could recognise. Cindy, we miss you already.

By the time we reached the mouth of the river the wind was up to 25 knots and coming straight at us, so it was a slow trip into the bay. Once out we emptied the holding tank and started the watermaker. After an hour we had made enough water and headed back to the river.

1.5 hours up the river we found a place to anchor, but tomorrow we may look for somewhere else We heard on the port radio that P&O Pacific Dawn had a delayed departure due to high wind and that it was now due to leave at 7.00 pm. At about 7.30 she went past us, a tugboat in front and one behind. She went under the Gateway Bridge which we are anchored close to so we had a great view of her coming through, in fact at one point Sue thought they were coming over to grab a cuppa they looked so close. Several passengers were taking photos as were took ours. Picture from Botanical Gardens walk, there were several of these little bearded dragon lizards running around as we walked through the gardens.

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GPS: 27 28.041S 153 01.960E

Well the saying goes, “All good things must come to an end” :-(( We are in Brisbane & have enjoyed fun wonderful days in the city!! Picnics at botanical gardens & streets beach between our wanderings.

Since Wolfgang left, we are back on the over 50yrs old pace…..

That is leisurely morns, city explorations then back to the boat for late afternoon naps or puzzle solving sessions & relaxing before dinner :-)) Today is my last night on Imagine, it has been an AMAZING adventure!! Seeing beautiful places, experiencing other cultures & learning a lot more about sailing were all great…..

BUT, the best part of the trip was getting to know Andrew & Sue!! They are fun experienced sailors, gracious & generous hosts!! “What a crew, what a boat” as Wolfgang had often said!! We all got along splendidly, laughed often (till we nearly wet our pants) & shared an off colour sense of humour. Sue is great, she’s honestly candid, caring & was thrilled to have someone on board that sings worse than her….and she got a break from nagging Andrew cause I took over that job too…

Andrew is very patient, gentle and a true renaissance man, he can do it all & do it well….sail, sew, cook, repair engines, incredible photographer & videographer. He takes his responsibilities VERY seriously & I felt safe & in the most competent of hands.

Now remember this is Miss Bossy Pants here at the helm, but Andrew & Sue are humble & probably wanna edit this, but they’ll indulge me as it’s my last night here……it’s gonna be awfully quiet next week!! IMAGINE THAT!!!! ;-)) 

CINDY

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GPS: 27 28.039S 153 01.959E

Run: 28.3nm (51.2km)

We spent Saturday at Moreton Island, swam and Wolfgang and Cindy swam out to the wrecks. The current was very strong so Wolfgang swam back and Andrew took the dinghy out to collect Cindy.

We decided to head back to Brisbane leaving Moreton about 11.30 am. The wind had already got up and we pounded through the waves and at some times 37 knot winds to top of Brisbane river. Once in the river we had a lot of protection from the winds and waves. As Wolfgang was leaving us

Monday we went for a farewell dinner at the Victory pub in the city Sunday night. Huge meal which everyone consumed with gusto! Monday morning Wolfgang and Andrew went to collect Wolfgang’s camper from Wicked Campers whilst Cindy went looking for a fruit market.

After a couple of hours the boys got back with Wolfgang’s colourful camper and returned to the boat. Andrew and Wolfgang returned to shore after picking up Wolfgang’s bags and picked up Cindy who as she couldn’t find a fruit market had decided to go for a Thai massage.

Andrew, Sue and Cindy met up with daughterinlaw Amie and grandson Lachlan and went to lunch. After lunch we all went to the park for Lachlan and Cindy to play. Lachlan asked “Is that foreigner an adult or a child.”

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Early Thursday morning they were off to the bridge, while Andrew and Sue went back into Brisbane to get their data set up. There was only two other people on the bridge climb so Cindy and Wolfgang got to ask lots of questions, have lots of pics taken and for some unfathomable reason the four of them decided to ask each other trivia questions at the top of the bridge!

After the bridge climb they met Sue and Andrew at the waterfront and went for a picnic lunch at the Botanical Gardens. C and W then went on another walk taking in some more sights of Brisbane before lightening, thunder and heavy downpour stopped them in their tracks. It was over quickly then Andrew went across in the dinghy to bring them back to the boat.