Christmas Goose

I am sitting here watching my cousin Simon play with his 12yr old daughter Natalie. She is her fathers daughter as she nervously jumps off the side of the boat into her waiting fathers arms. Together he passes on the skill of rowing the dinghy and coaxes her through the pulling and pushing action required to propel the inflatable dinghy in a forward direction. She proudly exclaims her dad cooks the best scrambled eggs ever and even her mother is chastised for criticising her hero - Dad!

It is said that for boys, their most influential person is their mother, or at least a female to nurture them through life, the opposite example of what is happening before me. Whilst this may be true I cannot help but think about the most influential female in my life. I loved her since I first lay’d eyes on her, full of rubbish floating around in her bilge as the rain poured in through the holes in her roof.

I lovingly restored her over 8 years to be the pride of my fleet. She gave us safe passage in 2004 as we left Sydney and cruised up to Lizard Island in Far North Queensland and then became home until 2010 providing me an Island of refuge in times of troubled waters. 

It hasn’t been all plain sailing. Like all females she requires plenty of attention and can let you know if she hasn’t received it. Whilst others have competed for my attention she has always seemed to win out in the end. That in itself has created various forms of conflict, despondency, rejection and pain, but still the reality is she depends on me and me ultimately on her. Sailing is in my veins and despite everything else I am drawn to the ocean like a moth to a flame, knowing that whatever the consequences I cannot be myself without it. 

Tin Cn Bay sunrise

I have been living the life of a land lubber in a normal house with unrestricted water, showers, electricity, heating, cooling, rubbish removal and everything we take for granted  for two years. Cooper, my son, having grown tired of the lack of space and general boating life vowed last year that for christmas holidays his only request was not to go anywhere near the boat! I hope that one day he will see the value and pleasure of boating life, but in the mean time we have taken our adventures on the road with a motorbike and tent searching different states, cities and towns in a fruitful quest to quench the thirst of travel. My sailing adventures with Eva have been absorbed sailing my friends beautiful Benetau 48 with all the modern creature comforts and space to burn in exotic locations up and down the East Australian Coast, caught up with his enthusiasm and willingness to make it really easy for us.

Meanwhile, my Goose has laid unattended and alone, its once proud paint and brightwork fading and covered in the droppings of the birds making the most of her layoff. With a quick visit whenever I can find time, my once pride and joy has become more a symbol of neglect, making the energy required to initiate restoration and full use of her all the more daunting.

So for better or worse we decided to make the overdue run up to Tin Can Bay where the lure of the Great Sandy Straits, Fraser Island and most importantly calm water and beautiful beaches beaconed in all but the foulest weather. One of my issues has been that all our sailing grounds, although beautiful, are also fraught with uncomfortable conditions the majority of the time making for unpredictable and and often unacceptable anchorages. Tin Can Bay was a logical new home for Wild Goose, within a reasonable driving distance and an easy sail to readily accessible stopovers. Maybe from here we can invite guests out without making them violently ill and throwing them off their beds at night!! Oh how I miss those quiet anchorages down the Hawkesbury River.

This amazing storm passed through on our second night

As Australians celebrated Christmas morning with excited children finally ripping open their presents that have been sitting ever so tantilisigly under the tree for several weeks, we leisurely made our way north to where the Goose was waiting eagerly for our arrival, wagging its tail in the 30 kt southerly wind winding down through Rainbow Beach and the coloured sands. Despite the wind and distance dinghying out to the boat it was reassuring to note the lack of waves or swell save for the chop whipped up by the bullets of wind as they angrily swooped over the sand bar and knocked a fine spray off the surface of the water. I was thankful to have taken the opportunity to sail north from Mooloolaba when we did because out to sea 5m waves courtesy of cyclone Fina had totally closed the Wide Bay Bar making any chance of arrival from the ocean now impossible.

Having had the chance for all but a scant clean on the way up we spent two days resupplying and cleaning the superficial crust off the boat before weighing anchor for our two week reconciliation. 

Oh how sweet it is to fall in love again. To have the mask removed and secure the time to just soak in the joy of life aboard!! Despite the TV blowing up on the first night, the prop being so crusted with barnacles we could barely move, and running out of water on the third night, we were out sailing, beginning our new adventure!! As a violent storm passes over us and we fervently catch water, it strikes me how polarising boat life can be both emotionally, physically, mentally and  even life stylly(I know, I know). 

