Watch this sailing video for the best sailing we can remember on East Coast of Australia from Port Stephens to Iluka. Light westerlies with cetaceans accompanying Mehalah, under clear skies make for a passage to remember in this around the world voyage.

We are ‘Outwiththewind’, Sorin and Ana sailing around the world aboard our sailing yacht Mehalah, an Oyster Mariner 35. We sailed off from London in May 2018 and had been stuck in NZ because of Covid since May 2020. We were chuffed to resume our around the world sailing in May 2022, returning to Fiji, and then sailing west to Australia via Vanuatu and New Caledonia. We are now in Australia and we are making the most of what this amazing country has to offer by land and by sea.

After sitting a few days of stormy weather, lazying around and investigating our steering slow response, we sail off from Port Stephens at dawn for just over 200NM passage to Iluka, where we cross the entrance sand bar in the calmest conditions, at night.

Once we reach Iluka we can, at last, throw our many layers off and enjoy life in the sun again. Shopping, garbage disposal, cooking the famous Iluka prawns were on our to do list.

With our impeding booking for a haul out at Bundaberg Port Marina, when the weather was right again we set off sailing at dawn for more than 300NM to Bundaberg. However, as soon a we motor sail outward across the sand bar, as we wanted to turn the engine off the oil pressure alarm comes on. Ups, we are having a problem! We drop the hook and wait for the volunteer Marine Rescue service to tow us back where we had left from…Disappointing, but we had to keep level headed to investigate and sort out our issue around the clock!

If you enjoy our video, please let us know by liking, leaving a comment, etc. If you would rather read about our adventures, please check out Outwiththewind.com

Thank you.

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