Whitehaven and Airlie Beach

Monday, 15 August to Monday 22, August 2022

With perfect weather expected for the next few days we motored the 22 nm to Whitehaven Beach. On the way Warren decided to run the watermaker only to discover the feed pump had failed. As this is required to flush the watermaker every 5 days, a replacement was needed urgently. A few phone calls while we had reception and Warren had one on the way to Airlie Beach from Coomera.

Mix of boats at Whitehaven

Whitehaven has recovered a lot from the last cyclone and was busy with cruisers, charterers, Hamilton Island race boats and day trippers. We had our first kayak for the trip and walked to Chance Bay and the lookout but are yet to venture in for a swim. Beautiful days at the moment but it gets cool when the sun goes down. 

Chance Bay all to ourselves

450 steps to get this view

On Wednesday afternoon we sailed around to Macona Inlet and then on to Airlie Beach on Thursday to pick up our new pump. All day Friday was spent removing and replacing the pump. It is never as straight forward as you think it should be and working upside down in a small locker makes it worse.  

We had lunch on Saturday at the sailing club with my friend Jane who had flown up from Melbourne with some friends for 12 days at Airlie. We organised a sail for Jane and Russell on Sunday. 

Nice day for a sail

There was a bit more breeze than we expected so we had a fast sail out to North Molle and back. Warren had told them he had ordered some whales and they thought he was joking when he said he thought he saw some. 

You're kidding right! 

A mother and calf breached and fin slapped on cue. We were glad to be able to share with Jane some of what we love about cruising.

Mother and calf

Monday was provisioning before heading to Shag Islet for the Shaggers Rendezvous later in the week. 

Nice bike ride to the Cannonvale shops

Cruising the southern Whitsundays

 Thursday, 11 August to Sunday, 14 August 2022

Nothing has happened at Brampton Island since our trip last year with the resort slowly deteriorating. I'm not sure what the answer is for these old resorts. Lots of people have fond memories of holidays here but this was before cheap flights and accommodation at places like Bali. 

Another beautiful day

The anchorage is still good in the strong SE winds we were experiencing and we were glad to sleep in and then stretch our legs climbing to the top of Brampton Peak. It was great to see a group of 8 trailerable yachts anchored here. They had trailed their boats from Victoria and launched at Mackay.  

Track was well maintained

Blue Tiger Butterfly

Morning tea view from Brampton Lookout

After lunch we sailed the short distance to Goldsmith Island and anchored in Roylen Bay. Another favourite spot with a dugong, several turtles and 2 whales sighted while having breakfast on Friday morning. 

Nice campsite behind the shrubs

Trust me - it's a dugong

On Saturday it was off to Thomas Island with several whales sighted. We walked up the creek bed following the trail of thongs and markers to the northern side. We climbed the hill for some photos and picked up what rubbish we could carry back with us. We shared the anchorage with 23 boats on Sunday night including the 8 trailer sailers and lots of yachts heading to Hamilton Island for Race Week.

This way!

Worth the scramble over rocks

Looking north

My love of sailing started in trailer sailers

Rosslyn Bay to Brampton Island

Friday, 5 August to Wednesday, 10 August 2022

We headed over to the Keppel Bay Marina where we had booked a berth for 3 nights. Normal jobs of re-provisioning, laundry and various boat jobs were inter spaced with bike rides into Yeppoon.  

Yeppoon lagoon

Council here has created great, safe cycling infrastructure and there are consequently lots of people out riding. 

That bump in the distance is where Phase2 is moored

One 35km ride included the Pineapple Rail Trail

We stayed in the marina on Sunday so that we could enjoy the Lions victory over Carlton, then headed off early Monday for Island Head Creek. We set the spinnaker immediately and headed north. As is often the case when sailing up or down the coast the wind was directly behind us which required a few gybes. Unfortunately on one of these we got a massive wrap in the spinnaker. This meant we couldn't use the sock to help get it down and had to drop it on the deck. This is not a difficult maneuver with a few crew but a bit more challenging with just the two of us. Eventually we got it all in the bag and I declared no more spinnaker for the day much to Warren's disappointment. We were anchored by 1530 after 55nm and Warren got in a couple of hours of fishing with lots of fish caught but none he wanted to keep. 

The start of another gorgeous day

Another early start with the aim of getting to Curlew Island, 71nm away. Spinnaker up and with the current with us we made good time until about 1500 when it eased and we motored the rest of the way.  No gybes so I was happy and we saw our first whales of the trip including one which surfaced right next to the boat, luckily going away from us.

Cruised along beside us for a while to check us out

An early start on Wednesday as we headed for Brampton Island, the start of the Whitsundays in our minds. More spinnaker, more whales and more gybes! When the wind got to 20 knots we dropped the spinnaker and goose winged the headsail. Boring said Warren - less stressful I thought.

Now it is time to slow down, sleep in and enjoy some of what these islands have to offer.

Urangan to Great Keppel Island

 27 July to 4 August 2022

We left the marina just before 8 and set a course for the Burnett River. The forecast of SW 15-20 knot led us to believe it would be a pleasant, fast beam reach. Unfortunately, as happened last year, the wind was much stronger and a beam on swell made for an uncomfortable trip. Once past the Fairway Beacon we put in a reef, and with an outgoing tide we made good time. 

Brown water pouring out of the Burnett River

On approaching the river we were met with brown water racing out of the river. Recent flooding upstream was still pouring out and Warren was concerned about debris in the water. The current was running at about 3 knots and we anchored in close to the rock wall on the southern bank. We survived the night but were happy to leave the next morning for Pancake Creek.

We were able to carry our spinnaker until Round Hill (Town of 1770) and then motor sailed the remainder of the trip. We spent 4 nights here, did a few jobs, walked to the lighthouse, read and fished.  

Better than the usual thong marker for tracks

Bustard Head Lighthouse

On Monday, after a relaxing 4 days, it was time to set the alarm and head for Great Keppel Island. We carried the spinnaker for 4 hours but with light winds dead astern our progress towards GKI was slow. We reluctantly started an engine and motored, anchoring at Fisherman's Beach just on dark. 

Mount Wyndham - the highest point on GKI

Leekes Beach

There was a large group of cruisers here and we walked most days and had sundowners on the beach in the afternoon. We were pleased to catch up with the crews of Zofia, Supa Trooper and Bamboozle.

Lots of cruisers enjoying sundowners at GKI