We finally left Port Denison Wednesday 5th May with a message from Grey Douglas

Here are some extracts from Grey Douglas' report to 'higher authority' on adequacy of 2010
Abrolhos sail plan....

               Plan was changed twice daily. Socks were changed weakly weekly. Jocks were changed less often. Sail Northwards. Emphasis here is 'sail', NOT motor along interminably and making Arabs happy.
Bugger me! Just saying this jinxed the trip. Every time we moved the wind stopped...every time we stopped the wind blew. The Northwards part is likely to have a few pub break...Two Rocks, Jurien, Dongara.
After some discussion (read ..listening with much patience to crews
opinion and then ignoring it faithfully) we jumped from Freo to Dongara.
Seems an easy option when leaving stress behind. Everyone knows that ethanol is a fine preservative,and we firmly believe beer keeps scurvy at bay. (scurvy could start at any time, so we guard against it with great vigilance. Not as good as Bob Kucera and crew..but a close second.) Much practice at being able to keep up with Bob (was that beer in Marco Polo's diesel?), but we know we are just a miserable last place when compared with true professionals. When confronted with Lizard's crews allowance of 30 beers per 2 days, we gave up the competion and admitted defeat. We couldn't even fit that much beer on the boat!
Avoid inconvenient bits of Australia and also keep inshore to miss the infamous Leuwin current. OK on the way up (no noticeable current when keepng to the 30m contour), but at least a 1.5 kt northwards (please explain that!) on the way from Dongara to just north of Lancelin. An amazing anchorage night in Lancelin on the way back, where we had the stern facing the wind!!!
Keep a bread knife duct taped to the boat hook to set the cray pots free. Saw only 1 pot from Perth to Dongara. I guess our reputation for setting pots free has spread and that the crayboots are running scared. (at least that's a nice thought, even if a bit wishful for next year!)  If Mark keeps on putting that much salt on his fish and chips, his arteries will keep him standing long after everything else goes limp!
Best spots are the moorings at Morley Island. No wind...much diesel. Green Head...bouncy even in the calm. Not good in heavy weather. Cervantes....(see Green Head) Lancelin...(see Cervantes). Bloody current defies physics and logic.
Mindarie...hic! ($17 for fish and chips and a pint) Nice place for a binge...you can find your boat just by falling out the door of the pub! Good place for weekends?? (other than Rockingham) Things we learned......Sadiqi Ra has set the standard for sundowners (and luxurious settings). Didn't see Ralph loosing much weight! Loved Connor's prompt response on the radio sched... made me feel loved!
Scaramouch is getting real good at anchoring and putting the wheel back on in a hurry. Seems to have developed a penchant for fresh mussels. (gathered directly from the farm). Thanks for taking on the radio sched...

Mika has a generator bigger than the main engine! Also their chef is lightyears ahead of ours. Not even a tin in sight! :)
Zofia's skipper shaves! (Cant be a real sea dog with a clean skin!). Political correctness is an obvious sin.

Capers is an alchoholic influence.
Lizard carries more liquids for crew than all other boats combined.
Marco Polo has tainted diesel and a very quiet radio. (Not sure if this
is hangover related)
Comet has an inexhaustable supply of great fish.
Shadow says very bad words when the anchor winch fails to work.
Yo (ho ho) manages to keep Kilkenny supplies far longer than real
yachties should on a long trip. If you keep on swimming with the fish
with big teeth....
Jacana (there...I got the spelling right) is just a figment of our
imagination...heard and never seen.
Catch Star...has far too much fun sailing off and completing our dreams
for us.
Sail-la-Vie gets there eventually.
Bunyip Dreaming is having fun with Driftwood and Panyetta (don't you
love the difference between latitude and longitude pointed out to you over the open air waves....love the dry humour guys!).
The youngsters (Mike and others) on the power boat Calipso are great
company, and doing the right thing. Well done!
       Grey Douglas out