Whitsundays and Shaggers

Goldsmith Island to the Whitsundays

Sunday, 15 August to Friday, 27August, 2021

Another short sail today to Thomas Island - another beautiful quiet island in the southern Whitsundays. We had a great hike on Monday across the island on a path along the creek bed and then a climb up the hill for more stunning views. 

Track marks started well but ended with thongs in trees

 

Shoe failure for me after clambering that rock

On Tuesday we headed to Happy Bay on Long Island. We caught up with Seawind 1250, Whiskers for sundowners. On Wednesday we were booked into Port of Airlie marina for a week so we could have our delayed trip back to Brisbane. On the way, we had to work our way through the boats participating in Airlie Beach Race Week.

This was our first time in this marina and we were very impressed. Only downside was a single washing machine and 2 ensuite showers. 

We flew out of Proserpine and enjoyed 4 days in Brisbane catching up with family and Charlotte’s postponed birthday party. 

Moreton Island on a gorgeous winters morning

2 of Charlotte’s favourite things  - cupcakes and Peppa Pig

Back at Airlie we stocked up, and got ready to attend the annual SICYC Rendezvous, also known as Shaggers. We had a nice spinnaker run to Gloucester Passage.

Thanks to Toucan 2 for the photo

Shaggers was a bit lower key this year due to COVID but still about 90 boats enjoying the chance to catch up with old friends and make some new ones.

Traditional Shaggers party on Shag Islet 

Dinner with friends at Eco Resort to finish Shaggers for us - Shag Islet in the background

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!) 

Jigsaw number 2 finished

We were lucky to have whales cruise into Roylen Bay yesterday, between us and the beach, and this morning a dugong paid a visit.

Tomorrow we will move to Thomas Island -  our first stop in the Whitsundays.

Into the tropics

Sunday, 25 July to Saturday, 31 July 2021

We left Bundaberg early on Sunday morning in a light W/SW breeze for a nice 2 sail reach to Pancake Creek (or so we thought).  Most of our fleet had decided to leave on Monday for Lady Musgrave Island and a route up the reef to the Keppels. We decided on the inner route with an extended stay at one of our favourite anchorages. After the wind went to the north, it was slow going tacking the 20nm to Pancake Creek and 1730 when we finally dropped anchor. There were about 25 boats there and that number remained the same as boats came and left over the coming days  

We spent 5 nights at Pancake Creek and enjoyed the rest after a hectic few weeks (months?) leading up to our departure. 

We enjoyed walks on the exposed sandbanks at low tide and a 7km hike to Bustard Head lighthouse. 

Aircraft beach

One day we kayaked to the outer anchorage - poorly timed as we battled the tide both ways. It was good exercise however and a beautiful beach for morning tea. 

The rest of the time, Warren fished while I read my books and finally finished this challenging jigsaw puzzle. 

On Friday it was time to leave as the wind finally came from the SE and we enjoyed our first day under spinnaker to Great Keppel Island. 

When we passed Cape Capricorn, we were now in the tropics. It might have been my imagination but it felt warmer that evening.

A walk on the beach Saturday morning and then the short sail to Keppel Bay Marina at Rosslyn Bay to rejoin our RQ friends. 

Trying to keep the sea from eroding the beach

Cruising north in company

Raby Bay to Bundaberg 

Friday, 16 July to Saturday, 24 July 2021

After a break in 2020 (like most of the world), we set our sights on a trip up to the Whitsundays this year. We decided it was best to stay in Queensland and not risk border closures. Our club, Royal Qld Yacht Squadron had a cruise planned that fitted our schedule so we signed up along with about 30 other boats.

Our sail up on Friday afternoon was an adventure in itself - 30 knot westerly with gusts to 38kn! Mum came to say goodbye but in the cold and windy conditions didn’t wave from the point as she usually does. 

After a farewell dinner at the club, on Saturday we made an early start for the 55nm to Mooloolaba. 

Another westerly, 15-25 knots so we elected to sail up Deception Bay and duck around Skirmish Pt on Bribie. The wind direction meant the entrance to the Mooloolah River was good with no breaking waves. 

Another early start on Sunday, 6am for us - 4am for some. Spinnaker up for a while but mostly 2 sail reaching in light to moderate breezes. 

Wide Bay Bar was flat and we sailed up to Garrys Anchorage in the dying breeze to anchor at 1730 after 73 nm. 

Yankee Jack Creek and then Big Woody Island which we left at 0700 on Wednesday morning in company with the rest of the fleet.  There are 6 Seawind cats in the group and we got some great photos on the way. A strong WSW so it was a bumpy, wet trip to the Bundaberg Port Marina. 

Scarlett going well

We had 4 nights in Bundaberg, a fleet dinner (top 3 of the Limerick competition¡), trip to town for provisions and a great bike ride to Bargara.

Sydney to Moreton Bay

Monday, 1 April to Saturday, 13 April 2019
We left our mooring in Middle Harbour in beautiful weather in time to go under the Spit Bridge at the first opening at 1015. We headed off with a forecast of 10-15 knots so set the main and genoa for the short trip to Broken Bay. A rain squall that saw gusts over 30 knots hit us as we rounded North Head so we quickly furled the genoa and ran downwind with the squall.

Unfortunately that kept us in the squall as it headed up the coast so it was a wet trip all the way to Coasters Retreat in Pittwater. On Tuesday, we headed into the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club Marina for 2 nights to catch up with Jenny and David on Kailani who had circumnavigated Tasmania with us in 2015. We celebrated my birthday with dinner at their home on Tuesday night. Warren sorted through some boat maintenance issues and we did the necessary washing and shopping while we waited for the northerlies to pass.
On Thursday afternoon we left the marina and picked up another mooring in Coasters Retreat in readiness for a early start the next morning. It is about 80nm to Port Stephens, so we were glad of the 10-15 knot SSE wind that pushed us along. More squalls meant we didn't fly the spinnaker but we still had the anchor down in Shoal Bay at 1800.

On Saturday morning we climbed Tomaree Head. This is a popular walk on good tracks that include lots of steps. The track rises 160m but the effort is rewarded with spectacular 360 degree views from the summit.

On the way down, we detoured to Fort Tomaree and the remains of the WWII gun emplacements. These are all that is left of the fort that was built in 1942 to prevent enemy forces entering Port Stephens and reaching the steelworks in Newcastle.

In the afternoon we sailed further into Port Stephens and anchored in Fame Cove. This is a popular all weather spot with 5 public moorings (all taken unfortunately).

On Sunday we got our exercise by kayaking up the creek as far as we could go. When we came back a few boats had left so we picked up a mooring.

Fame Cove

On Monday we motored 2nm to Soldiers Point to see if we could buy some fresh bread. We enjoyed the walk along the foreshore however no luck with the bread so returned to our mooring.

We spent our last day in Port Stephens with a long paddle across to North Arm Cove where we found a nice spot for morning tea where we could watch the yachts participating in the Sail Port Stephens regatta. With over 100 yachts it was quite a spectacle.

On Wednesday morning, with a good southerly forecast, we left Port Stephens bound for the Gold Coast Seaway, 330nm away. 53 hours later, we entered the Seaway. It was a good passage but not particularly fast with the wind directly behind and a 1-2 knot current against us much of the way.

Seal Rocks

Second evening at sea off the NSW north coast

With an incoming tide we decided to push on to Canaipa where we dropped anchor for a good sleep before the final leg home. On Saturday we sailed the last 13 nm home to be greeted as always by Mum on the rock wall of Raby Bay. We had traveled 2651nm in the 3 months we were away.