7th Sep Stonehaven to Bait Reef 26nm

6.30am the alarm went off and we had tea and pulled anchor and headed to bait reef.

The ocean was flat with approx. 5 knots of wind.

The current was against us and as we approached Bait Reef it was almost 2 knots.

We arrived at 11am and lucky for us there were a number of moorings so we had no trouble securing one.

We immediately went for a snorkel and were disappointed that the Stepping Stones were obliterated by Cyclone Debbie. However, there were lots of fish to see.

Coral Trout

Nemo!! Black Anemonefish

Blue Lined Surgeon Fish

Double Humped Maori Wrasse

Very Old Black Trevally

Too Impetuous arrived with Rudy and Robyn. They indicated they would come out and it was good to see them. We were able to dinghy over to them and show them the entrance into the moorings.

After lunch, I swam around the yacht with the big black trevally. They are very territorial and chased the other silver trevally away so they can have anything I had to offer for themselves.

I had a paddle on the stand-up paddle board over the reef and discovered I had a couple of leaks develop in the seams. Not happy.

I brought it back to Billabong and put a couple of patches on it so hope it works.

Robyn and Rudy invited Isabella and Billabong over to Too Impetuous for a chicken curry which was duly accepted and we had drinks on Isabella first. A lovely sunset over the water.

We then went to Too Impetuous and had a couple of rums before the curry and we had a great discussion on the history of the yacht and the fun we had on her in the Admirals Cup in England in 1983.

It was amazing to be sitting on a yacht at Bait Reef on which I did the Fastnet Race on 34 years ago.

A great night on the reef and we had visitors during the night that kept us awake for a while before the gentle rocking motion sent us to sleep.

Night Visitors at Bait reef - Left a bit of a mess in the morning.