TripSailor.com® Sailing Blogs

Sailed in company with Cleopatra (a sister to Koshin) and Goondiwindi from Port Clinton to Monkey Bay – Great Keppel Island, onto Rosslyn Bay – Keppel Bay Marina, Sea Hill Point, The Narrows, Gladstone (cheapest marina of the trip and one of the best as far as amenities) and then Pancake Creek before we planned to leave for Lady Musgrave the following day.

Anchored 23.11.47S 150.56.01E
                 23.09.67S 150.47.14E
                 24.00.62S 151.44.02E

Conditions were still quite swelly and uncomfortable s when a call came over the radio from a vessel requesting some assistance with a engine problem Mike did not hesitate to go out of our way and offer help. Mike managed to get the engine working and we were rewarded with a cooked breakfast……………..and dinner that evening! Port Clinton proved to be an anchorage with more swell than we had anticipated but with sailing conditions not great we were happy to stay put until morning.

Anchored 22.32.82S 150.45.47E

As we departed our “fast moving” anchorage it was a race between Koshin and two whales as to who would get through the narrow passage of the channel first. Not sure of the whales exact intentions we decided to give them plenty of room and hold back.
Has we headed out the seas came up and the wind was also building; conditions were generally pretty miserable so we decided to make a short day of it and make for Pearl Bay.
Spent a delightful afternoon with lovely walks along the beach looking at various shells.

Anchored 22.26.60S 150.44.09E

There is a story behind strong tide passage that I am not going to tell … But in summary the following loosely describes the location.

Strong tide, desolate, war games, explosions, helicopters, wrong anchorage !

A beautiful sail to the Duke Islands; our first time to these parts. Lots of whales and lots of lovely sailing………..registered 7.1kts at 0900. Lovely landscape of Marble Island and rest of group as we made our way around to Hunter Island. A lovely late afternoon walk on the beach ……..island is off limits due to being used for deer farming……..followed by a sunset swim around boat . Sublime! Strong current though.

Anchored 21.58.65S 150.08.20E

Chose to sail to the wind. Jac Skipper for the day. Great sailing until 1100 when wind dropped. Tacked back towards Middle Percy; wind dropped even more and turned on motor.   Middle Percy is always a delight to visit. The A frame having had a roof re-fit since were last there. We left the old prop from our dinghy and hung it off the barge board under the hammock that we had left on a previous occasion. Met a few other people who had also just arrived; had a beer with one of the residents and learnt what Parks and Wildlife are hoping to do with the island………….. Invited for local goat stew on Sunday evening but the Duke Islands are calling.

Anchored 21.39.13S 150.14.38E

Departed Stonehaven in the Whitsundays at 0615 and made for Hamilton Island. We had hoped to get a berth in the marina as race week had been held on the island a few days prior the marina was full. We were able to pull in for a couple of hours take on fuel, gas and restock a few a perishables. That completed we pushed onto Burning Point at Shaw Island dropped anchor made beer just in time for sunset drinks.

Anchored 20.30.29S 149.02.69E

Four days of frivolities in Edgecumbe Bay for the annual Shag Islet Sailing Club meet. We arrived early so were able to anchor in prime position to watch as in excess of 50 boats made their way into the bay. Met old friends and made some new friends a fun time had by all

This is as far north as we are going this year. So now tracking back. Aiming to be at Edgecumbe Passage for a yachties party 27th – 30th August.
Couple of good days sailing and one day of motor sailing, on Friday we saw the most whales ever, about 5 pods altogether during the day. And a first for us, whales broaching. Slowed and watched until they had finished playing.
Presently we are in Cape Upstart, enjoying a couple of days relax, reading, cooking, baking bread etc etc. Another mackerel caught during the sail was cooked up and eaten with gebakken aardappels ( for non dutchies, that is fried potato) and lashings of Thommy mayonnaise.

Not to be put off with last reef experience, we headed out to Eddy Reef we had heard on the island that it was good snorkeling. Left just before first light and had great sail out and arrived 1230, covering 48nm. Climbed mast to get a view of the reef patches and worked out a way in, another yacht, Ultimate 1, was already in and the skipper came out in his dinghy to show us a path in. Anchored 1300. had a lazy day, went out in the dinghy and swam over reef, snorkeled and came back to champagne at sunset; the other boat had departed by this stage and we had the reef to ourselves. Had a peaceful night on anchor and sat out under a sky full of stars in the evening.

Anchored 17.46.13S 146.26.37E

Had pancakes for breakfast and waited for the rising  tide, planned a track out of the reef and got going. All sail up and a great days sailing, other than a drop off of the wind around lunchtime for an hour, we had lunch at that time.
Arrived back at Dunk Island 1645.