I travelled through the night doing the short watches and then going below to rest and keep warm and dry. Either I would wake myself (which was more often the case) or the alarm on the phone would, and I would then jump out of bed and go on deck to check headings, any lights for other vessels etc. I made it a habit not to try and doze when the alarm went off, the last thing I needed was to accidently fall asleep and not wake up. Alarm goes, I jump up.
Before the sun rose, I could see the lights of Bundaberg in the distance; it was such a relief as from this point, I wouldn't have to do the trip alone. As the crow flys, I had travelled over 280nm, but as I have to round headlands, round islands, had a detour to South Percy Island and another detour for fuel, I had actually travelled closer to 320nm alone and in rough seas for more than half.
The waves were less than half a metre and the wind was less than 10knots, it was dawn and the sun was rising as I approached Bundaberg. The large motor cat was leaving on its way to Lady Musgrave Island with tourists, we had seen this vessel at Lady Musgrave Island and Bundaberg Marina previously on our passage north. About 8 cruising sailing cats left Bundaberg port and were heading south, obviously heading up for the "season". The weather was perfect for a cruise and here I was heading into port. I entered the channel at about 8am and after arranging for a berth, was tied up alongside, with help from marina staff, by 9am.
I then grabbed all my dirty clothes, wet sheets, my soap and towel and headed to the marina office, paid for the berth, showered and got the washing underway.
Back on the yacht, I had a late breakfast.
As I had passed in to berth, I had noticed "Lisa Kay" tied up in the exact same berth as we had used on our way north. Lisa Kay was owned by a couple we had made friends with on the Gold Coast on our way north, Mark and Signa. I took the opportunity to walk over, get some company and swap stories. They told me of a similar terrible passage they had had from the Gold Coast to Bundaberg.
Apart from a lovely lunch at the Bundaberg Port Café, I spent the rest of the day speaking to the family, doing washing, filling the water tanks, chatting to Mark and Signa, watching a couple of movies and headed off to bed early.