Avalon sailors take on North Queensland for the 2023 Season

On July 17th, Chad Leggett, (Just Magic II) Greg Davis and Felicity (Flick) Davis Rafferty, headed out of Pittwater, aboard Hot Chilli,  farewelled by Gary and Helena! For Chad and Greg, heading north was nothing new, but Flick had never made a sea voyage before, and this was Hot Chilli's first big outing since she has been with ASC.

It all started easy enough with overnight hops first to Coff's Harbour, then Southport. Lots of motor sailing, in lightish winds, that were at least in the right direction. Southport was quite social with friends and family. Greg's cousin Jimmy, led the way on the inland passage to Moreton Bay in his big 50' Cat Born Free. With no depth sounder, the sand was only found on one occasion!! Pretty good really!

Southerlies were brewing. Chad assured the crew that Tangalooma would be a good place to wait out the ferocity of the wind. HMMMM. There was plenty of rockin' and rollin' but no music or dancing! After a couple of nights, RnR, progress got underway, with a midnight start, through the shipping lanes to ensure a high tide entry through Wide Bay and into the Great Sandy Strait. Whales notwithstanding the crossing was made. Only afterwards did Chad and Greg admit to Flick that it was the wildest conditions they had ever experienced for said crossing!!  

After a lovely stay off Kingfisher, the journey continued to Lady Musgrave Island. It's difficult to do it justice. From a distance, seeing masts holding steady in what looks like another patch of ocean, while Hot Chilli was bouncing about on approach, was quite surreal. The closer discoveries of this unique environment are even more special. From there to Great Keppel Island and then Yeppoon for provisions.

Underway again and the southerlies were giving things a real go! We hid in Pearl Bay for a night. Meant to be another great anchorage, but more of your wild bull rodeo ride, that was evacuated for a short hop to Island Head Creek, which did provide some respite. Southerlies kept coming, 20 - 30 knots, if it slipped below 25 kn it was a rest! Too much swell (2m) for the autopilot so hand steering in half hour shifts. Made it to Middle Percy, expecting some protection...Jimmy Barnes all night, again no music or dancing!! From there to Scawfel, where respite was found, and then easy southerly days, only 20 knots, to Airlie Beach for the start of Race Week on August 10th. When we came back into range for regular communication, it was discovered that the collective adult children of Greg and Flick had become worried about not hearing from them for nearly a week! Coast guard and Marine rescue organisation had been called. They were advised and shown a screen shot of ‘Hot Chilli’ safely anchored at Brampton Island, which allayed their fears. News to Flick Greg and Chad – Hot Chilli never anchored at Brampton!

It was great to have Bob and Jodi fly into Ailie for the start of racing. It was the ‘old’ crew from Just Magic II’s racing in 2016 as well as the best part of the crew for Chill for the last few years. No doubt that Hot Chilli is a cruising race boat with 5 living aboard. A good start to racing in a small fleet in the Non Spinnaker Division. Each time a wine glass or lost halyard was spotted, there was general assent that non spinnaker was the right choice for a crew of 5. 

The skipper, Greg, was consultative, and he was at the helm. For the most part, Jodi, Bob and Flick managed the headsail and Chad managed the main. Bob and Chad managed the foredeck.  

Day one produced a fourth, with 20 knot breeze, Day 2, in positively benign conditions of 15 knots had us around the course in 3rd. Needs must, the crew decamped to a local establishment to watch the Matildas in their semifinal against France. Some lively backpackers, thrilled with a stirring rendition of la Marseillaise, to wit of course, we all Aussie Aussie Aussie'd and won the penalty shoot out. There may have been some celebratory dancing on tables, just saying.

Day 3 of racing was a day of bobbing and whale watching. The ice making machine on board providing the where with all for margaritas to be served before the race was abandoned. Rest day and then Day 4 'postponed' due to lack of breeze (what a contrast)! Day 5, and desperate to get some racing, windward/leeward races were arranged in the bay. Despite a false start and re start, with some very close calls, and with a No 1 headsail that has seen very many, better days, Hot Chilli managed a first in the 1st of two races and a 2nd in the second!!

No wind and no racing on Day 6. Met some great people: Roger and co on the Big Hairy, out of Yeppoon, were stable mates. They were in a different division, but friendly ambassadors for Yeppoon, that's for sure. Didn't know the outcome until the presso that evening, and Hot Chilli was delighted to pick up a 3rd for the series.

