We left Tweed Heads a few days after picking up our new crew member. Haak is from Bend and is spending a gap year after high school, working in New Zealand at an all boys prep school and playing rugby before returning to the states for college. We spent a few days at the beach, surfing, swimming, and having a BBQ with Cobie, a fellow cruiser we met in Fiji. Crossing the Tweed River Bar was kinda challenging with big winds, a sizable swell, and extreme tides due to a new moon. The boat wanted to go in every direction except straight when pushing through the breaking swells, but we only had to punch through one good sized set wave and then we were on our way. The Australian current helped increase our speed by 3 knots, allowing us to average 9 knots for a quick passage. We saw a whale, dolphins, birds, and even pulled in a Skip Jack Tuna for a taco dinner. So far the wildlife has impressed Haak. Us, too.