Into the Tropics

Yellowpatch, Great Keppel Island and Rosslyn Bay

Saturday, 2 September to Saturday, 16 September 2023

We had to wait for the tide to come in to leave Pacific Creek, and then sail the 25nm across the top of Curtis Island to get to Yellowpatch before the tide had dropped too much. Luckily, Warren had some waypoints from a local in Gladstone and we had plenty of water under the keels going in (3.2m on a 2.8m tide). 

Don't enter at low tide!

We anchored before the big orange/yellow sandhill and wondered why it has been 12 years since last we visited. It is a very picturesque spot. 

Beautiful weather

Very protected in SE winds

Unfortunately, our stay was restricted to 2 nights as on Monday the government was closing the northern part of the island for feral animal control. Not wanting to encounter any stray bullets, we headed north for Great Keppel Island just before the 1200 closure.

Beautiful GKI beaches

At Great Keppel Island we caught up with the RQ Cruise North group again. We had perfect weather for our 4 nights anchored at Fisherman's Beach. Walks, kayaking and sundowners ashore filled our days and we were sorry to move on Friday to Rosslyn Bay. 

A large number of cruisers in the bays around GKI

My beach shelter (Mark 2) - still needs some refinements

Leeke's and Svensen's Bays

Our original plan was to stay in the Keppel Bay Marina for only a few days however a very strong south easterly and a chest infection for Warren changed that to 9 days. We enjoyed a couple of dinners with the RQ cruisers and lots of bike rides. 

Dinner at Beaches with RQ Cruisers

One of the best bikeways in Yeppoon

Warren made a new friend

Emu Park Singing Ship has had the volume turned down

Impressive ANZAC memorial at Emu Park

Looking towards the marina from Bluff Point

It was also great to catch up with my cousin Alan who I don't think I've seen since we were kids. 

Now.....

And then... I don't think we've changed much

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