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.
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| 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.
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| Dead Dog Bay |
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| 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.
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| Warren happy with this Spotty |
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| 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.
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| Percy Hilton |
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| Quite a collection and some quirky mementoes |
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| 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!
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| It survived! |
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| 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.
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| 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!
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| 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.
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