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01/13/2017: "Far too long without a serious sail"

We have a new cat! Audacious is the new member of our family. A Crowther 43ft cat, 1999 vintage, designed to go with the creature comforts needed for extended sea time. We picked her up in Brisbane prior to Christmas. Crew of Catherine, Gavin and Fletcher for the sail north. The first days sail was lovely so we decided to continue on overnight, the forecast good and the moon full. At 0300 hours when we were rounded up in 25 knots, the first reef line having parted and the lazy jack broken, mainsail billowing out and a warning about a sunken fishing trawler and floating nets off Inskip Point on the radio, we wondered at our wisdom. We sailed on under headsail alone, eventually rounded the breaksea spit and ran for Bundaberg. Here we licked our wounds and did repair before heading out a day later. Huey, the god of wind and waves, then smiled on us and Audacious had a two sail reach under full main and screecher for the next six days, arriving in Cairns only a day after the planned (or hope for) date. She sails beautifully, doing wind speed (10 in 10) on a reach, and the coffee pot barely moving. More adventures to come.