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Tuesday 7 November 2017

Going South – Whitsundays to Lady Musgrave Island

Wednesday, 11 October to Sunday, 5 November 2017
We left Abell Point marina on Wednesday morning in an easterly breeze that, as predicted in our last post, turned to south-east as we entered the Whitsunday Passage. Rather than struggling to Shaw Island as planned, we went across to Beach 25 north of Hamilton Island.
Last Whitsunday sunset
We motored down the Dent Passage then had a good sail to Minne Hall Bay on Goldsmith Island. We spent 2 nights here before sailing the 13nm to Brampton Island where we spent 3 nights waiting for the northerlies to return. We had our first major rain on the trip while here. We walked on the beach near the resort which is looking sadder every time we come.
Kayaked to Carlisle Island
With the breeze expected to get stronger and go to the east, on Tuesday we decided to go west to Port Newry, about 25nm north of Mackay. 

The aptly named Wedding Cake Rock
at the entrance to Port Newry
This is a beautiful anchorage in most winds and there are walks on both Newry and Outer Newry Islands.

Anchorage between Newry and Outer Newry Islands
There were 7 boats here sitting out the blow and unfortunately one dragged anchor onto us about 10pm one night. Just one man on board who was motoring to keep from hitting us but could not bring up his anchor. Warren launched the dinghy and went to help him as his anchor had caught on our anchor chain. Not what you need at that time of night and in 25 knots.
On Saturday, the winds had eased enough to get to Mackay marina to wait for the next southerly to go through. We hired a car with the Sana Solia crew and did our shopping and washing. There were a lot of cruisers waiting here for the wind to change.

Morning tea at Slade Pt
On Tuesday, we decided to use the last of the south easterlies to go 37nm out to Scawfell Island so that we had a better angle of wind the next day. On this trip we ticked over 24,000nm in Phase2.
This turtle didn't stop to lay her eggs
The trip to Curlew in a light easterly was the longest days sailing in quite a while – 50nm. We anchored in the western anchorage with Joule and the Seawind 1000XL Simple Pleasures. This is a great anchorage with little swell in an easterly.

On Thursday, we decided to head to Middle Percy Island for a couple of days. 
First mackeral of the trip - at last!
We had a short stop to the famous A frame in West Bay to see if our sign had survived cyclone Debbie (it didn’t) and make a new one that we hope is a bit sturdier. 

We then went around to Whites Bay and spent the night with 23 other boats in this beautiful anchorage.

Sunrise at Whites Bay
On Saturday, we headed south to Delcomyn Bay a good NW-N anchorage just outside Port Clinton. 
Delcomyn Bay
Next was around the corner to Perforated Point, a very calm anchorage in the NE breezes. Lots of cruisers about so sundowners very popular including helping Wendy from Attitude celebrate her birthday.
Perforated Point
On Monday, we had our best sail for a while under spinnaker to Long Beach on Great Keppel Island. After a walk ashore we saw a storm brewing and a check of the radar had us concerned. 
The calm before the storm
We had a call from Escape in the Narrows to say it had hit there with a 40 knot southerly which would have us on a lee shore. With 36 boats anchored in the bay, we elected to up anchor before it hit and motor out to clear water. We were glad to clear the anchorage about 7pm before the storm hit. We motored slowly towards Keppel Bay marina where we had a berth booked for the following day. We had a maximum wind strength of 44 knots and lots of sheet lightning with the occasional bolt and crack of thunder. By the time we reached the marina at 2030, the storm had passed and we had an uneventful rest of the night. We were pleased to hear only 1 yacht dragged but all spent a rolly night with the southerly swell.

We spent another 2 nights in the marina including a great day when we rode to Emu Park on the bikes. For a small town, they have an impressive WW1 memorial highlighting local men and women who fought in the war. 


The local museum was also worth a visit with a personal tour from one of the volunteers.
The Maritime Museum contained many models made by a local
By Thursday, we had a forecast that we thought would get us to Pancake Creek. We sailed all day in light winds with our genoa and anchored just before 2000. 
Farewell to the tropics - Cape Capricorn
On Friday, we sailed to Lady Musgrave Island in a SE wind that went E and required more tacking – never a favourite with cruisers. 
The reward of the beautiful clear water here, the turtles, coral and fish made it all worthwhile. It is turtle mating season so there were lots about and many going ashore every night to lay eggs. 
Ground too rugged here for the turtle
We were pleased to find amongst the 25 boats here San Souci, Heemskirk and Zofia all relaxing after returning from New Caledonia and Vanuatu recently. We are here for 3 nights before continuing our travels south.