Phase2: Slow boat to the Whitsundays

Rosslyn Bay to Goldsmith Island

Sunday, 1 August to Saturday, 14 August 2021

Today we discovered that the 3 day lockdown in Brisbane was going to be extended to next Sunday. We had planned to fly back to Brisbane on Thursday for Charlotte’s third birthday, catch up with Mum and the rest of the family and complete our COVID vaccinations. So we cancelled our flights and booked our second Astra Zeneca shot in Yeppoon.

We had a lovely dinner with the RQ cruisers on Sunday night and they left Tuesday morning for Port Clinton while we rode our bikes into Yeppoon on the new bike path. Kudos to the council for a fantastic, safe route into town.

New bikeway is fantastic

Black cockatoos entertained us at morning tea

On Wednesday, we headed off for the 61 nm to Island Head Creek in a moderate southerly that eventually went to the SE. Spinnaker run all the way in company with about 12 other boats going north. We saw our first whales of the trip.

Look closely and you’ll just see the whale

Thursday was spent relaxing at the anchorage. For Warren that means fishing and for me reading. On Friday we sailed to Curlew Island - one of my favourites.

On the way we had a whale breach just in front of us and we had to alter course to avoid it. You need to keep a good lookout in these waters. It was 1730 by the time we dropped anchor after another 72 nm. The RQ group was here and I got a nice sunset shot of some of the boats. They left on Saturday for Scawfell Island while we stayed another night and caught up with some old friends.

On Sunday we sailed 58 nm to Brampton Island in a moderate SE wind that slowly built during the morning. We were enjoying a good spinnaker run but felt it was time to drop it when the wind started gusting to 25 knots and I saw 17 knots boat speed as we surfed down waves. Exciting as it was we didn’t want to break anything.

We anchored at Brampton to avoid the big winds forecast for the area. We walked along the beach one day and chatted to the resort caretaker. Nothing has changed in the 4 years since our last visit which is very sad.

We hiked up to Brampton Peak (the only track still maintained) for stunning views.

Pearce from Ilikai joined us for the hike

Whales cruised close by one morning, slowly beginning their trip south.

On Wednesday, we made the short 12nm sail to Goldsmith Island in moderate SE winds. The wind shows no sign of abating for the next week, so we are staying safe here until after the footy tonight (Go the Lions!)