They, the migrants, expect that the cyclone season will end about Easter, allowing them to start the trek north. Cruising the coast south of the most eastern part is fairly straight forward, with port to port distances allowing a day sail in suitable weather conditions, which the migrants have plenty of time to wait for. From the most eastern part to a good way north of Morton bay this changes, and day passages are only available in good weather, and as I said right back at the start, we had several weeks of gales. The usual migration north from Morton Bay starts with an easy trip to Mooloolaba, some 60 nautical miles north. Once inside the Sandy Strait, the whole cruise to the most northern tip of Australia is protected from the ocean by Fraser Island at first, then for the rest of the way by the Great Barrier Reef.
All trips are day trips and interesting anchorages are everywhere.
However, this year the gales had formed a bar at the entrance to Mooloolaba, making the first stage to the wide Bay Bar a bit more than just a days run, and the weather shows little sign of improvement. This is trip of 350 nautical miles and in bad weather, no shelter. The character of this cruise will be very different to the normal experience of the migrants as it involves at least 48 hours non stop sailing. The photo shows Serendipity , slipped for survey, at the time Don bought her a couple of years ago. She is a fibreglass production boat, with a fin keel and separate rudder on skeg.