We have crossed the coral sea four times, three times between Australia and New Caledonia and once between Vanuatu and Australia. The first passage was between Noumea, New Caledonia, and Brisbane our first entry into Australia. The passage was pleasant, mostly downwind sailing, although some thunderstorms and the plethora of shipping traffic as we got near the coast caused some alarm. Becky was especially frustrated by the bad manners of the Moreton Bay fishing fleet neat the coast - this was the first of a number of disputes with these guys. Entering Australia for the first time our beloved Audry II - daughter of Audry the basil plant which we mistakenly acquired at Roberts in San Diego was confiscated by Australian Quarantine - boohoo.
The passage between Bundaberg and Noumea in 2003 was particularly bad and an example of what happens when you do not wait for good weather - this is described below. We came back to Australia that year with the Port-to-Port rally confirming once and for all we are not rally people.
The passage between Brisbane and Noumea in 2006 where we had our new Quantum sails and waited over 6 week for the right weather window only took a little over 5 days, marina to marina including heaving too for 6 hours to wait for the daylight to enter the pass. The only problem with this passage is that we have become increeasingly susceptable to seasickness which makes passage making unpleasant. This problem was only solved in 2006 when we could buy Sturgeron - a powerful seasickness remedy, in Vanuatu. I don't know why this is not available in Western countires.
