Malua the Thoroughbred

Malua, as you may well know, is a famous Australian horse born in Tasmania. The horse Malua was the most versatile Australian thoroughbred racehorse in history.  Malua won over distances ranging from 5+1⁄2 furlongs to 3+1⁄4 miles (1,100 – 5,200 metres).  The term "Malua's track" was coined to name that portion of the Flemington Racecourse where he showed excellence and speed.

In 1884 he won the Melbourne cup.  Carrying 9 st 9 lb (61 kg; 135 lb)  In 1888 he was switched to jumping, not so unusual in those days and he won the VRC Grand National Hurdle.  He then had a very successful stud career.

Malua was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2003.  In the suburb of Ormond in Melbourne, there is a street named after the great horse (Malua Street).  A memorial to Malua was erected and opened in October 2009 in the Deloraine Museum, in the town where he was born.

With that pedigree front of mind, I set off from Bundaberg on my way home to Bermagui.  To say Malua had the bit between it's teeth would be an understatement as we flew south with the wind behind us.

I left Bundaberg at about 4:30 am to try to make the tide at narrows in the north of great Sandy Strait to the south of Fraser Island.  Eye Candy also left Bundaberg early and was in hot pursuit but fail to catch me as I entered the shallows at Sheridan Flats just one hour after the top of the tide.

I had my track going north as a guide and tried to follow that as best as I could but turned to port when I should have turned to starboard and nearly went aground.  When through the shallow it was on with a race towards the entrance at the wide bay bar.  I had to stop for the night to wait for the next mornings tide.  The following morning the high tide was at 1300 with the tide rising or flowing into the great sandy straits.  Not the best scenario for a quick exit.

I arrived at the sea entrance of the wide bay bar near Tin Can Bay at about noon and immediately hit the incoming stream full on.  My speed dropped to 2.5 knots and Malua battled against the wind and short chop.  It was a battle to make headway to the virtual way-points some miles out to sea but still behind the bar.  The wind at about 20 knots at this time was almost on the nose, the swell small but short so Malua took every hurdle in her stride as we made our way towards the finishing line of the bar.

On reaching the bar we turned to starboard and up came the main as we started to lengthen the stride for the next finish at the Gold Coast Seaway entrance. That was about 135 nm or 24 hours at 6 knots.

The sun set but no moon rose as we continued south.  The wind started to head south so by 2:00 am it was a full on beat into very confused sea and many large vessels wanting to come inside me (shoreside) as I raced south.  About 3 hour before dawn the wind and rain started – not a light rain but a full-on down pour which reduced my visibility to a few miles.

I was now abeam of Brisbane with large ships entering and exiting the seaway and five trawlers steaming north.  With all their lights on it is easy to sea them but one can not make out their steaming lights (Red and Green) so you don't know in which direction they are travelling.  They do not have any AIS signal and don't listen on VHF Channel 16 so there is no response to calling them.  It is just get out of their way.

I was keeping a good watch but out of no where a well lit trawler appears not 100 m from my port bow.  I turned the wheel and held my breath expecting to catch the keel on the net towed behind but thankfully Malua continued to race south averting that fence and off to the finish line.  Here the tide was in my favour but the sea was very confused as it crossed the shallows of the Seaway entrance.  I made it through and turned to port towards the Seaworld anchorage.  Bums Bay I understand, but I dropped the anchor attached to a nice shiny galvanised chain in sand with about 4 m of depth under the keel.

After stowing the sails in the cover and clearing up it was time for a shower and a well deserved beer.  Food then off to bed….

No need to go ashore and re-provision, I just had to wait for the right from the north to sail south.  This leg would be the longest but easy if the wind was  from behind and the current running south.

I did not have to wait long for the right weather forecast for this leg to sail to the next resting stage which was 400 nm away – that is almost 3 days at 6 knots.

Winter is here and I sailed north

 When the temperature in Canberra get to -6 C Yes minus six then it is time to get on Malua and sail north to warmer waters.