On to Hamilton Island, via a glorious day at Whitehaven, beautiful walks and views, and a bit close to a couple of snakes!!

Hot Chilli seemed to have been granted a berth in the top end of town.  It was hoped that this was a portent of things to come!! And so it was, Day 1, 20 - 22 knots from the south in a course to the southeast, and Hot Chilli got a first, in a non spinnaker fleet of 19 boats. YAY!

Day 2, 15 knots from the South, and you guessed it, 1st again!! The Handicapper then got very serious!! Day 3, and the sailing was probably better, with the no 2 up and a 15 knot breeze (albeit an extra mark was included), and a 4th place was had. The lay day came and Greg was keen to take anything of any weight off the boat! Flick volunteered !!  Again our stable mates were great fun. A trailer sailer, Keep on Running,  that stays at Airlie, with a Melbourne crew and a lovely 45 footer in the spinnaker division Espirit, with a crew from all over, some whom were friends of friends of Jodi's. Plus Wayne and Craig who crewed in a previous year for Bob on Chill. Hammo was very social. The INXS cover band was pretty good on night three. The stage was close enough for rock n roll dancing in our bunks with music!!

Toni Fox was also in Hammo, with a fellow sailor from Newcastle Yacht Club. She was part time crew on a small vessel in our division, called Windfall. The skipper was not a very experienced sailor and for instance missed the first two starts by 14 and 10 minutes, respectively. However, Windfall was a favourite with the Handicapper!! She got first on Day 3, Day 4 and Day 5 and didn't race on Day 6 because Toni and her other crew mate, Annette, flew home!

Race 4 and things are getting to the pointy end with Hot Chilli still leading the series. Our best day of racing, new no 3 up, 20 knots with gusts to 25 with Chad the master tactician leading a tacking duel with our closest opponents. 10th URGH! Race 5, 20 knots plus again and the new no 3 doing its thing. The course took us around Hammo and Hot Chilli decided to add an extra island to give the other boats a bit of a chance! We came 11th, but were 4th fastest over the course, even with the extra island. The race then took us to the north west and HC loves the wind at her back. The bigger, 40 footers, looked on in awe as we sailed past them! At least at 11th our handicap was finally adjusted down. 

The crew attended a women in Sailing event, thanks Jodi. Great guests on a panel, but the host was Mark Richards from Wild Oats! He started by talking about the girls. Someone from Hot Chilli may have called out, WOMEN!!

So, all down to Race 6. 20 - 25 knots, and again a course to the north west allowing for a fast start. Jodi helmed part of that leg, with speeds up to 10.6kn. Boats with spinnakers flying took a time to get past us!! A tight race of tacks with Chad in his element again. 

Results in late, 7th place, enough to allow us take out the series by one point, once the 11 was dropped!

Lots of celebrations saw a recovery day on the Sunday! Boats on both sides and across the way, had podium finishes, a winners circle!! Headed back to Airlie to drop off the wonderful crew mates, Jodi and Bob, re-provision and head south!

Lucky to have unseasonal nor'easters, so an overnighter to Middle Percy made the most of the breeze and a much better anchorage. A lay day and an Hot Chilli sign left at the A frame shack.

Taking the wind on offer, another big day to Pearl Bay, some wind against tide in the morning, light breeze and motor sailing. Same again the next day with arrival at Yeppoon right on low tide. Hung about outside the breakwater for about an hour, then ventured in according to the Harbour Masters instructions. All Good! Thence once in, a few 'touchy' moments trying to get to our berth. A sailor at the Capricornia Club, gave us the best route to avoid any further touching moments! No Friday night dinner at the club, but Roger from the Big Hairy, came by provided a tour guide and shopping service. Great bloke and ambassador for Yeppoon!

Early start and building northerly provided good progress to Kingfisher. Thence through the Strait, mindful of the tides, to what is to become known as Chad's Anchorage, just inside Wide Bay. Strong northerly all day, up to 25 knots inside the straight.  Northerly's continued and continued to build for the trip from Wide Bay back to Tangalooma. Up to 28 knots inside Moreton Bay and not abating. Still blowing 14knots at anchor at 1am!

A sojourn in Brisbane for a few days, for a work event for Flick, provided a family catch up time for Chad. Thence Manly and a battle with tides through the inside passage to Southport. Only hit bottom once!! The journey continued non stop from Southport, again taking advantage of the favourable winds. Home to Pittwater in the wee hours of Saturday 16 September!

Felicity Davis Rafferty