Back to the Whitsundays

Sunday 15 August, Bona Bay to Double Bay East

Another beautiful though windless day as you can see from the photo of Gloucester Passage. We revert to motoring with one outboard while trolling, in the hope of another fish. We do about 5 knots this way which saves fuel and is a good trolling speed although the fish are elusive again.

Monday 18 August, Double Bay East to Stonehaven

We motored to Airlie Beach in the morning to check out the Bareboat Show as part of Airlie Beach Race Week. A fashion parade and lots of boats to look at filled in a few hours before we had our first good sail in a week to Stonehaven.

Tuesday 19 August, Bait Reef

The calm weather of the previous week prompted us to sail out to Bait Reef today. This is about 16nm NE of Hayman Island and is the closest outer reef to the Whitsundays. The forecast of 10-15 SE sounds good so we head off at 7 to be there about an hour before low tide at 11. Low tide is the best time for snorkelling and when the reef offers protection from the swell. 3 more whales sighted as we left The Narrows between Hayman and Hook Islands. We slowed for a while then had to keep moving. Unfortunately when we were about a mile away the whales started breaching and tail slapping. Even at this distance the splashes were spectacular.

We arrived at Bait Reef, negotiated the entrance and took up a mooring. We were lucky that a yacht was leaving as we arrived which helped confirm the correct path. The snorkeling was good although as the breeze was more like 15 - 20 knots there was some sediment in the water. Warren snorkelled around the Stepping Stones which are a set of coral pinnacles rising from a depth of 15 - 25 metres which you can see in the photo above. I kept watch in the tender and contented myself with the sights in shallower water.

Another good reach saw us moored back at Stonehaven by 4.30. It was any easy day sail there and back and with 4 hours at the reef it was well worth the trip.

We decided to spend today, Wednesday at Stonehaven to go for a kayak, finish my book and catch up on the blog. Luckily there were spare moorings all day and we didn't need to move. I am enjoying the Kobo eReader and about to finish all 117 chapters of The Count of Monte Cristo. A Russian yachty I met at Townsville marina recommended I read Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky next. He (the yachty not Fyodor) had spent 8 years circumnavigating in his 49 foot yacht. The interesting people you meet while doing the laundry! Print this post