Pancake Creek

Sunday 19 September, Gladstone to Turkey Beach

We left Gladstone Marina at noon which was later than we planned so we had only a short time with the outgoing tide. This was fortunate in one way as with a 20k easterly breeze the waves were really standing up. While the seas got better with the incoming tide, our speed over ground suffered and we realised we weren't going to make Pancake Creek before the sun went down. We ducked into Gatcombe Head but decided it was too exposed and tight with 2 other yachts already anchored.

We went with the tide to Turkey Beach in the Rodd Peninsula for the night. The anchorage was good but rain in the morning stopped us going ashore to look around.

Monday 20 September, Turkey Beach to Pancake Creek

The good weather ended today with rain and squalls for the short trip to Pancake Creek. Another school mackeral on the line meant fresh fish again tonight. We anchored in the mouth and moved further into the creek when the tide came in later in the day.

Tuesday, 21 September to Friday 24 September, Pancake Creek

Only our second period of prolonged rain in 4 months and Pancake Creek is a nice place to sit. We dragged our anchor for the first time in this trip so moved further up the creek and reset the anchor. 21 boats here at one stage.

Highlight was kayaking around to Jenny Lind Creek. This was a 3 hour round trip and needs to be done right on high tide. You go up Chinaman's Creek and take the first branch to port after the power poles. You follow that and cross the salt pan to enter a stream that takes you into Jenny Lind Creek.

It wasn't easy to find but when we climbed a sandhill on the eastern shore the views were worth the effort.

We didn't have time to climb to the lighthouse but the track from the mouth is good and it is definitely on our list of things to do next trip. It looks much easier than the trek from the anchorage through the bush.

Someone suggested tying a ribbon to the mangroves so you can find your way home again as it can get confusing. The stream home is shown in the centre of the picture at right. It is not so easy to pick in the panned out picture below. We would mark the salt pan exit next time as we got a bit disorientated here going home.

Trolling lures

A number of people have asked about the lures we are having success with this trip. We have tried a lot since we have had Next Phase. We started with the good ol' spoons and tried them for 1500 nm on our last trip with only 1 Mac Tuna to show for our efforts. We used to lose a lot of lures probably due to the spinning action of these lures causing trace wire breakage.

We then tried a range of different types until getting some good advice from the Cannonvale fishing tackle shop where we bought a Halco Trembler that caught our first mackeral. No photos as unfortunately we lost the lure going into Pancake Creek. He also recommended much heavier wire trace (120 lb) and swivels (400lb) to help prevent the lost lures. He also said as soon as there is the smallest kink in the wire to replace it. We bought a small lure as we don't really want to catch massive fish. We are cautious about ciguatera poisoning and also the freezer on the boat is just not big enough.

The lures that were recommended to us in Mackay were Halco Laser Pro 190DD. They are much bigger than we had been using but we have now had 2 mackeral and 2 tuna on these lures at right in the last 500 miles. They go deeper which is better for mackeral apparently and are designed to work at speeds of 5 to 9 knots which is ideal. You can buy these lures at lots of places including Big W (about $19).

PS Hi Warwick, We use venetian blind cord with a bike tube or plumbing gasket for shock absorption around the stern cleats (it's stored on a hand reel). Even the 1.2m tuna Warren caught he just pulled in by hand. We look forward to catching up with you and Ruth after you get your boat.

Yellowpatch

Monday 13 September, Great Keppel to Yellowpatch

The great weather continues so we have to motor sail the 30nm to Yellowpatch on Curtis Island. We run on one motor which conserves fuel and lets us maintain a good trolling speed of around 5 knots. More success with the new lures sees a nice school mackeral on board (no blood on the deck Shawn!) as we approach the anchorage.

Lois and I bought the lures in Mackay after getting advice from a gentleman called Steve Palmer who saw us looking confused at all the options in Big W. It was a lucky meeting as it turns out he makes fishing DVDs and shows.

Tuesday 14 September to Friday 17 September, Yellowpatch

On our 2 stays at Cape Capricorn in the past we have looked longingly at Yellowpatch and promised to spend time here when we had more time. It is a beautiful spot with it's orange sand hill and clear waters.

After catching 4 sand crabs the first day, I thought I would never get Warren to leave. It took him a bit longer to find the fish but a 30cm whiting had him smiling.


Steve and Denise (One More) spent a night here and it was good to catch up. They were off to Lady Musgrave Island while the weather was good.







Saturday 18 September, Yellowpatch to Gladstone

We sail and motorsail the 32nm to Gladstone, entering the harbour through the North Entrance at low tide. No problems although we were concerned when we saw a trawler aground near Farmer Reef.

Gladstone Marina has been great. Staff are very friendly, the facilities are good, and it is the cheapest to date. Only negative has been the magpies that attacked relentlessly on our way to the shops.

Great Keppel Island

Tuesday 7 September to Sunday 12 September

We spent a relaxing 6 days at Great Keppel Island alternating between Second Beach (top photo) and Fisherman's Beach depending on the wind direction. The water is as clear as anywhere we have been on the trip so far.

