Wet, windy Whitsundays

Sunday, 16 October 2011 - Bowen to Airlie Beach

A 0900 start in a light NE breeze that went to the east through Gloucester Passage. A slow day where we alternated between sailing and motorsailing. We stopped at the public pontoon at Abel Point to top up the water before anchoring at 1700 near the Airlie Beach VMR ramp to watch the rugby.

Monday, 17 October 2011 - Airlie Beach to Cid Harbour

We sailed over to Cid Harbour to wait out the strong SE change that had come through during the evening. We spent 4 nights here under overcast skies and with showers and rain. We caught up with Billabong and Splash who we had met at Cairns and Lizard and are on their way back to Pittwater.

Only excitement was when a charter boat dropped anchor in front of us and promptly got in the dinghy and disappeared to climb Whitsunday Peak. Unfortunately they dragged towards us and Warren had to shunt them away in the dinghy while I brought up the anchor so we could reanchor in front of them. We called the charter company who sent out a Securite message. Another yachty offered to go on board and let out more chain. The people returned a couple of hours later to find their yacht about 100 m from where they had left it.

Everyone is waiting for the SE winds to ease and hopefully go to the E or NE. This included a couple from Canada we met who have circumnavigated and are now visiting their children in Australia and New Zealand.

Friday we headed back to Airlie to reprovision in anticipation of the winds easing on the weekend.

Saturday, 22 October, 2011 - Airlie Beach to Happy Bay

We visited the Airlie markets before recommencing our voyage south. The wind was still around the 15-20 knot mark from the SE and we decided to stop at Happy Bay rather than continue to bash south. Looks like it will be Monday or Tuesday before the breeze becomes more favourable. Print this post