A Quick Trip Up The Coast
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| Navigating |
After spending five days relaxing and hiding from the non-existent strong winds, we set off again for more northern climes. The first day we motor sailed 47nm to Pearl Bay where we rocked and rolled for part of the night due to the tidal influence within the bay. Luckily when the tide changed the rolling moderated, the contents of the cupboards settled down and we were able to get a good sleep. Friday morning saw us up at 4am and we departed Pearl Bay at 4.45am bound for Middle Percy Island. This was one of the better sails we have had and we arrived at 3pm, after 56nm.We were just in time for a quick trip ashore to the A-Frame to look at the names of boats and crews who have visited here before us. This lovely island has a mediocre anchorage and it proved to be another rolly, tide affected night for us. Saturday was another ideal sailing day and we left Middle Percy at 6am and sailed all day in beautiful conditions and arrived at Scawfell Island just before sunset, after completing 62nm.
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| Wing on Wing in Light Conditions |
The Shoalwater Bay/Broad/Sound area has the largest tidal range on the east coast of up to 9m. This produces strong tidal streams and care must be taken especially with spring tides and wind against tide situations. Luckily we had light winds as we made our way north. There is plenty to see in this area as it is littered with islands as far as you can see. We saw whales close by, leaping and showing their tails. The ships anchored off Hay Point and those entering and departing the port kept us on our toes as we navigated through the anchorage area and across the main channel north and south, and out through the Barrier Reef. I kept a close watch on the plotter and it became obvious that one ship was going to come very close to us. Peter rolled in the jib and slowed us down a bit and it steamed across our path. It was huge! I have never seen such an enormous ship. It had nine holds and was fully loaded. What an impressive sight as we slid quietly and safely behind it.
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| Young Endeavour sails past St Bees and Keswick Islands |
Having reached Scawfell Island we slowed down to take in the beauty of the islands to the south of the Whitsundays. We decided to motor sail to Brampton Island for a night and as we left Refuge Bay on Scawfell, 'Young Endeavour' came slowly sailing up from the south, so we detoured a bit for a closer look. She looked wonderful set against the backdrop of Keswick and St Bees islands. Brampton Island Resort remains derelict, with caretakers living there to keep an eye on things. After a quiet night we set off for Goldsmith Island
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| Brampton Island. Smith group in the background. |
Goldsmith Island
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| Beautiful Goldsmith Island |
This island is part of the Smith Island Group. There is many Smiths - Tinsmith, Silversmith, Ladysmith, Blacksmith, Anchorsmith. There is Bellows Islet, Ingot Islet, Hammer Island and Farrier Island. Someone really let their head go in naming this group of islands. However, Goldsmith is very beautiful and we took advantage of the perfect weather to anchor in Roylen Bay for the night. We spent the day exploring the whole northern coast line, walking beaches that had no other footsteps on them and finding a couple of lovely shells. Minnie Hall Bay is not such a good anchorage as you need to anchor well out due to shoaling ground and bommies scattered throughout the bay, but it is great to explore in the dinghy. There is a mangrove lined nook in the eastern corner, which is so pretty, with the background of steep hills that are covered in places with majestic pine trees.
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| Farrier Island |
Since departing Keppel Bay Marina we found ourselves sailing with numerous other boats. Some we have travelled with on and off since the Clarence River in NSW and some since Brisbane. There is always at least eight to ten boats anchored with us every night. At Thomas Island, only 9nm north of Goldsmith we stopped for lunch and anchored amongst five 'cats', on the north side of this rugged, beautiful little island. We decided to move on and anchor for the night at Burning Point, on Shaw Island, as we had explored Thomas Island before on two previous visits.
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| Yakkidy Yak Blah Blah Blah!!! |
Amongst Friends
We rounded Burning Point and were surprised to see about 15 boats already anchored there. No sooner had we set our anchor than a dinghy came racing over. It was Leonie from Comfortably Numb and Ian from Chandon. We had now caught up with some of the Lake Macquarie contingent. Shenanigans was there, our neighbour at the Toronto Yacht Club moorings. They had been joined by a couple of Tasmanian boats and travelled with them for some time. A sing-a-long had been organised on Shenanigans in the evening and we were invited along. It was hilarious. Ian and Leonie played their ukuleles, and the rest of us sang along. Waltzing Matilda, Click Go The Shears, Auld Lang Syne, Still Call Australia Home (made Jane tear up!) and too many other songs to list, kept us all entertained for the evening. It was a memorable night on the water.
We are now at the Whitsundays proper and intend to explore here for a couple weeks before heading north to Townsville for several weeks then beginning the long journey south back to Brisbane.
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| Best Found So Far |
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| Sunrise At Middle Percy |
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