So much for a hoped-for mini-sailing season in 2024! We didn’t get one! After hanging around Port Stephens for three weeks, we took the first opportunity that Huey (the weather god) gave us to get to the Gold Coast.

But the Gold Coast wasn’t a pleasure destination – the primary reason for this end-point this year was annual maintenance. And because of the delay, the start date for going into the slipyard kept moving. In the end we got to The Gold Coast early, so there was more waiting around before the scheduled date. And because of the weather, and the need to hide from some of it, this meant waiting around locally. We also found ourselves with plenty of time to fill in when we actually got on to the slip – the annual maintenance tasks having been allocated to professionals this year, and a delay for departure due to an insurance claim. Hot days on boat were spent not moving much – and trying to keep out of the sun. Delights for the month were catching up with several boats we haven’t seen for a significant period of time, and highlights were a few bush-walks; some in old stomping grounds, and one in a newly discovered destination. Aboard Sengo October 2024 is not a big document – 3.4 MEG.