November was a mixed month; a month where we were on the move, and yet we were not. In a typical year northerly winds in October and November are the catalyst for cruisers to start sailing south. Our northern exploration had been late so our southern retreat down the coast was going to be late as well. But instead of getting northerlies to help us get south, we were constantly trying to plan around far too many and persistent southerlies. For the first part of the month we took advantage of this and explored around Gladstone, but toward the middle of the month when we wanted to make a concerted effort to head to the Gold Coast we found ourselves juggling our travel days (and in some cases staying put for a while) to fit in with the weather.

I did notice after I had finished the document that I hadn’t listed all birds seen; and of course I won’t remember them now, but one sighting stands out; a pair of Eastern Curlews was a grand sight on the sand bank at River Heads. I can’t now remember which day we saw them, I just remember they were frolicking on the sandbank behind us, along with a flock of whimbrels.

Aboard Sengo November 2022 is 4.9 Meg.