Arrival Back In Australia

Arrival  Back In Australia

We had a fast passage back from Chesterfield Reef to Bundaberg taking us 3 days and 2 nights. We clocked 185nm on 2 occasions and sailed all but the last 3nm to Bundaberg.  We couldn’t believe we had made the return trip and that we were once more back in Australian waters. Crossing the continental shelf to Australia and watching the depth gauge once again record an accurate measurement really made you feel that you were arriving home! The seas flattened the sun dipped, glowing red over the Australian coastline and we arrived at 9pm, anchoring by the marina at the quarantine buoy.

The following morning under directions from quarantine and customs we came into the marina at Bundaberg. We hoped we had gone through all the correct procedures regarding re entry to Aus’ but we were still anxious in case we had some dreaded foreign invader on board or had smuggled some unknown illicit French cheese! All proved to go smoothly and both officials were friendly and professional, giving us a clean bill of health! Although it cost us $330 for the pleasure at least we were told we wouldn’t need an inspection by the termite sniffing dog which can cost much much more!  Good job they didn’t spot the hitch hiking cockroach that Roger killed today!! We celebrated our safe return after a fantastic voyage with a bottle of good French Champagne bought in New Caledonia for the occasion!

So now we have 2 weeks to return to Scarborough, Brisbane via the Great Sandy Straights and the Wide Bay Bar and then fly back to Melbourne. We will have to clean up Dreamweaver and prepare her for a stint on her own in Brisbane.  Should be a piece of cake after the last 6 months, fingers crossed!