That is exactly what I did but the wind Gods had not got the change of seasons right so the wind continued to blow from the north. The direction I wanted to go.  This delayed the trip by some weeks while I spent a lot of time looking at the weather forecast.  On the days  that I was able to sail north I made the best of the wind and made miles north.

Denny arrived at Mackay via the big bird and we set off for points north

Our first stop was at Brampton Island which we had flow into in 1972 with 8 other Armidale friends during our flying circuit of Australia.  We walked on the airstrip and visited the now closed resort.  The resort was hit by the tropical cyclone a few years ago and the sand and water came right up into the bedrooms.  The furniture has been removed but the sand still remains.  The current owners can not get planning permission to rebuild because of all the regulations.

We left Brampton and day sailed along the island chain towards Airlie Beach because it was obvious that the RIB I had so carefully restored was coming apart and filling with water. Furthermore the two outboard engines - one two stoke the other four stoke objected at being associated with the sinking RIB and refused to start or restart when we were on the beach.  They came very close to joining the previous outboards in Dave Jones Locker but saved themselves for the time being.

At Airlie Beach I purchased a new 4 stroke 8HP Yamaha outboard and had it delivered to the wharf but I could not collect it because of the RIB was not totally coming apart.  Next was the purchase of a RIB.  Now I have to admit I made a significant mistake in my choice of supplier. Marine.co  The MD assured me it would be in Airlie Beach within in 7 days.  Three weeks later after a great effort tracking it down It was delivered to my nominated address BUT the sender had not put my name on the unit so I had to go to great lengths trying to convince the owner of the yard that it was for me.  The suppler had by now taken off with my funds and washed his hand so was not answering his phone.

OK Have outboard and inflatable RIB so we can now visit the islands and enjoy the "Best cruising grounds in the world"  Oh no they are not.  Crowded with charter catamarans with people who think that it is a large RV and no seamanship knowledge.  The moorings are in the best places so a normal vessel has to anchor outside in the deep water.

The wind blew and it rained for almost 3 weeks as we tried to put on a brave face and enjoy the sunny tropical paradise of Queensland.  In the end Denny decided rightly so she would return to the warmth of our Canberra house and flew out on the big bird (Jetstar) after a significant delay back to Canberra.

I the set off for Bundaberg to haul Malua and get the 100 m of Australian chain galvinized. The haul-out went well with a 3 coats of anti-foul and a top side polish I was back in the water in 3 days but no chain.  The local Chandler had stuffed up the delivery of the chain and it would only be delivered the next week so I was left in the water no marina berth and no chain to attach my anchor to so I could anchor in the river.

I took my 28mm nylon rode  and attached it to my very best 35kg Brunzel anchor.  It lasted the first night but then at dawn on the second the wind had come up to 20 knots the tide was running in and the anchor alarm went off.  I was drifting up river with the current and the anchor was dragging through the mud.  At some point the anchor got round the keel and the full force of the water was side on to Malua as the rode strained against the sharp edge of the keel.  I did not start the engine expecting the nylon rode to get round the prop so I sat and waited for the tide to turn.  I did not wait long and bang the nylon snapped and I drifted towards the river bank.  I haul in the the short line and motor up river to potentially the calm of the river at Bundaberg city.

I have three other anchors on board but no chain so what was I going to do?  The Danforth was the best option for the mud but after a few minute it too started to drag.  I picked up someones mooring and set the Danforth over the stern with some dive weights to keep the rode along the bottom.  This held while for the next few days I worked out how to get my chain from the factory to the boat.

I selected a wharf and asked the owner if I could come alongside at high tide to load the chain which he kindly agreed.  Now to get the chain from the factory.  As we say in Australia the chandelier came good and delivered the chain to the wharf.  I loaded the chain and attached my big SQR and Malua was again fit for the sea.

Now the trip home.  That will have to wait for another day.