Homeward bound - Yeppoon to Cleveland

We are sailing up north again and I realize that I never did finish the blog for the last trip. So before I tell you about our 2022 trip, here are the last 3 weeks of our Whitsunday adventure in 2021. 

17 October to 6 November, 2021

After stocking up in Yeppoon, we sailed across to Great Keppel Island and spent 4 nights at Long and Fisherman’s beaches. Still lots of boats heading south but nothing like the 100 anchored here a few weeks before. 

Anchored at beautiful Long Beach

We enjoyed walks on the beaches, swims and a good hike up to first and second lookouts. 

Lots of boats at Fisherman's Beach

Not so enjoyable were the storms that came through several times.

Took my mind off the storm by trying to photograph the lightning

Next leg of the trip home was to Pancake Creek. It was a good two sail reach in a light north easterly. About 5 hours south of Great Keppel Island we passed Cape Capricorn. It was named by Captain Cook when he passed on 25 May 1770, since he found it to be located on the Tropic of Capricorn. 

Sailing past Cape Capricorn

Only excitement of this leg was when a bird dropped a big garfish on the deck!

After a few a days in Pancake Creek it was on to the Burnett River, then down to Fraser Island. We anchored late at Moon Point and unfortunately ran aground in the process. The next morning we motored over to the sand cay off Moon Point and Warren had a swim to check the damage. Luckily it was cosmetic and could be repaired on our return home.
We worked our way down the Sandy Straits stopping at Yankee Jack Creek and Pelican Bay before crossing the Wide Bay Bar to anchor for 2 nights in the lagoon that had formed behind Double Island Point. 

This was our first time staying here and it is a beautiful and protected anchorage. A lot of 4WDs and jetskis are also here so not as peaceful as some more secluded spots. I had a great walk up to the lighthouse which afforded views in all directions.

DIP lagoon

View from the top

Lighthouse was built in 1884

From here it was down to Mooloolaba for a week in the marina to catch up with friends and enjoy the beach. 

Walk to check the bar conditions most mornings

The last leg home was sailed in company with our Tassie friends on Folie a Deux. Mum and Josh were there to greet us, Warren blew the horn and another adventure on Phase2 was over.

Always good to come home

Homeward bound - Whitsundays to Yeppoon

 Thursday, 7 October to Saturday, 16 October, 2021

Our first stop after leaving Hamilton Island was Billbob Bay on Shaw Island. A walk ashore to stretch the legs also allowed us to collect some rubbish which accumulates in these south facing bays. 

Billbob Bay

On Friday we motored the 5nm to one of the prettiest anchorages in the Whitsundays, Dead Dog Bay on the southern side of Thomas Island. It is a great spot to kayak but also gave us a better sailing angle for the sail to Keswick Island the next day in the ESE winds.

Dead Dog Bay

Only 1 other boat for company

It was slow going to Keswick, tacking in light breezes and eventually motor sailing the last few miles. Sunday was a better sail to Curlew Island in a light ENE wind. We caught a long awaited mackerel on this leg. We anchored in the small bay on the western side of the island and had good protection from the NE wind. 

Warren happy with this Spotty

Afternoon tea at Curlew Island

On Monday, we sailed and then motor sailed to West Bay on Middle Percy Island. We went ashore to visit the famous A frame where cruisers leave a memento with their boat name and date of visit. This practice started in the 1950’s and the A frame was constructed around 1980 after it was realised the small telephone shed was too small. 

Percy Hilton

Quite a collection and some quirky mementoes 

Tropical paradise

On previous trips we have left 2 flags at the A frame that didn’t survive the weather between visits but our latest effort in 2017, a cutting board screwed to the rafters was more durable if not as elegant!

It survived!

We bought some island honey

After adding 2021 to the dates of our visits, we motored around to Whites Bay which is more protected from the Northerlies. We saw a wallaby and heard a goat while walking ashore.

On Tuesday it was another early start for the 53nm to Island Head Creek. About 10 nm from the entrance we noticed Jimidog 2 who was about 4nm in front of us start to do some circles. At first we thought they had a fish, then maybe steering problems or worse case a man overboard. They put out a Securite call on the radio advising that they had lost steering but had an emergency tiller and would get in by themselves. We contacted them to say we would assist if required. After 6 days making our way south, finally a day off for the crew on Wednesday. We enjoyed a sleep in and Warren caught some good sized whiting for dinner.

Whiting had grown since our visit in August

On Thursday we sailed around to Port Clinton, where we caught up again with Wistari, Noel Patrick’s famous yacht that features in his essential cruising guide to the Curtis Coast. Son Scott won this years Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race in the boat’s 51st start!

Wistari

On Friday we had a great spinnaker run down to Rosslyn Bay Harbour, where we spent 2 nights in the marina. Highlight was a bike ride on the Pineapple Rail Trail. 

Little Black Reef and more hikes

 Wednesday, 29 September to Wednesday, 6 October 2021

After reprovisioning we headed across the passage to Stonehaven anchorage to join a group of boats heading out to Little Black Reef. This is part of the outer barrier reef and about 35nm NE of the Whitsundays. 

Little Black Reef circled in red

A couple of boats headed off on Thursday, but we decided to wait for a more favourable Northerly expected on Friday. We kayaked around Stonehaven and had drinks ashore where we met some of the others doing the trip. 

