Sailing from Bundaberg, Australia to Port Vila, Vanuatu (Story 3)

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We are motoring in the Coral Sea.

(Sailing Day 6) This morning, my favorite star, Venus, was incredibly brilliant! I can’t believe how bright it was!

We’re still motoring. Seas have been calm and winds less than 5 knots. The new engine has been working nonstop for days. John changed the transmission fluid after running it for the first 24 hours. We switched the RPMs up and down every hour for that initial 24-hour period. Since then, we’ve set the RPM between 1500 and 1800. John thinks the performance is best at 1700 RPM. During my watch,

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Sailing from Bundaberg, Australia to Port Vila, Vanuatu (Story 2)

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Persistence pays off! Glad you found a spot, seagull.

(Sailing Day 3 to 5) Good morning, world! I slept a solid six hours without waking up. At 1:30 AM, we changed the watch schedule. The cats got their first treats of the day; they usually get three treats daily while at sea. They don’t like the engine’s noise, but we’ve been running it for two days straight. The weather forecast predicts another 30 hours of motoring. Despite the doldrum motoring, I feel refreshed and enjoyed the bright stars, Venus and Sirius, early this morning.

On the third day,

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Sailing from Bundaberg, Australia to Port Vila, Vanuatu (Story 1)

Posted on by by Posted in Australia, Sailings, South Pacific

Sailing at Full Moon Rise in the Coral Sea

(Sailing Day 1 and 2) It’s 4 AM in the Coral Sea. I hear the waves and John’s snoring – a much better symphony than the angry, gusty seas we battled just an hour ago. That earlier sea state was way beyond my comfort level, forcing us to compromise by sailing a little downwind rather than upwind. The good news? The weather forecast predicts motoring for the next few days, so we can easily correct our course then.

Despite taking motion sickness pills, I felt utterly hopeless on the boat earlier.

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Shakedown Sail: Bundaberg Port Marina to K’gari Island

Posted on by by Posted in Australia, Pacific Islands, Sailings, South Pacific

Sunrise at Woralie Creek Anchorage, K’gari Island, Queensland, Australia

A new engine had just been installed on our boat, so we decided to do a shakedown sail to K’gari Island (pronounced “Gur-rie”), also known by its former name Fraser Island. The island boasts endless powdery white sand beaches, and its creeks and streams flow with blackish fresh water into the sea.

There are many camping areas on the beaches, and after campers leave and before new groups arrive, dingoes emerge to check for any food scraps. We walked on the beach carrying a safety stick, just in case they showed interest in us.

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Many public holidays occur in Australia during April.

Posted on by by Posted in Australia, Boat Projects

Bad Bunny’s New Bottom Paint, John also used leftover blue paint from other boat to SCARE the sharks under water!!!

Last week, most businesses were closed for four days due to Good Friday and the Easter Monday holiday. This coming Friday is ANZAC Day, which stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. It’s a day of remembrance similar to Veterans Day in other countries. As a result, this week is a three-day work week. Our mechanics and boatyard employees will be available from Tuesday to Thursday.

Our engine project is nearing completion. We are scheduled to lift the boat out of the boatyard and return it to the water on Thursday.

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How to be happy today?

Posted on by by Posted in Australia, Boat Projects

Finding happiness during our engine replacement delay has been a challenge. This morning, I asked Google Assistant for advice, and it suggested the above. (Source: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/tips-and-support/how-to-be-happier/)

I’ve discovered a peaceful escape by taking the local bus to Bundaberg. The 30-minute ride passes through beautiful farmlands, with vibrant fields and expansive blue skies. The daily bus pass is incredibly cheap, around $1 AUD. On the early morning school run, I enjoy watching the energetic children. The midday bus is a social hub for retirees, who greet each other warmly.

We’re looking forward to exploring Australia properly once the engine is fixed.

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Pictures from South Korea

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Ramen Library (DIY Ramen Pick-Cook-Eat) in the Store, Korea

Beach in DMZ (Demilitarized Zone), View from East Coast of South Korea

Tong Yeong City, A Port City on the Southern Coast of South Korea

Temple in Seoraksan National Park, East Coast of South Korea

Jeonju City, Korea: Three Hours Bus Ride from Seoul

Insadong, Downtown Seoul, Korea

Myungdong, Downtown Seoul, Korea

Yeoido Park, Seoul, Korea

Kyungbok Palace, Downtown Seoul, Korea

Korean National Assembly Building, Seoul, Korea

Bukhansan National Park in Winter, Seoul, Korea

Konjiam Ski Resort, Two Hours by Metros from Seoul,…

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Sunbrella lasts forever right?

Posted on by by Posted in Boating Tips from Bad Bunny John

Acrylic Painted Sunbrella for Better Sun Protection

(Written by John) Sunbrella lasts forever right? Well, as it turns out, not really. 

Years ago I had a sail-cover made from sunbrella fabric that was of a questionable age. It ended up ruining the main sail as the SPF from the cover had deteriorated to about that of a window screen.

Luckily the sailmaker (North Sails) stood behind their product. They allowed me to purchase a new sail at their cost after the first sail basically dissolved in 7 years. Despite the fact that it was my old suncover that wrecked the sail.

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Happy New Year 2025!

Posted on by by Posted in Australia, Greetings, South Pacific

Sugarcane Fields in Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia

The New Year has started! While most cruisers returned home, we chose to stay quiet and enjoy a peaceful holiday season in the Bundaberg Marina.

On New Year’s Day, we had the pleasure of meeting two sailors from Japan. They had sailed directly from Japan and cleared the Australian Border Force (Immigration and Customs) in Bundaberg, Australia. Their nonstop journey covered a 3,300 nautical miles and took them 29 days.

Tomorrow, they plan to sail from Bundaberg to Melbourne, covering another 1,200 nautical miles—a journey that might take around 10 days.

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Sugarcane, Macadamia Nuts, and Melon Farms in Bundaberg, Australia

Posted on by by Posted in Australia, Boat Projects, Pacific Islands

A Joey (Baby Kangaroo) in a Pouch of Mom at Cania Gorge Big4 Holiday Park, Queensland, Australia

Bundaberg resembles an inland farming town in Florida. It is summer here, with very hot and humid weather. The sun is intense, but frequent winds provide some cooling relief. We try to avoid being outdoors during the peak sunny hours.

The sugarcane fields stretch endlessly across the horizon. Cane trains run through the town, transporting the harvest from farms to sugar factories and ports. The soil here is fertile, supporting extensive macadamia nut farms, potato fields, and melon farms, which we’ve seen so far.

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