Aug 2001 The passage to the Louisiades PNG

We left  Bundaberg, on the 24th August 2001 where we cleared customs, and then headed out to Fredrick Reef.  After a short stop there we sailed on to the Louisiades.  We had light winds, generally and, without motoring, sailed the 850 miles in eight days.

The trip is more commonly done from Townsville as the ocean passage from there is shorter.  Our decision to leave from Bundaberg was based on two factors.  One we are leaving much later than most people and we don't have the luxury of a coasting up to Townsville.  The other reason is there should be a better angle on the wind if the trade winds have much 'east' in them.  The trade winds blow from the south east and the ideal situation is to have the wind 'on your back'.  As it turned out we such fickle winds that it wouldn't have mattered where we left from.

So finally on Aug 24 we cleared customs and sailed across Hervey Bay heading to Fredrick Reef some 250 miles distant. We were buzzed by the Coast Watch plane and it felt good to tell them on VHF that we were 'out of Bundaberg and bound for Papua New Guinea'

We were unsure as to whether there would be clean fuel available in the Louisiades so we decided not to motor unless absolutely necessary, so after 5 or 6 hours we found ourselves bobbing up and down becalmed in the middle of Hervey Bay. A few hours later we had light south-easterlies and we steadily made our way out. The trip to Fredrick Reef was mixed with mainly southerly winds that built to around 20knots but faded overnight and then easterly light winds that made for a confused lumpy sea for the last day going into Fredrick Reef. Two and half days and 250 miles.

The reef is a large horseshoe shape, well protected from the south, with just a sand cay for land and was very comfortable after two and half days at sea. We had to do a few repairs here. The luff of our old tired mainsail tore for about a metre when a slide jammed when reefing down. The other job was the HF radio faded in power when transmitting. So Col had the radio out and replacing some cables and Liz with the sewing machine out and half the mainsail in the cabin



We went for a snorkel and found the water incredibly clear. Not much coral, but BIG fish, and sea snakes circling the coral patches. To be honest Liz and I found it a bit scary with a strong current and the idea of being away from the boat in the dinghy at such a remote place was unnerving. So after a short swim we headed back to the sanctuary of our boat.

After two nights there the wind turned and threatened to build from the north-east, making our anchorage unsafe, so we headed out to sea on the third night. It was again light but lumpy. The next few days saw light south easter's which got us excited when the boat touched five knots. Out of desperation for boat speed the spinnaker was dragged out (for the first time ever!) and after mucking around packing it in it's sock it was hoisted, twisted and was dropped in the water. I am sure you can envision the next hour or so.

The next day was the same light wind so determined not to fail, we successfully hoisted it and got two or three extra knots for the days run. We finished the trip with light head winds but with good speed and yet again averaged a 100 miles for each of the six days from Fredrick Reef to the Louisiades.

The main group of islands of the Louisiade Archipelago is surrounded by a huge oval shaped fringing reef, some 120 miles long by 30 miles.  We arrived at the Duchateau entrance at midnight so we hove-to for the evening and got some rest til light before crossing the barrier reef in the main lagoon.