Stonehaven

At 0600 on Friday, 7 yachts left the anchorage in a light northerly and we enjoyed a good sail across to the entrance of the reef. We had been given a track in by Carpe Ventum who had visited before and this eased any anxiety we had. In the end, the way in was quite easy to pick and we dropped anchor at 1230. 11 boats at anchor the first night we were there.

Track into Little Black Reef

Plenty of room inside the lagoon

On Saturday we donned our wetsuits and headed out to do some snorkelling. As we were getting ready to enter the water Warren saw a shark cruise by. Not a good start! We waited a few minutes and then snorkelled along the reef for a while until I saw a shark lying in a crevice. When I brought Warren back to show him, it took off in one direction and we took off for the dinghy. I snorkelled later on another bommie closer to the boat with nice coral.

Some nice coral and schools of small fish

The wind was forecast to pick up on Sunday so we sailed back with 3 other boats to Plantation Bay on Lindeman Island. More good weather for swimming and an 8km hike up Mount Oldfield. It was very hot and sad to walk past another closed resort.

Walk starts beside the airstrip

Now the real walk begins going UP

Plantation Bay anchorage

The only island in the Whitsundays named by Cook - Pentecost Island

We were now starting to think about beginning the voyage south. On Wednesday, we went to Hamilton Island one last time to buy some fresh supplies and finally climb to the Resort Lookout. Hot and dusty but a swim afterwards cooled us down. We had a good view of the islands we would be leaving in the morning. 

Looking south

Looking north

Time to head home!

Whitsunday cruising with family

View from Whitsunday Cairn

Friday, 10 September to Tuesday, 28 September 2021

After 5 days anchored in Cid Harbour while the wind blew a constant 25-30 knots, we were glad to finally up anchor and move around the corner to Beach 25. It was still blowing and friends who kept going to Whitehaven Beach had some unpleasant conditions until they went through Solway Pass. 

Beach 25

On Saturday we went around and got a mooring at Chalkies Beach. This has the same beautiful pure silica sand that you get at Whitehaven, but much fewer boats. We had our first swim of the trip to check our masks prior to our son Ben arriving in a few days (some leaked!). A new walk by National Parks to a lookout over the passage let us stretch our legs before sundowners with friends. 

Chalkies Beach from the lookout

Looking towards Whitehaven Beach

More swimming the next day at Whitehaven and a 7.5km walk to Chance Bay and the lookouts. 

Busy at Whitehaven

View south from the Whitehaven lookout

From the new Solway Pass lookout

On Monday we went to Macona Inlet before heading back to Airlie to pick up Ben (and some new masks and snorkels). Ben only had 4 nights with us which we spent on a small loop of some of the inside anchorages of the Whitsundays. We did attempt to go around to Whitehaven one morning but gave up after encountering a nasty swell off Hook Passage. 

Blue Pearl Bay on Hayman Island

Plenty of fish but reef not in good condition

We hiked up to Whitsunday Cairn

View to Border Island

Ben was flying out of Hamilton so lunch at the resort was a nice way to finish his short break. 

Lunch at Sails Restaurant

We were then back to Airlie to pick up our youngest son, his wife and 3 year old daughter for 6 nights. They had driven up from Brisbane and we enjoyed showing them some of the Whitsundays including a couple of days at Whitehaven in glorious weather. Our granddaughter had never stayed overnight on the boat before but she settled in quickly and enjoyed the adventure. Aye, aye Captain became her favourite phrase. 

Enjoying our first stop at Happy Bay

Kayaking at Whitehaven

Waiting for the bus at Hamilton Island

So now its time for Nanna and Grandad to have a rest.

Windy Whitsundays

Saturday, 28 August to Thursday, 9 September 2021

On Saturday afternoon we left Shaggers and headed across Edgecumbe Bay to Bowen. With a SE wind we anchored behind the aptly named Stone Island where we had perfect TV reception to watch the Lions take on minor premiers Melbourne. In a disappointing game Brisbane lost but have another chance next week. 

Another resort not operating

Someone had a dream

Hopeful signs

On Sunday morning we had a short walk on Stone Island before heading back across the bay to Bona Bay on Gloucester Island (one of our favourite anchorages).

Bona Bay

Mountain usually enveloped in cloud

On Monday, we had a nice hike across the salt pans to the next bay for morning tea. 

Universal yachty sign for the start of a track

Rocks, salt pan and beach made for an interesting walk

Morning tea view

With the strong south easterlies continuing, a swell coming in and no fish, we decided after 3 nights to motor around to Jonah Bay near Dingo Beach. It was slow going into the strong winds but we were greeted with another sandy bay with a much reduced swell. 

Gloucester Island in the distance

Beautiful weather despite the wind

Lots of semi permanent fishing camps along the beach

After 2 nights our plan to sail to Double Bay East to catch up with Cat Magic were thwarted when we discovered we had no water. So on Friday afternoon we tied up at the public pontoon in Airlie, put some water in the tank and tried to repair our broken water pipe fitting. No luck so Warren headed off on the bike to all the plumbing stores to try to buy a replacement. In the meantime, the Folie a Deux crew turned up and Maurice said that he had one in his spares. How lucky was that as none available in the shops. Washing and provisioning done we headed over to CID Harbour to sit out the next big blow. We love this anchorage as there is no swell and a couple of good walks to get us off the boat. 5 nights here in a constant 25-30 knots. Up to 60 boats sheltering here with us. 

Grass trees abound

Good track but LOTS of steps

The peak is 434m above the anchorage 

View looking south to Hamilton Island 

Tomorrow we hope to go around to the eastern side of Whitsunday Island as winds look good for the next week.