Airlie Beach Sojourn

Sunday, 24 June - Saturday, 30 June 2012
I couldn't help but wonder if the Seawind Rally would have been the success it was if it had been held a week later. Our trip back to Airlie on Sunday was with a 30 knot SE wind that gusted up to 38 knots. Seas were nasty in the Passage although we had a quick trip with 2 reefs in the mainsail. We averaged 8.6 knots and a maximum speed of 15.4 knots.

Seawind had arranged a night in the marina to attend to a couple of warranty items but this stretched to 2 nights when they discovered the steering also needed attention and the appropriate parts were not available in Airlie. We anchored off the VMR for a further 3 nights waiting for the parts which were installed yesterday (Friday) morning.

While there, we enjoyed the company of Karen and Maurice from Folie a Deux again, restocked the larder and sent our AIS back to Raymarine for repair as it has not been transmitting our position.

Yesterday we motorsailed to Double Bay East where we enjoyed a beautiful night alone in the southern corner.

Grassy Island on a perfect day

This morning there was no wind so we motored to Bona Bay on Gloucester Island . This is another beautiful anchorage spoiled by the 2 jetskis and power boat with skiers that are using our boat as a turning mark.  Tomorrow we continue heading north towards Townsville.

Seawind Whitsunday Rally - Days 3 to 8

Monday, 18 June to Saturday, 23 June 2012
Graham and Morgan are to be congratulated for organising another great rally in the Whitsundays with 12 other Seawinds. The weather was very kind over the week and we had a range of sailing conditions.

The toughest day was Monday, from Long Island to Whitehaven Beach. We had a slog up the Whitsunday Passage in large wind against tide seas and 20 knots of wind. We had our third (and we hope last) mishap of the trip when a hatch was not completely closed and water found its way below. All dried eventually but we looked a bit like a Chinese laundry at Whitehaven after the race.

Tuesday we headed north in calmer seas and Seawindow (Alan, Cat, Derrick, Jenny and Alan) won by a few seconds to be the only boat to beat Manyama during the week.

Shawn had a snorkel at Maureen's Cove. He was impressed with the coral and fish so we will try to get back here later when the water is a bit warmer.





Wednesday saw us on the wind back to South Molle Island. Another close finish where we were pipped for second by the 1250 Reflection. Manyama again too good.

The resort has only a few backpackers but they welcomed us and the view from the top of Spion Kop was worth the walk.

Thursday we circumnavigated South Molle before crossing the passage to anchor in the always calm Cid Harbour. Our best result to date with a second behind Manyama who is giving us all a sailing lesson.



Sand modelling ashore to try to earn some more points for the rally. Phase2 continued the Elvis theme and were happy to tie for 3rd behind Seawindow and Lady L II who both built mermaids.




















Friday was our last race, upwind again, but in more moderate conditions. Another second place at the finish at Hamilton Island. The rain and wind slowly increased during the day and we were glad to be securely tied up. Dinner and the presentation of lots of trophies at the Manta Ray Cafe was enjoyed by all. Reflection was the overall rally winner taking into account sailing and social competitions.

With the weather fairly dismal we decided to spend another night in the marina as Jan and Shawn were flying home on Sunday. We certainly enjoyed their company and Jan survived her first week of Seawind "social" racing. There were a few close calls but I think we all made new friends and picked up some new tricks. As Warren said to one owner "You learn more about getting the best from your Seawind in a couple of races against similar boats than you do in months of cruising."

Seawind Whitsunday Rally - Days 1 and 2

Saturday, 16 June 2012 - Welcome BBQ

We sailed around to Shute Harbour and picked up a mooring courtesy of Whitsunday Rent a Yacht who are one of the sponsors of the rally. 13 Seawinds have come from as far away as Jervis Bay.




Sunday, 17 June 2012 - Race 1 and Karaoke
Light winds and an ebb tide made hard going of the course around Long Island. The race was shortened when it became clear that some boats may not finish in time. We gambled and lost on a course outside Pine Island.

Hawaiian outfits, dinner at the resort and the highlight of the evening, karaoke was enjoyed by all. Shawn had the crowd up dancing with several Elvis songs. A great night!

Sunny Whitsunday's

Wednesday, 13 June, 2012 - Curlew to Brampton Island

A southerly around 20 knots gave us another good sail to anchor off the jetty at Brampton Island about 1500. We went ashore near the resort which is currently closed for renovation. Not much sign of activity and we suspect this is another victim of the GFC.

Thursday, 14 June 2012 - Brampton to Airlie Beach
We parted company with Folie a Deux at Brampton Island and made slow progress north in a light southerly. Disaster struck off Blacksmith Island when I ran over the fishing line while going in reverse to engage overdrive on the Gori propellors. We motored on the port engine and anchored in 6m off Blacksmith Island. While there was next to no wind there was a reasonable tide running through the passage. Warren donned his wetsuit and eventually cut the line free. Luckily we use VB cord which had not gone anywhere near the seals. Our second save for the trip!