On one hand Eva is watching TV on the new HD flat screen, with full surround sound, and I surf the internet for weather, Facebook, etc, as you would anywhere. On the other, I wash the dishes in salt water before giving them a fresh water rinse in order to save our vital commodity that we have been dingying over from Kingfisher Bay Resort in our spare drink bottles!

sunset at Kingfisher Bay

Our days are spent swimming, paddling and reading with sundowners and showers at the resort before paddling back for dinner and movie as the generator hums away on deck. Its been so long since we’ve had such contentment and relaxation and I remember how good life can be aboard and the opportunities it can provide. Suddenly my to do list for the boat is being filled with enthusiasm and vigor again and with the prospect of so much more I look forward to tackling the tasks with relish. Eva has brought into the regime and suddenly the inside of the boat is sparkling as only she knows how, with plans and aspirations of her own; there is a wind of change around the Goose and it is all fair and sunny. I dive on the hull and clean the prop and scrub the scum line. The Goose seems to be preening in the attention.

The Barrett Family

As Simon and his family Kiersten, Natalie and young Ethan venture over on their runabout to spend two days with us, cleaning and preparing for guests forces us into a more thorough clean.  At the end of the session the only reminence of the mould and dust is the lingering smell of bleach that gives away our cleaning endevours. Still, there is a new freshness to the teak and beech floorboards and stained timbers that give the boat so much character. as our guests arrive we settle into a less introspective time as everyone explores and takes in their new surroundings and conquers the fears of the new environment.   All the things I take for granted are like a new miracle for them to behold and make an adventure off!

I was soon gushing with excitement as they first reeled in horror at the realization that the blanket of moving darkness on the waters edge were thousands upon thousands of soldier crabs marching in formation on the low tide mark. Their panick was soon turned to fascination as the harmless crabs drilled themselves into the soft white sand so as not to be squashed. Fascination quickly developed into curiosity as they held these brightly coloured crabs, being tickled as they attempted in vain to spin into the cups of their innocent hands.

A beach lined with soldier crabs!

The two days passed all too quickly and everyone seemed comfortable with the new surroundings and we agreed that there was much more exploring to be done and fun to be had at another time.

As the Barrett family headed home I think we were all enthralled with the bonds and familiarity of both the friendships forged and capabilities of handling the various craft surrounding us!  


After 5 glorious days mixing boating serenity with Kingfisher Bay hospitality it was time to replenish our supplies (not the least our water) and head off to our next major destination.

Fraser Island is the worlds largest sand island and is basically shaped like an enormous wedge. The southern extremity is the pointy end from where it expands out to around 90km at the northern extremity. Facing the north west it is perfectly protected from the prevailing south east trade winds, leaving a beautiful beach dropping into turquise water for as far as the eye can see. Think of those TV travel shows with people travelling half way round the world and spending thousands of dollars for some remote slice of perfection and you are on track except this is right on our back doorstep!! We found our spot with our nearest neighbours around a kilometre away and spent three days swimming, playing and combing the beach, left alone save for the occasional fishing boat passing by. This was our utopia.

Our Utopia!!

Eva and her Bo Derek moment!!

I took Eva here first several years ago in July during the annual whale migration. The mothers use this enormous protected bay as a playground for several months to feed their calves and prepare them for their long journey south to the cold waters of antarctica. Although empty at the moment, half way through the year the bay is full of these magnificent creatures allowing us and the the fleet of whale watching boats to get close and for us to stand awe of these truly magnificent levethians. 




Right now though, we get to soak up the sun and chill out in what we believe is our own slice of paradise as the sun sets somewhere over Bundaberg and the sky turns a rosella pink reflecting the extraordinary colours through the usually white sand!!

Sunset over Platypus Bay

Its strange how perceptions change at the point of turning the bow for home. Suddenly the focus shifts and I find it difficult not to start thinking about what is waiting for me when we get back. Even so, this has been a wonderful break and as we begin to retrace our steps and pick the favourable conditions to sail back in I am salvating at the thought of spending a lot more time it this truly remarkable waterway in the ensuing twelve months. We still have three more nights of magic on the way home and the oportunity to catch up with our new friends in Tin Can Bay and even a shower and meal at our now Yacht Club before leaving our beautiful boat and packing the car in preperation for the

                                                                                                           

                        Thank you sv Wild Goose, you do us proud.