Using the Northerly

Thursday, 15 November 2012 - GKI to Pancake Ck
It was a motorsail most of the day with the emphasis on motor in the light northerly breeze. It was nearly 1600 before we could get the spinnaker up for the final hour to Pancake Creek. We went into the inner anchorage and were happy to catch up with Kool Sid who we met at Lizard last year. They circumnavigated Tasmania earlier this year and spoke very highly of the experience.

Friday, 16 November 2012 - Pancake Ck to Fraser Is
The forecasters got it right today with a light NW early that built throughout the day. We had a great spinnaker run until we dropped it at 1500 when we were getting 25kn gusts. Top speed of 14.8kn but the spinnaker repair held together beautifully.

We had a wonderful dolphin experience where a large male was showing off beside the boat leaping out of the waves. We anchored at 2315 behind Bookar Island after an exciting trip in the dark through the northern Sandy Straits doing 8-10 knots with assistance from the tide. 116nm in the day.

We awoke Saturday morning to find Waterfront anchored nearby. We moved to Garry's Anchorage to meet Lois and Kel on Seatime. We were joined by Thalassa, also sitting out more southerlies.

Monday, 19 November 2012 - Fraser Is to Mooloolaba
Up at 0430 to ride the ebb tide down to the Wide Bay Bar in company with Waterfront. A light NW wind meant a good crossing and then a great reach as the wind increased. The breeze died around 1100 so motored for an hour until it filled in again and we could raise the spinnaker. 68nm to the Yacht Club marina for 4 nights to sit out more southerlies.

We have made the most of our time here with walks on the beach and swims everyday. Tomorrow we are going to Scarborough to join the Seawind Moreton Bay Regatta before finally heading home on Sunday.

Brampton Island to GKI

Saturday, 3 November to Tuesday, 6 November 2012
We spent a relaxing 4 nights at Brampton Island sitting out the south easterly. We got some much needed exercise in the kayaks and even saw the Melbourne Cup where I saved a few dollars by not having a bet on my picks.

Looking towards the closed resort on Brampton Island

Wednesday, 7 November 2012 - Brampton Is to Curlew Is
The breeze started out as forecast - ESE 15-20 decreasing and moving more to the east through the day. So we headed east to be ready for the shift only to have the breeze shift to the south. Sailing can be frustrating at times. It was ideal conditions for our genoa, however by 1530 we had had enough and started an engine. We dropped anchor at Curlew Island after 2000. Highlight of the day was a double hook up of mackeral (one spotted and one school). Lowlight was discovering chaffing on the main halyard near the top of the mast.

Thursday, 8 November 2012 - Curlew Is to Hunter Is
Our anchorage had quite a swell in the morning so Warren didn't fancy a trip up the mast to check the halyard. Instead we put in the first reef and headed out into the forecast 10-15knot E-NE wind. Conditions were a bit more boisterous than that and with a nasty sea, our plans for the day were amended from Island Head Creek to the beautiful Hunter Island. It was calm in the easterly and Warren went up the mast, cut off the chaffed section of the halyard and tied off the end.

View from the top

Friday, 9 November 2012 - Hunter Island to Port Clinton
Our overnight at Hunter meant we had the tide with us in the morning across the top of Thirsty Sound. As the tide here can run over 3 knots, this is an important consideration. The northerly eased by 0900 so more motoring off and on until the NE settled in after lunch and we had a great reach to Port Clinton.

During the afternoon a drama unfolded over the VHF radio as a small runabout from Yeppoon started taking on water. A rescue boat and helicopter were sent and a trawler and other boats nearby rushed to the sinking boat's location. The Coastguard boat arrived first and used a pump to try to keep the boat afloat however the runabout soon went down. The couple and their child were safe but the semi-submerged boat was sighted again the next day and was a hazard to boats in the area.

Saturday, 10 November 2012 - Port Clinton to Rosslyn Bay
Light breeze early, some motoring, reaching and finished with a spinnaker run. 41 miles to the marina as a strong SE change is expected overnight. We stayed 3 nights and caught up with Gail and John from Hadja. We swapped Louisiades stories with them as they had gone on the first rally in 2008.

Tuesday, 13 November 2012 - Rosslyn Bay to Great Keppel Is
We left the marina and sailed the short distance to GKI. The breeze is still SE so we will spend a couple of nights here until the wind goes more to the north east.

This beautiful area is under threat from proposed coal ports in the Fitzroy delta region. Click below to find out more and have your say.

http://protectkeppelbay.good.do/deltabayreef/email-tony-burke-campbell-newman-anthony-albanese/

Final Louisiades updates

I have added the final updates to the blog for Louisiades. Click below to view.

PNG - The Home stretch

Phase2 gets creative

Magnetic Island to Brampton Island

Wednesday, 31 October 2012 to Saturday, 3 November 2012

After 2 days at Horseshoe Bay waiting for a good breeze to head south and allowing our colds to run their course, we leave early on Wednesday morning for the 76nm sail to Cape Upstart. We sailed most of the day in perfect conditions for our genoa only needing to motor for a few hours at lunchtime when the breeze died.

Thursday was a repeat for the 54nm to Montes Resort - a bit quieter than the last time we were here for the Shaggers Rendezvous.

From here we had a pit stop at Airlie Beach to fill the water tanks and buy a few essentials before a brisk sail to Dugong Inlet to escape the northerly. The anchorage was much more picturesque than we expected and had plenty of room for the 20 yachts here.

Saturday we left the Whitsundays and sailed to Brampton Island for a few days as another SE change is expected.

View from Carlisle Island