Bundaberg to Yeppoon

Tuesday 8 June, Bundaberg to Pancake Creek

If we thought the sail yesterday to Bundaberg was good, then today’s was sensational. We motored out of the marina at 6 in a light SW breeze which had built to 10-15 knots from the south by 7. We raised the spinnaker, with Len and Isla close behind and spent the next 7 and a half hours tacking downwind crossing gybes with Peer Pressure in a steady 15 – 20 knots (we weren’t racing of course but Peer Pressure won!).

We averaged 8 knots under the spinnaker with longs runs at 10-11 knots. We anchored in Pancake Creek at 3.30pm in the inner anchorage. I think we were all asleep by 8.30 and were looking forward to a day off on Wednesday.

Wednesday 9 June, Pancake Creek
We had a leisurely start to the day before we gave the fishing a try. Len has never been a fisherman so had a neighbour’s help to put together the gear he needed. Warren gave him a lesson in pumping yabbies and off we all went. We got a couple of whiting and a sweetlip and then went to check on Len who was fishing from his boat (perhaps better described as his line was in the water and Len was on the boat). As we were discussing the vagaries of fishing, I noticed a tug on his line. Len jumped to it and promptly pulled in a good sized tusk fish followed by another even bigger. This success put paid to our plan to walk to the lighthouse on Bustard Head. The track is very overgrown and we decided to leave that for another visit.

Several calls to Optus and we are promised it will all by fixed by Saturday. Didn’t I hear that last week (and the week before!)

Thursday 10 June, Pancake Creek to Cape Capricorn
This was the first real test of the AIS with a lot of ships anchored off Gladstone and a number going in and out. Note all the ships at anchor and Peer Pressure close behind Next Phase.



















The wind was up and down a bit today and we had to motor for the last couple of hours to get to Cape Capricorn about 3pm. We climbed to the lighthouse just in time to see a spectacular sunset. We came across a very shy echidna that did a good impression of a spiky plant as we went past.

My mum told me about the steak and kidney pies in the photo. The brand is Fray Bentos and they come in a tin and don’t need refrigeration. Available at Coles and Woolies and good back up and very tasty. Now I sound like my brother John who, when travelling around Europe after uni, used to send us letters mosting filled with descriptions or drawings of the food he liked.

Friday 11 June, Cape Capricorn to Rosslyn Bay, Yeppoon
Our batteries have been worrying us for the last few days and we decided this morning to sail to Yeppoon to get them checked. We hired a car from the folk at Keppel Bay Marina and made the trip to Rocky. A new battery and $340 later we were back on the boat ready for the next 15 weeks of our trip. Peer Pressure motored into Yellow Patch at high tide with half a meter under the keel after just missing the entrance channel.

Saturday 12 June, Rosslyn Bay
Boat work day – washing, cleaning, shopping. You can’t escape these chores even on a boat. The marina has a courtesy car you can book for 2 hours to get to Yeppoon for shopping. This is the only marina I know that has this and it is a real treat. Peer Pressure arrived by 2 and we hit the shops to stock up on perishables. Octopuss (Seawind 1000) and One More (Seawind 1160) are in the marina as they are also heading north.

More calls to Optus (now they say next Tuesday or Wednesday). I really fail to see how they are staying in business – they haven’t got a clue what is going on. Print this post