Smoke from fires on the hill behind Shute Harbour was evident as we passed through the Molle Channel.









Friday, 15 June 2012 - Airlie Beach
We motored into the Abel Point marina at midday and were soon joined by Jan and Shawn who had flown up from Brisbane to sail with us in the Seawind Rally. The sun has come out and we are all looking forward to the coming week of activities. We also caught up with Alan and Cat, Derrick and Jenny and Alan who had flown up and were hiring Seawindow, a Seawind 1250.

South Westers at last

Great Keppel Island
We spent 3 nights at GKI with many other boats including Nimrod and Folie a Deux, waiting for the low off the coast to sort itself out. The anchorage was a bit rolly and we were starting to get concerned about reaching the Whitsundays by Thursday as planned.


Monday, 11 June 2012 - GKI to Pearl Bay

The good thing about the low south of us was that it was generating SW winds to help us up the coast. With winds of 15-20 knots we made it to Pearl Bay just after lunch after watching Folie a Deux disappear over the horizon on the nice reach.Beautiful in the bay with about 10 other yachts.







Tuesday, 12 June 2012 - Pearl Bay to Curlew Island 
71nm with a Southerly that got up to 28 knots at times. We had a great reach past Island Head Creek where we reached over 14 knots before deciding to put a double reef in. The reefs went in and out several times as the breeze went from 15 to 25 knots. "Good practice" said Warren. Juggling a struggle in the big swells. We averaged 7.4 knots to get the anchor down in time for a walk on the beach before dark. One of my favourite islands!

It's getting cold - must be time to head North

Saturday, 2 June 2012 - Raby Bay to Mooloolaba

Our planned departure was put back a day due to a big swell and a few unfinished jobs. We left at 0930 in a light Southerly with my Mum and Josh there to wave us off again.  

The spinnaker went up early and all was looking rosy. We dropped the kite when the breeze went East and rain squalls came through.

The excitement really began in the Spitfire Channel however when Warren called me over and calmly asked me to get the spinnaker halyard as the leeward side stay had come undone.

For those readers who are not sailors, this is a fairly serious occurrence and often results in the mast falling down. Not something you want to happen on Day 1 of a 6 month cruise (or any day for that matter). Warren was holding all the bits (the turnbuckle had been saved by the HF radio aerial which was zip tied to it) and managed to get it back together in the 2m seas. Just to make it interesting a ship was also coming out the channel behind us.

We left the spinnaker halyard in place while we tried to work out what had happened. It seems the lock nuts were not tight and the flogging of the sidestay in the sloppy seas had caused it to undo.

We anchored on Mooloolaba for the night after 61 nm and reflected on what might have been. My first thought was if we were going to be the first Seawind to lose a mast!

Forecast was not good for Sunday so we decided to stay in Mooloolaba - recheck the rig and fix a few other small problems.

Monday, 4 June 2012 - Wide Bay Bar

A moderate SW breeze gave us a good run up and across the Bar in good conditions. We sighted our first whale just south of Double Island Point.









We anchored in Garry's with 20 other yachts and watched the partial eclipse of the moon.










Tuesday, 5 June 2012 - Fraser Island to Burnett River
We thought the SW - W forecast would be good for the leg to Bundaberg. We were wrong. The W wind and ebb tide created steep seas that killed any momentum we developed. We put in 2 reefs off Big Woody Island as the breeze got up over 20 knots however quickly went back to one to try to punch through the seas. We eventually tacked in towards Burrum Heads to get out of the seas. Late in the day the breeze went SW and we finally anchored in the Burnett River about 2030 after 81nm mostly to windward. That meets our Louisiades rally requirement of 50nm to windward!

Wednesday, 6 June 2012 - Burnett River to Pancake Creek
Up before dawn again for a very pleasant sail - close reaching most of the way with a spinnaker run from Round Hill to Clews Point. The weather has been very unpredictable with strong winds predicted due to a low off the coast. Great, we finally get to sleep in tomorrow.

Thursday, 7 June 2012 - Pancake Creek to Cape Capricorn

We awoke to an updated forecast of 15 - 20 knot SE winds so decided to keep going North while the going was good. A spinnaker run all the way to Cape Capricorn where we anchored next to the Seawind 1160 Nimrod. Sundowners with Georgia and David where we were entertained with video clips David has put together of their travels. http://vimeo.com/23120681 

My footage is still waiting for me to acquire the necessary editing skills. I'll add that to learning Joomla (for making web pages) and juggling (for entertaining the kids of the Louisiades and filling in time on long passages). So far, I have discovered it is hard to juggle while the boat is moving around. I figure if I can juggle on the boat then it should be a cinch on stable ground. Watch out for the video!


Friday, 8 June 2012 - Cape Capricorn to Great Keppel Island

An easy 24 nm to Second Beach on Great Keppel Island. Sundowners with Nimrod and Maurice and Karen from Folie a Deux (the Chamberlain 14 at right). Forecast is for strong winds so we may be exploring GKI for the next few days.