Pancake Creek to Whitsundays

Saturday, 12 August to Thursday, 24 August 2017

We spent 3 nights at Pancake Creek – Warren caught some nice sized whiting and I had another walk up to the lighthouse. 

On Sunday, we headed off for Great Keppel Island in a light breeze and anchored at Long Beach just on dark after 65nm. Lots more whales and dolphins to keep us entertained (and watchful). 

The numbers increase every year, and the whales seem to get closer to the yachts. We saw a number off Cape Capricorn and were surprised by a mother and calf that surfaced beside the boat, Mum gave a slap of the tail as if to warn us to keep clear, and then they were off.

Busy at Long Beach, GKI

We spent 2 nights at Great Keppel Island anchored in the crystal-clear water. We walked across the island one day to Resort beach - no decision on what is happening to the old resort but day trippers help to bring some money into the island economy. 

Echidna near the track

On Tuesday, we headed across to Keppel Bay Marina and dinner with our group at the Capricornia Cruising Yacht Club. We then went back to Long beach waiting for a more favourable breeze to head further north.

Funkytime at Resort Beach

We eventually left on Friday in light winds and motored/motorsailed to Island Head Creek. The US Navy are still in the area and this, with more close whale sightings, kept us awake. 

Not just whales you have to watch for!

Saturday we stayed put after a strong southerly change moved through. More reading and fishing! From here it was 3 days to the Whitsundays via North East Island in the Percy Isles and Scawfell Island. Only one good sailing day out of 3 unfortunately.

Scawfell Island

Tuesday night was spent in Cid Harbour after 600nm from Cleveland. 

Hamilton Island race boats (and whale at right)

On Wednesday, we went to Airlie Beach for fuel, water and some fresh fruit and vegies. Still no wind so a quiet sail to Grassy Island then on to Gloucester Passage for the Shaggers Rendezvous.

Whitsundays - here we come!

Raby Bay to Pancake Creek
Friday, 4 August to Friday, 11 August 2017

After nearly 9 months since returning from our trip to New Caledonia and Vanuatu, we are ready to head off in Phase2 again. This time up the Queensland coast to the Whitsundays. We are cruising north in company with a group of 10 sailing and 5 power boats from our club, Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron.  It is a fairly loose arrangement and we left the day before the main group to make the most of the wind.

We start the blog as always with a photo of my Mum waving us off. Unfortunately this year Mum was in Longreach on a trip so we had to make use of technology to keep the long tradition going.

We had a moderate westerly to start the day and enjoyed a 2 sail reach up to Deception Bay. We passed several large yachts heading to Manly for the start of the Brisbane to Keppel Yacht Race. The wind eased as we sailed around Skirmish Point on the southern end of Bribie, but held until Caloundra where it switched from SW to NE in seconds. It was at this point that supermaxi Wild Oats XI was approaching and their crew work as the change went through was impressive.

Prior to their getting the change we had a brief period where we were sailing faster than them!

The proof

We were anchored in the pond of the Mooloolah River by 1530 - glad to be underway after the rushing to be ready of the last few days.

On Saturday, we set off at 0630 in a light southerly that meant we had to motor or motor sail nearly all day. We saw 10 pods of whales several coming very close to Phase2 as we were stopped in the water.

We crossed the Wide Bay Bar just after low tide in perfect conditions and enjoyed a brief sail up the Straits before anchoring at Garry's Anchorage at 1900.

Uneventful bar crossing - the best kind

Warren was keen to do some fishing so we headed up to Moon Point where we had fresh whiting for dinner on Sunday night. Light winds made this a perfect anchorage but with a SW change expected on Monday night we headed across to Big Woody Island and prepared for the next leg to Bundaberg on Tuesday.

This turned out to be a fast sail under spinnaker averaging over 8 knots for most of the trip. We saw some great photos of Phase2 posted by Helene from Roo Bin Esque on the Women Who Sail Australia Facebook page and posted some of our own in return.

New mainsail for this trip going well

We moved into the Bundaberg Port marina on Wednesday to catch up with the RQ group who had arrived. Dinner at the restaurant was very nice and the after dinner limericks from each boat showed we cruisers have many talents!

There was a fine cat named Phase2,

Who headed north with her regular crew,

She loved a kite run,

Blue water and sun,

With Gav and the fleet from RQ.

Phase2 has a giant red kite,

When it flies it is quite a sight,

When the wind gets to twenty,

There are thrills aplenty,

And we hold on with all of our might!

Phase2 is an 1160 cat,

Whose crew liked wine by the vat,

Lots of sundowners to have,

Simply cruising north with Gav,

And good food to make us all fat.

Having decided not to give up our day jobs, we set off early on Thursday for Pancake Creek. After a couple of hours under spinnaker, the wind died and we motor/motorsailed the rest of the 64nm to drop anchor at the inner anchorage just on dark. We saw a minimum of 2.5 meters coming in with a tide of 1.2m. After boat maintenance this morning (Friday), Warren has headed off for a fish. We will be here for a few days, hoping for some southerly breeze to help us get further north.