Whitsunday Cruising

Thursday, 13 August to Wednesday, 26 August 2026

After the strong winds came in overnight we moved around to the bay in the east of Macona Inlet, which has more protection from the swell coming in, and had lunch while we waited for the tide to turn. One thing you quickly learn around the Whitsundays, is to cross the passage with wind and tide together if possible. This resulted in us having a very pleasant sail with a double reef in slight seas even though the wind was gusting up to 27 knots. 

Boats anchored off MR Whitsundays

We anchored off the Marine Rescue Base and went into Coral Sea Marina on Friday for 2 days (all we could get as Hammo Race Week was on). Dinner with the RQ group at Sorrento on Friday night allowed everyone to share their adventures and plans. Other than this, it was boat jobs, shopping and laundry. Once again we were glad for the bikes.

On Sunday, we moved back to near MR and ticked off more shopping and a trip to the doctor for Warren. Winds had been very strong this whole time at Airlie but after nearly a week here, on Wednesday we decided to head across to Cid Harbour. Once again with a double reef, we tacked up the Molle Channel and went through Unsafe Passage which is actually quite safe. Conditions were vigorous!

We had 3 nights at Cid in very strong SE winds. We walked to Dugong Beach, up to Whitsunday Peak and caught up with good friends Lois and Kel, who had been here a week on Elevation. 

700 rock steps on the 3 km walk up

But the view is worth it at 407m elevation

Looking south to Hamilton Island

On Friday 21 August, we were concerned to hear a Mayday call on channel 16. It was the Oyster 825 Viva La Vida which struck a rock near Long Island and capsized in the Whitsunday Passage. All 10 crew were rescued but the yacht is currently anchored upside down in the passage while getting the rig and sails removed and waiting for good weather to tow the boat to Mackay.

Sad sight for any yachty

On Saturday the winds finally eased and after watching the start of the final race of Hamilton Race week we motored through Fitzalan Passage and set sail for Whitehaven Beach. 

Maritimo 100 in the wrong fleet I think!

Blue skies and light winds made for prefect weather and we got the kayaks down for the first paddle of the trip. Lots of people on the beach, many more interested in the perfect photo than enjoying the beach!

Nice day at Whitehaven

After 2 nights we sailed up the east side of Whitsunday and Hook Islands and around to Stonehaven anchorage which now has lots of moorings available. The strong winds were back with lots of gusts coming down the hills.

Thanks Karen from Aqua Therapy

Next stop was Jonah Bay in company with Danu and Aqua Therapy before moving on to anchor off Cape Gloucester Resort, venue for the SICYC Shaggers Rendezvous.

Island Head Creek to the Whitsundays

Tuesday, 4 August to Wednesday, 12 August 2026

We exited Island Head Creek at 0640 and set the spinnaker once clear of the island guarding the entrance. Our original plan was to head to Curlew Island, 70nm away. However this would require us to tack downwind and would mean a late arrival at the anchorage. As our current course was straight for Hunter Island, 35nm away, we decided to stop here for the night. 

Hunter Island

Hunter has a very pretty sand beach, spoiled only by the signs saying firearms are in frequent use on the cattle and deer property. Southern Exposure and Liberty were also here for the night.

Quartz veining in granite according to our resident geologist James (Sassafras)

Lots of noisy deer but no cattle

On Wednesday, we all headed off for Curlew Island, in about 10 knots of breeze. We set our spinnaker once clear of the shallows west of Hunter and had a pleasant if slow trip to Curlew, arriving in time for a late lunch. 

Early morning photo courtesy of Liberty

Thursday was a 52 nm sail to Scawfell Island, the start of the Whitsundays. We left early to make the most of the ebb tide together with Southern Exposure. We set our spinnaker and were enjoying the conditions until a whale on a collision course with us surfaced 5 m to port of Phase2. Warren called to brace as the whale dived under the boat, as he was sure it would hit us. We held our breaths and were relieved when it surfaced on our starboard side having missed both rudders and keels! It took a while for our heart rates to return to normal and we counted ourselves very lucky. Below is the distance we like our whales to be.

We made good time to Scawfell and decided to make Friday a rest day so we could have a sleepin. It was windy and rainy all day however, so no walk ashore but we did get to watch the Lions have a big win over the Hawks, thanks to Starlink.

Now that we are in the Whitsundays, the distances between anchorages are much smaller so we slowly cruised our way north stopping at Goldsmith (always a favourite), Shaw and Lindeman Islands before arriving at Whitehaven Beach in perfect conditions on Tuesday morning. A nice mackeral caught on our way to Shaw Island was delicious.

Goldsmith Island

Shaw Island

Whitehaven Beach

It was busy as usual but we caught up with Sassafras and Brett, Daron and Donna for sundowners. Brett regaled us with tales of charter boat mishaps when he was operations manager up here for one of the companies. On Wednesday morning we hiked up to Whitehaven lookout and took in the views. 

Whitehaven Beach

Looking south to some of the 74 islands in the Whitsundays

After lunch, as we prepared to leave we discovered the water pump was not working. The definition of cruising as boat maintenance in beautiful locations was never more true. Luckily it was only the pressure switch and Warren replaced it with a spare that we had on board. Our delayed departure, however, meant that we arrived at Macona Inlet just as it was getting dark so we anchored as far up the inlet as we dared as a strong SE was forecast to come through overnight. The BOM was spot on and at 0300, 30 - 40 knot gusts tore through the anchorage. Phase2 all secure however.

Pancake Creek to Island Head Creek

 Thursday, 23 July to Monday, 3 August 2026

After a week in Pancake Creek we were ready to move on, unfortunately just as the rest of the RQ fleet arrived here. Early start and we set the spinnaker which we carried until after lunch. The breeze went directly behind us (again!!) and became lighter so we were back to motorsailing for the rest of the trip to Great Keppel Island. We anchored off the old resort at Fisherman's Beach just on dark and had a quiet night.

Great Keppel Island

Next morning we sailed to Rosslyn Bay having booked in for 4 nights at the marina. The RQ fleet would be turning up here over the next few days and dinner was arranged at Waterline restaurant for Monday night as we were heading off again on Tuesday.

While in the marina the bikes (and our legs) got a workout. On Saturday, we rode into Yeppoon on the excellent bikeway and did various boat errands. 

Yeppoon in the distance

On Sunday, we replaced the broken batten box and spliced a ring to ensure the line that caused the issue could not be a problem again - we hope.

With most jobs done, on Monday we rode on more bikeway south to the Causeway. Only an 11km round trip but a very nice spot for morning tea.

Tuesday was moving day as Phase2 and Danu headed to Island Head Creek together with Sassafras (J45) and Aqua Therapy (Fontaine Pajot) who had joined our little group. We carried the spinnaker all day in very sloppy seas and occasional rain. Not the nicest days sailing we have had, but with more wind forecast we decided to sit it out in Island Head Creek. Southern Exposure and Liberty arrived on Wednesday in much nicer conditions. 

Early morning fog - Southern Exposure 

We have now been here a week with nice weather the first few days but deteriorating over the weekend - windy and showers. The plus side of that was I had plenty of time for a video project I was working on, I could do the blog and Warren caught some fish. I actually fished one day and caught the biggest whiting but I did only catch the one - unlike Warren.

Picture courtesy of Aqua Therapy

Tomorrow we are heading further north. How far we go will depend on the conditions we encounter.