Brisbane, Australia

Sailing has come to an end for me this year but on my way out of Australia, I passed through Brisbane and had a chance to swing by the museum on the Brisbane river downtown near the South Bank. Some great old boats reside there including the HMAS Diamantina, a WW2 frigate built in 1945.

Mackay Australia

Look closely at the photo and you may notice the tide change. It's huge here at about 25 feet and it gets a whole lot more the further you travel north.

We actually arrived here Thursday but after 7 days at sea, my favorite beverage and a long hot shower was a top priority.

Emergency at sea

On Saturday evening our neighboring boat captain, Glen on a Canadian boat called Denicia, called us on the VHF radio to say that he was having heart problems with a severe chest pain. This was in the middle of the Coral Sea, 500 nautical miles from the nearest land. We used our satellite phone to talk to Australian search and rescue which culminated in a plane coming out to visit us the following evening at dusk. They dropped 2 heavy barrels with medication and a satellite phone attached to a 400 metre rope. Originally it was thought that Glen had strained a back muscle but after talking with a doctor he came to the terrible conclusion that he would require blood thinning medicine.

There were 2 cannisters that were dropped off and these were so heavy that they required 2 people to lift them.

Leaving for Mackay Australia

We did some last minute provisioning before leaving Port Vila.

They have a solar farm quite near the center of the town.

Steve and Linda posed in front of a wall of bamboo

Waterfall

Ok so I know that waterfalls are usually tourist traps but we got to see a lot of Port Vila on the way and it was a beautiful, clear, fast flowing river.

Port Vila market

The morning market not far from the dock is full of fresh fruits and vegetables and a hive of activity.

We have 2 more days here before leaving for Mackay Australia on Thursday.

Port Vila

Here we are, tied up downtown next to the wharf. We actually anchored in the bay just north of here last night, called Hannah harbor so this morning we awoke early and motored 20 nautical miles against the prevailing SE trade winds to get here. After hosing all the salt off the boat and cleaning Alora up, I went for a run north alongside the coast  got a feel for the city. It's very commercial here with lots of tourists, souvenir shops, atm machines, cafes and currency exchange places along the pot holed Street.