Fisherman's Beach is where most of the development is found although with the resort currently closed things are pretty quiet at the moment.






We spent one day circumnavigating the island and revisited Butterfish Bay where we camped for a week 30+ years ago when we were just married. We also kayaked up Leeke's Creek where we had stayed with our boys on our trailer sailer when they were young.

We also caught up with Ralph and Trish (Shadow Image) and also Bob and Julia (Kinta) who we met 2 years ago at Wathumba Creek on Fraser Island.

South to Yeppoon

Saturday 4 September, Hunter Island to Island Head Creek

With a forecast of NE 15 - 20 knots for the next 2 days we decide to head south towards Yeppoon. We left Hunter about midday hoping to get a nice spinnaker run to Island Head Creek. Unfortuately the breeze stayed around 7 knots and we were forced to motor sail to make headway against the 3.5 knots of tide! The whales were everywhere and we were glad of the engines running which alerted them to our presence. We entered Island Head Creek on dark following our GPS track from the trip north.

Sunday 5 September, Island Head Creek to Yeppoon

The forecast 15-20 knot NE did not come in until lunchtime so more motorsailing as we had about 60 nm to cover today. We finally got the spinnaker set after lunch and headed towards Great Keppel Island. The breeze freshened as we approached the island and with a 20kn N to be followed by a 20kn S change during the night we opted to go into Rosslyn Bay for the night as there are no all weather anchorages on the island.

Highlight of the day was the Yellowfin Tuna that Warren caught south of Cape Manifold. We decided it was too big to keep so we released it after removing the lure.

Rain on Monday meant we stayed 2 nights at the marina and Lois and Kel headed home after helping us with the reprovisioning. We certainly enjoyed their company over the last 10 days - even if Kel could only laugh at the irony of releasing the biggest fish we have ever caught!

Middle Percy and Hunter Islands

Thursday 2 September, Curlew to Middle Percy Island

Light SE breeze on the nose saw us motoring or motor sailing to Middle Percy Island. On the way into the anchorage we encountered a whale heading out - definitely our closest encounter yet.




Middle Percy is a must see place for yachties with an A frame hut and small shed filled with items from yachts that have visited the island since the 1950s.

Some are as simple as the yacht name written on a coconut with a felt pen while others are intricately engraved or painted woodwork.





We opted for a yellow flag which we hope will help us find it again when next we visit here. Not as unique as the artificial leg left by one crew!







Friday 3 September, Middle Percy to Hunter Island

We had never visited the Duke Islands so headed south in another nice easterly. I must say I was a bit disappointed with Hunter Island as we had heard such rave reports about it. There is a pastoral lease over the island and it is cleared with long grass and no sign of cattle. There are some nice beaches, a few fish and we had the anchorage, which was very protected, to ourselves.

Scawfell and Curlew Islands

Monday 30 August, Mackay to Scawfell Island

With a strong SE still blowing we decided to reach across to Scawfell Island rather than try to bash south. We anchored the first night in the western arm of the bay and moved to the eastern arm for the second night where there was less swell.

Lois and Kel snorkelled on the reef and were surprised to find large clams here. Quite a few racing yachts stayed here on their way home from Hamilton Island Race Week.




Wednesday 1 September, Scawfell to Curlew Island

The extra night at Scawfell meant we had an easterly breeze for the 49 nm to Curlew. The trip was relieved by a pod of dolphins bow riding but no whale sightings. Lois and Kel's disappointmnet at this was short lived as we had a pod of whales breaching in the distance just after we anchored. Very impressive they were.

Port Newry and Brampton Island

Wednesday 25 August, Goldsmith Island to Port Newry

We reached across the 17nm to Port Newry and anchored on the western side of Outer Newry Island. We had the bay to ourselves for 2 nights and it was wonderfully protected after our rolly stay at Goldsmith.

We walked across to the eastern side of the island which is strewn with large and small boulders.










We later took the dinghy over to Newry Island to see what remains of the resort that was built here in the 1930s. It is a beautiful grassy area maintained by the Seaforth Historical Society and National Parks.

The bar and tables of the old Beachcomber bar that was popular with yachties has been kept together with the remains of many old stone buildings.

The stones we had seen on the eastern side of Outer Newry Island had been put to good use as building materials.








Friday 27 August, Port Newry to Brampton Island

Another good reach back to Brampton Island so we hopefully will have a better angle of sail to Mackay tomorrow. We climbed to the top of the island for some spectacular views.



Saturday 28 August, Brampton Island to Mackay

A SSE breeze meant we had to tack to Mackay arriving just before the tall ship Young Endeavour and our friends Lois and Kel who are joining us for a week or so. They will travel with us down to Yeppoon where they have left their car. As they had hired a car to get to Mackay we were able to visit town to restock the supplies. Very windy so we stayed Sunday here also.