WE MADE IT!!!!


Today, Friday 28th Feb '25 and the delivery is done!  


I flew into Coolangatta Airport from Auckland on Monday 24th and Christine and Gavin (the owners) flew there from Sydney.  

We met up at the airport and Ubered to the boat at Boatworks up the Coomera River on the Gold Coast.  

Straight into sorting the boat out and prepping for the 2 day run down the coast to Sydney. 

The boat detailers were onboard cleaning inside and out as well as the electricians as they had a few little jobs to finish so it was a bit hectic.   


The weather originally looked good for a Tuesday departure but as usual that changed.  We had to vacate our berth by 09:00 on Wednesday so we decided to have a change of scenery and moved to Southport Yacht Marina on Tuesday afternoon once all the trades guys had left.  


The weather for Wednesday departure was looking petty good except it was going to be a little bit bumpy for the first few hours until the first waypoint when we change course and headed a bit more southerly.  The waves were East/Southeast and as I mentioned before this boat along with the majority of catamarans do not like heading into a seaway.  

It was a little more lively than forecast but not too bad and not for very long.  Once the waves came more from the beam the ride was much more comfortable and the further into the trip the more they came round and ended up coming from behind the more comfortable the ride.


So the trip took us 45hrs, leaving around lunchtime on Wednesday and arriving into her new berth at around 09:30 this morning. We encountered the Aussie version of the "pesky" fisherman and would you believe these guys did not have AIS so we had to rely on good 'ol radar and eyeball 101.  apart from a dozen or so of them and a few ships further off shore it was a pretty uneventful trip.  Although we did have a few visits from different dolphin pods which is always a treat.


I have been boating for somewhere around 50yrs now and 22 of those years in this area of the world and many times I have come to this area and departed from this area but I have never actually arrived or departed from Sydney Harbour.  That changed today when we went past the heads, into the harbour, past the Opera House and under Sydney Harbour bridge.  That felt really good as that experience was on my bucket list so thanks so much to Christine and Gavin for the opportunity!  


We also had a welcoming committee. 2 very new looking Sydney Harbour tugs came out and both used their twin water cannons in a fan effect as a show of welcome .......  wait, that might of actually been for the Queen Anne cruise liner which was following right behind us.


So Pikorua is now home and in the hands of the owners who I am sure will spend many memorable miles, countries and years on her.


Until the next adventure..........


Photo

Comments

  1. CT28 February 2025 at 18:58

    Thank you Gary (and Kel) for safely delivering Pikorua from China to Sydney! It was a long trip for you both and we appreciate you staying the course! It was a real treat for Gav and I to have the benefit of doing the last few hundred miles with Gary to learn from his experience and hopefully become better boaties! In Sydney at last! Well done boys!

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