2023 Australia Homeward Bound
Malua, as you may well know, is a famous Australian horse born in
Tasmania. The horse Malua was the most versatile Australian
thoroughbred racehorse in history. Malua won over distances
ranging from 5+1⁄2 furlongs to 3+1⁄4 miles (1,100 – 5,200
metres). The term "Malua's track" was coined to name that portion
of the Flemington Racecourse where he showed excellence and speed.
In 1884 he won the Melbourne cup. Carrying 9 st 9 lb (61 kg; 135
lb) In 1888 he was switched to jumping, not so unusual in those
days and he won the VRC Grand National Hurdle. He then had a very
successful stud career.
Malua was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in
2003. In the suburb of Ormond in Melbourne, there is a street
named after the great horse (Malua Street). A memorial to Malua
was erected and opened in October 2009 in the Deloraine Museum, in the
town where he was born.
With that pedigree front of mind, I set off from Bundaberg on my way
home to Bermagui. To say Malua had the bit between it's teeth
would be an understatement as we flew south with the wind behind us.
I left Bundaberg at about 4:30 am to try to make the tide at narrows in
the north of great Sandy Strait to the south of Fraser Island.
Eye Candy also left Bundaberg early and was in hot pursuit but fail to
catch me as I entered the shallows at Sheridan Flats just one hour
after the top of the tide.
I had my track going north as a guide and tried to follow that as best
as I could but turned to port when I should have turned to starboard
and nearly went aground. When through the shallow it was on with
a race towards the entrance at the wide bay bar. I had to stop
for the night to wait for the next mornings tide. The following
morning the high tide was at 1300 with the tide rising or flowing into
the great sandy straits. Not the best scenario for a quick exit.
I arrived at the sea entrance of the wide bay bar near Tin Can Bay at
about noon and immediately hit the incoming stream full on. My
speed dropped to 2.5 knots and Malua battled against the wind and short
chop. It was a battle to make headway to the virtual way-points
some miles out to sea but still behind the bar. The wind at about
20 knots at this time was almost on the nose, the swell small but short
so Malua took every hurdle in her stride as we made our way towards the
finishing line of the bar.
On reaching the bar we turned to starboard and up came the main as we
started to lengthen the stride for the next finish at the Gold Coast
Seaway entrance. That was about 135 nm or 24 hours at 6 knots.
The sun set but no moon rose as we continued south. The wind
started to head south so by 2:00 am it was a full on beat into very
confused sea and many large vessels wanting to come inside me
(shoreside) as I raced south. About 3 hour before dawn the wind
and rain started – not a light rain but a full-on down pour which
reduced my visibility to a few miles.
I was now abeam of Brisbane with large ships entering and exiting the
seaway and five trawlers steaming north. With all their lights on
it is easy to sea them but one can not make out their steaming lights
(Red and Green) so you don't know in which direction they are
travelling. They do not have any AIS signal and don't listen on
VHF Channel 16 so there is no response to calling them. It is
just get out of their way.
I was keeping a good watch but out of no where a well lit trawler
appears not 100 m from my port bow. I turned the wheel and held
my breath expecting to catch the keel on the net towed behind but
thankfully Malua continued to race south averting that fence and off to
the finish line. Here the tide was in my favour but the sea was
very confused as it crossed the shallows of the Seaway entrance.
I made it through and turned to port towards the Seaworld
anchorage. Bums Bay I understand, but I dropped the anchor
attached to a nice shiny galvanised chain in sand with about 4 m of
depth under the keel.
After stowing the sails in the cover and clearing up it was time for a
shower and a well deserved beer. Food then off to bed….
No need to go ashore and re-provision, I just had to wait for the right
from the north to sail south. This leg would be the longest but
easy if the wind was from behind and the current running south.
I did not have to wait long for the right weather forecast for this leg
to sail to the next resting stage which was 400 nm away – that is
almost 3 days at 6 knots.
T he final finish is here...
