Summer Breeze BC

23 January - 24 March 2020
It’s surreal to be writing about things that happened BC “Before Covid” or as my friend Julie describes it “In the Before Time.” We know that Covid was around before March but this is when it really impacted on us personally. We became aware of what was happening around the world, a few countries were locked out and Australia started talking about its response. John and I were somewhat isolated from all of this as so many changes were happening in our new life.

Stalking Summer Breeze
Technology is great. John was able to track the ship bringing our boat from Vietnam. When it arrived in Australia my brother in law Don who had worked at the Brisbane port drove us to where it was likely to be. We were able to see the ship but too far away to see detail. We later

learned that our boat was lifted off in the evening and towed by the Coastguard to Rivergate Marina where the mast was stood.

As all of the local fitout (eg rigging, navigation and communications) was going to be done at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron we started haunting the deck bar which looked onto the marina. Over the next few days we visited with Paul and Ness, Clare and Don, my friend Louise and Jeanette, Peter and Katie from Alice Springs and looked at the boat from the outside. We visited so many times I expected them to hand us a membership form.

Finally the work was completed and we were able to visit our new home on 4 February 2020. It had been a two year journey from ordering Summer Breeze to this point.

Orientation
The Multihull Central Service Manager, Brett Hodder, was in Brisbane for our orientation. He’s really focused and a perfectionist, two characteristics that we were very happy about as he ensured any and every tiny issue was fixed. We had four days to learn as much

as possible including a big day learning to sail Summer Breeze in the sunny Queensland weather (pouring rain).

There were so many things to learn – the boat structure and workings; how to use the navigation system; how to use the water maker; how to empty the holding tank (yuk) and the difference between sailing a catamaran and a monohull.

Then we had to work out where we were going to put everything – not one cupboard or locker on the boat is square or consistent in size. They are under the floor, under the bed in one cabin, under steps and behind backrests. We went from a full upright fridge and freezer in Alice Springs to a bar fridge and an under bench freezer. It was going to be interesting learning how to provision for weeks at sea.

The biggest learning curve was how to berth and tie up the vessel. Cats are usually reversed into a marina berth. If you have starboard berth and the helm is on the port side you cannot see the wharf. Tide, wind and other vessels are also problematic. The number of people watching you is directly related to the success of the manoeuvre – sort of like backing a van into a tight spot at a caravan park – the worse you do the more people watching. At least we didn’t T-bone another boat like one guy at the marina.

Because the weather in sunny Queensland was so unreliable another Seawind guy Chris, a sprightly 70 year old Scot took us for a run to use our spinnaker. Looks a bit complex – John can’t wait to use it.

Other stuff…..
Ness and Paul, our entertainment coordinators, arranged for us to go

with them and some friends to see Cold Chisel, supported by Birds of Tokyo and Magic Dirt at Sirromet Winery. In sunny Queensland it was, as usual, raining and we spent quite a few hours in the pouring rain have a surprisingly good time singing along to every song Cold Chisel played. Lucky we had 4WD to get out of the car park.

Most of our time was spent at BCF, Bunnings and multiple chandleries in Brisbane buying the numerous items on our shopping list. We were however able to catch up with friends and family Louise, Chris and Tanya and Tracey. I continued to visit mum each week to assist with some household issues. We tentatively practiced our sailing skills on trips to North Stradbroke and Moreton Islands.

Georgie and Adam's Visit
If we had the benefit of foresight we would have arranged the trip to occur earlier. In the end their trips were cut short as both South Australia and the Northern Territory were locking their borders.

We were really happy to see our children and we spent a lot of time outdoors at beaches, lookouts, parks or on the boat as everywhere

we had intended to take them closed down. We visited Dad and Margaret in Bundaberg again as the kids had not seen Mick for quite a few years. We had a lovely lunch at Grunske’s by the River and will certainly eat there again. Good seafood at great prices.

We booked a cabin at the van park at Bargara as it was a pet friendly park. Upon arrival we found that our particular cabin wasn’t pet friendly. Poor Tallis became a fugitive and was transported in and out of the cabin for toileting a few times a day in a Cooper’s beer carton. The first few times we put him him the carton there was great resistance with legs and tail everywhere. Eventually he gave in. The park owners must have worried about our drinking habits as we went in and out of the cabin few times a day firmly clutching the carton.

It was very sad to say goodbye to Georgie and Adam. We didn't know

when we would see them again with Adam joining the navy and Georgie returning to Alice (rather than moving to Brisbane).

And Now…
John and I are in the southern region of the Whitsunday Islands. We have finally arrived!! It’s amazing the difference a year makes – we feel so much more relaxed and healthy than we did in 2019.

Today’s Reflections
What’s good: Sunshine, whales and retirement.
What’s bad: Mosquitos, midges and sand flies – my new nicknames are Lumpy, Itchy and Scabby.
What we have learnt: We should have listened to my brother Paul's incessant information about fishing. Sailing is complicated. We live by wind direction and strength and tides not rain, shine and the temperature

Photos:
P 43 Summer Breeze and Moet et Chandon
P 45 Arrival of Summer Breeze
P 46-47 Summer Breeze Training
P 48-49 The Concert, Early Days on the Boat
P 50-51 Georgie & Adam's Visit, Trip to Bundaberg
P 52 Adam and Georgie
P 53 Our Front Footpath, Shareplate at Sirromet Winery
P 54-55 The Marina

Next: Summer Breeze – Pandemic Preppers