Arrived back in Brisbane and spent a few days provisioning and running errands. Making sure that MAD was up to the new adventure. Marine mechanics had a month to do a service on the engine while we were in Vancouver, but noooo, they decided that they would do it the day after we got back.
Picked the cats up same day we arrived … I think they were excited to see us but who knows. I guess cat prison was not so bad. Emma is now eating dry food. Yeah!! Before leaving Brisbane we needed to have the dinghy engine serviced. Turns out that there was water ingress in the gear box. $650 for the a new seal!! plus labour … or a brand new outboard.
Left RQYS on Monday with a new outboard engine and went overnight to Double Island Point. A very smooth ride up under a full moon with main and foresail out averaging 5 knots. We needed to stay overnight at Double Island so that we could cross the bar into the Sandy Straits at high tide and that will be the last time we cross that bar. Surfing down huge waves and constant watch for breaking waves. Depths down to 3 metres at the bottom of the wave with MAD having a 2.1 metre draught, it’s a little nerve racking.
Spent the night at Fig Tree Creek and had a very peaceful evening and sleep! Moved over to the infamous Garry’s Anchorage. Very shallow in here and not all it’s cracked up to be! 
We will be in Sandy Straits for a few days before moving north again … remember no agenda!!
It was good to see you guys. Thanks for finding time to reconnect. All the best and enough winds to carry you to your destination/s