Another day, another chance for some divine exploration – this time, we motored back to the inside edge of the barrier reef and wound our way through a rich maze of coral bommies and, while driving by remote control from up on the bow, Dave found the perfect anchorage for a snorkel.
The abundance of life within the sanctuary of otherworldly corals was stunning. Tropical fish and whitetip reef sharks populated the oceanic jungle, and some crew were in the water for a good couple of hours enjoying the reef’s beauty. Pan-fried fish and fresh salsa – and a fiery side of diced New Caledonian chillies – served as lunch and prepared us to say au revoir to New Cal as we embarked on our first west leg toward Australia.
The first part of the crossing to lower Lansdowne Bank gave us the best, glassy ocean conditions we’d had so far, allowing Phoebe to open up and once again display her ocean-crossing prowess. Averaging over 30 knots we got to Fairway Reef in the pastel pink and blue of early evening, and more fishing success increased our haul. We pushed into the night at 8 knots and prepared dinner, then readied the boat for a couple of hundred miles of open ocean, powering up again to 30 knots to get to Wreck Reefs by morning.
The experience of being on watch during the night was surreal – the ocean, softly lit in greyscale by the bright moon amidst a carpet of stars, enhanced the spirit of adventure. In these moments, we found a tangible sense of peace.
We arrived at Bird Islet in the early morning, nosing up to the shore and anchoring in white sand among the bommies, and then stepping ashore for a circumnavigation of the island. We took in the sights, befriended birds and surf-cast stick baits into the shallows off the beach. It was incredible standing on the beach surrounded by chattering birds in every direction, with the bright blue sky and the warm sun blazing above, nothing but ocean in every direction and fish and turtles visible at our feet in the pristine tropical waters.
Snorkelling such a remote, untouched reef seemed unreal, with Mitch and Paris interacting with one of the largest female turtles we’ve ever seen, and Ben had a magical interaction with a large green turtle.
We explored and fished some more, then nestled in a sandy patch outside the reef for another delicious lamb dinner before weighing anchor and pushing on at high speed into the clear night bound for Bundaberg, which we reached at 0300.
The following morning, cleared in, it was off to Brisbane and our last leg. By 0100 the following morning, berthed at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Marina, it was all over. We’d had a trip of a lifetime, with Phoebe proving herself the very capable, high-speed ocean-crossing adventure-cruiser she is.
For Mal, delivery was a breeze. “Everything was organised – I just turned up on the day,” he beams. “It took a bit of getting used to cruising offshore at 30-plus knots day and night, but it was a tremendous confidence boost making the trip with Dave and Mitch and the crew, who all knew the boat so well – in fact, it was probably the best way to learn about the boat.
“The XF60 definitely met my expectations,” he continues. “It really does perform as they say with speed, comfort and fuel economy.
“And, realising the boat’s ability after reading and talking about it for a few years, was a real highlight. As was visiting New Caledonia. We all enjoyed the trip and each other’s company, especially visiting Wreck Reefs on the crossing to Bundaberg – it was such a special place in the middle of nowhere!”
So, would Mal would recommend the experience to others? “I had a great time and couldn’t have had a better bunch of people to travel with,” he enthuses. “To travel in a new boat like this offshore with the crew that designed and built her was a no-brainer – I’d highly recommend it to anyone!”
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