Detained by the police...

Position report from Menja:
Date: 08.12.2009 Time: 06:01 UTC
Position: 27°56.87'S 153°25.43'E
Course: 0 degrees true
Speed: 0 knots
Map link: http://saildocs.com/map?ll=-27.94783,153.42383&z=1

Sailed from Mud island this morning to pass through the shallow waters on the inshore route to Southport at high tide. At Steitzlig I was ordered to stop and anchor by a policeboat. The reason was that some movie company was shooting a new movie in the channel. But after a while at anchor I was allowed to continue. It is exiting cruising when doing 37 nauticalmiles and most of the time there is only 2-3 meters of water under the keel. Twice it was less then half a meter. Anchored at Southport at 1600, and will probably stay here towait for a weather window to continue further south.

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Mud island.

Position report from Menja:
Date: 07.12.2009 Time: 09:00 UTC
Position: 27°21.23'S 153°15.03'E
Map link: http://saildocs.com/map?ll=-27.35383,153.25050&z=1

Left Brisbane today after a weekend of "big city" life. Sailed (read as usual: motored) down the river and anchored at sunset just outside the harbour entrance behind Mud Island.

But what have happened in Brisbane: First I've got two more crew onboard. Katherine and Irene left Magic Roundabout and came on Menja on Friday afternoon. Then Natalie and Katherine left Menja on Saturday, heading to Sydney with a rented camper van. Today Irene left with a bus heading south. So now I am alone onboard again.

Ei helg i en storby er nok for meg. Brisbane har vel ca 1,7 mill innbyggere. Men fikk da sett litt i butikker uten å kjøpe så mye. Besøkte selvsagt det maritime museet på søndag. De hadde en hel fregatt fra WW2 i tørrdokk, og mye annet utstilt. Var innom en irsk pub, og aldri har jeg sett så mange fulle folk tidlig på en søndags ettermiddag. Det endte jo selvsagt med at noen røk sammen i en slosskamp, og til slutt lå det tre vakter og fem-sek andre i en klynge og sloss midt i et lys kryss mens bilene suste forbi... Australia ble jo først bosatt av straffanger fra england og det er vel det som er i genene deres fortsatt?

Menja fortsetter nå seilasen sørover langs kysten for å være fremme i Sydney til jul.

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Brisbane.

Menja ligger nå i storbyen Brisbane.
Menja is now in the city of Brisbane.

Position report from Menja:
Date: 05.12.2009 Time: 12:49 UTC
Position: 27°28.38'S 153°01.91'E
Map link: http://saildocs.com/map?ll=-27.47300,153.03183&z=1

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Mooloolaba.

Date: 26.11.2009 Time: 20:40 UTC
Position: 26°41.20'S 153°07.81'E
Course: 0 degrees true
Speed: 0 knots
Map link: http://saildocs.com/map?ll=-26.68667,153.13017&z=1

Yesterday we left the anchorage outside Tin Can to go inside the small river to visit the town of Tin Can. As we where rafted together with Magic Roundabout, Anna and Catherine came along with us to see the small town. But with 1,9 meters draft, low tide and not knowing where the deepest route where we ended up stuck in the mud, just outside the windows to the local coastguard center. But after a cup of coffee and half an hours of rising tide we came loose and continued into the town where we stayed a few hours.

In the afternoon we left Tin Can and sailed towards Mooloolaba overnight. To get outside to open water we had to cross a sandbar with 4-5 meters deep water where the ocean swell was rolling in. Went through at high tide and as the wind was weak it all went fine. Sailed along the coast sout, and in the morning hours the wind died and it was some motoring to arrive at Mooloolaba at sunrise. Will most probably stay here for a week or something. Need to go to a shop soon at the last time something fresh to eat was bought in Vanauatu almost a month ago.

It was really an nice experience the last few days to go inside the Great Sandy Strait and up the small rivers with almost no water under the keel.

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Tin Can bay

Position report from Menja:
Date: 25.11.2009 Time: 20:32 UTC
Position: 25°53.99'S 153°01.90'E
Map link: http://saildocs.com/map?ll=-25.89983,153.03167&z=1

Menja left Bundaberg port marina on Tuesday. We motorsailed across Hervey bay to Urangan where we catched up with the yacht Magic Roundabout. Magic Roundabout is Oceanswatch leadboat eho have been to Papua New Guinea this season. After a early evening ang an early start yesterday we sailed through Great sandy streat which is on the inside of Fraser island, the worlds biggest sand island. It was some narrow channels and sandbars, with sometimes less than a meter clearance under the keel. Anchored in Tin Can bay for the night. Today we will sail together wit Magic Roundabout overnight towards Moloolaba where Menja will enjoy a week rest, some small repairs, washing and cleaning.

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Urangan marina.

Position report from Menja:
Date: 24.11.2009 Time: 11:43 UTC
Position: 25°17.64'S 152°54.65'E
Map link: http://saildocs.com/map?ll=-25.29400,152.91083&z=1

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Bundaberg Port Marina.

Arrived at Bundaberg port at 0900, but as there where several other boats to check in we had to anchor for a few hours to wait. But eventually we went alongside the quarantine berth and in an hour's time customs and agriculture had done their inspection and was satisfied and we wher ecleared in to Australia. Quarantine took some salami, seeds and cheese, not too much. Customs didn't even search the boat so all went well.

Tonight we will have Natalies 22nd birthdayparty if were not to tired to celebrate!

Frank has a new phonenumber in Australia: +61429847832.

Date: 23.11.2009 Time: 05:25 UTC
Position: 24°45.68'S 152°23.15'E
Map link: http://saildocs.com/map?ll=-24.76133,152.38583&z=1

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Position report from Menja:

Date: 22.11.2009 Time: 09:02 UTC
Position: 24°06.00'S 153°20.00'E
Course: 230 degrees true
Speed: 4 knots
Map link: http://saildocs.com/map?ll=-24.10000,153.33333&z=1

Last day at sea. It have been slow sailing the last day, we even motored 6 hours last night. But there is only 65 nautical miles to go to Bundaberg now. Will probably arrive mid day tomorrow. And we have been preparing for customs and agriculure check by eating up most of the food which is not allowed in australia. So we have had a lot of popcorn. With salt, with curry, with garlic and the New Zealand speciality: Popcorn with icing sugar (popkorn med melispulver!)

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Position report from Menja:

Date: 21.11.2009 Time: 07:09 UTC
Position: 22°53.00'S 154°59.00'E
Course: 230 degrees true
Speed: 3 knots
Map link: http://saildocs.com/map?ll=-22.88333,154.98333&z=1

The last 24 hours have been a slow sail. Today it have been less than 10 knots of wind and our speed have droppet to 3-4 knots. Have done 266 nm so far, and have 190 nm to go to Bundaberg. Will probably start motoring later tonight if the wind don't pick up.

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Position report from Menja:

Date: 20.11.2009 Time: 07:55 UTC
Position: 21°44.00'S 156°22.00'E
Course: 225 degrees true
Speed: 5 knots
Map link: http://saildocs.com/map?ll=-21.73333,156.36667&z=1

Have had a nice and slow sail since yesterday, the wind is not strong, but have been averaging around 5 knots. Have sailed 160 nm since yesterday morning, still having 285 nm to go to Bundaberg. All fine onboard.

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