Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Tangalooma to Great Keppel Island
29 June 2007
Great Keppel Island - Wreck Beach to Leekes Beach-5nm
Motored around and anchored in NE corner of Island. Went for walk along beach, sand squeaking under our feet, we walked to the resort and had a cuppa and cake. Walking back as the tide rose we went back to boat to plan trip up the coast. The defence area is closed which makes it a long sail about 100nm or so, as we cannot enter the coast where the defence training is taking place.
28 June 2007
Yellow Patch to Hummocky Island-9.2nm
Motor sailed, genoa up giving us an extra 1 knot of speed. Bit swell. Small beach and the terrain very rocky.
Hummocky Island to Wreck Beach, Great Keppel Island - 17nm
Motor sailed, genoa and main up. Sun out but a cold wind. Wind not consistant jumping between 5-15 knots. Approaching Great Keppel Ilsnad showed white beaches, beautiful white beaches and steep hills. Water clear, dropped anchor and saw it hit the bottom. Went for a walk to Butterfish Bay and saw two warships in Bay. Coconuts on beach as well as lots of plastics.
27 June 2007
I caught a cold and spent the day in bed. Cold and rainy day.
26 June 2007
Went by dingy to Cape Capricorn to explore lighthouse. I climbed sand dune.
24 June 2007
Cold wet and rainy. Sundowner on Huon Mist.
23 June 2007
Cape Capricorn to Yellow Patch 2.7 nm
Wet and raining. Motored around on high tide. Solan followed us in the route was well marked by fishermens bouys. Anchored in delightful well protected cove. Amazing dark yellow sand du ne. Beautiful clear water. Police came by and chatted us up re registration. Huon Mist here.
22 June 2007 TROPIC OF CAPRICORN 23 deg 30'
Grahams Creek to Cape Capricorn 30.6 nm 5 hours 30 minutes
Motored with mainup wind South 0-5 knots. Overcast and cold-no rain. Some areas shallow in the North Channel, Passed warship on the horizon. Passed the Tropic of Capricorn. The Cape has a lighthouse and some cottages perched precariously on top. Track up is 1.7 gradient.
Clear blue water, could se the anchor hit the bottom. Beautiful sunset, celebrated passing the topic of Capricorn with a glass of wine.
21 June 2007
Graham's Creek to the Narrows
Cold wet and rainy. We did a bit of maintenance then anchored closer to the narrows. Took the dingy to check depths. Watched tide changes deciding to try at hight tide tonight as the beacons are lit.
1am
High tide - a little moon out to light our way. We made our way slowly negotiating our way thought the shallo sections. Hittling bottom where it is marked -1.7 we made the decision not to continue and made our way back to Grahams Creek.
20 June 2007
Gladstone to Graham's Creek-11.5nm
Motor sailed, bridge opened for us at 10.30am-overcast and cold. Anchored fair way up the river. Mangroves. Cold and wet. Will head up the narrows tomorrow as have to have a very high tide to get through as it dries 2.5 metres above LWH water.
19 June 2007
Refuelled and headed up the river -the bridge opened up for us and we anchored right up the river. Taking the dingy down to the town we walked through and had a cuppa.
18 June 2007
Seven Mile Creek to Gladstone -29 nm 6 hours 30 minutes
Waited for high tide, motored, no wind and the sea flat calm. On route two guys on a tinnie stopped us and asked for directions - they were lost. We passed a reef and ran over a fishing net which luckly was easily removed thankfully it had not gone around our prop.
Saw a turtle. Called into Gladstone Harbour Channel 13 as there was a $15,000 fine if we do not. Pulled into a fuel jetty at the marina but they had gone home so we stayed on the jetty until the morning.
17 June 2007
Pancake Creek to Seven Mile Creek, Robbs Beach 15 nm
Left on high tide, no wind but increased to 15-20 knots gusting our sailing speed averaging 7-8 knots. Paul marked fishing zones on the electronic maps reminding us that we had to wind in the trolling lines. Big fines otherwise. Anchored out from hut on shore.
15 June 2007
Went for walk on shore round beaches, saw dingo tracks. Had sundowner on board.
14 June 2007
Chalmers Point to Pancake Creek -64nm 11hours
Pulled anchor at 2.30am No moon, dark as dark we headed out, the beacons leading the way looking rather like a airport runway. Wind was 10-15 knots so motor sailed until about 8am SE 20-25 knots and we sailed with main and genoa. Speed averaging 6-7 knots-beautiful. Then about 12 noon the wind dropped and we motor sailed again. Anchored just outside Pancake Creek until high tide. Lots of yachts here, also lots of shandbanks and shoals so high tide is best.
Took the dingy and depth sounder up the leads to anchorage checking depths. We moved into anchorage later in afternoon at high tide.
13 June 2007
Bundaberg to Chalmers Point -10nm
After collecting mail from Post Office at 9am we caught high tide heading down river to Chalmers Point near the heads where we anchored. Went to Burnett Heads Marina and had a look around having a beer at the sailing club.
We saw a boat being rennovated which was SPRAY a replica of Joshua Slocums yacht.
12 June 2007
Woody Island to Bundaberg -57.5nm 10 hours 30 minutes
High tide at 6am, the wind had picked up and had a lovely motor sail to Bundaberg. We motored up the river-long way it was shallow in spots-thankfully we were at high tide and anchored near townsite. River very muddy and lots of mangroves.
Went ashore and explored the town-lovely town a lot of character.
11 June 2007
MacKenzies Jetty to Woody Island -9nm
So very very cold, freezing, mist rising off the water this mroning, when the sun had defropsted us we went ashore and walked on the beautiful white beach, saw the welcome poles.
After the walk we went on high tide (9am) across to Woody Island, scrappin g the bottom on rocks-horrible sound. But made it through to deep anchorage.
Went ashore and walked on shore-rocky and not very attractive.
10 June 2007
Sun out so went ashore and went for a walk, had a big stick to fight off dingoes who the signs say can be very aggressive. Mangroves, lots of blue soldier crabs.
Gary's Anchorage to MacKenzies Jetty-Fraser Island
18.4nm 4 hours
Waited for high tide at 1.30pm and motor sailed up the channel keeping a close eye on Beacon to Beacon with binoculars handy keeping a close eye out for beacons showing where deep water is-very shallow out of channel. It is a sunny day with cold wind. Dropped anchor at MacKenzies Jetty ruins a disused jetty and wrecks.
9 June 2007
Rainy and Cold-got the ugg boats out and extra blankets and jackets as it was getting colder and colder. Sundowner on Huon Mist.
8 June 2007
Mooloolabar to Gary's Anchorage, Fraser Island, Great Sandy Straits
73.3 nm 12 hours
We had a good sail-averaging 7knts. Good winds and seas at 1.5 metres and gusts up to 20+ knots. We mainly motor sailed but had turned off when wind was strong enough to keep us up at 5 knots. Paul caught two mackrel-fresh fish yumm. Going across Wide Bay Bar was fine with waves breaking port and starboard but reasonable in the leads. Weather was fine but cold. We stopped at Pelican Bay to say farewell to Marites as they were going into Tin Can Bay to fix their motor which was not working very well.
We continued on to Gary's anchorage, thank goodness for Beacon to Beacon which showed the leads which were hard to pick up, we had the binoculars at the ready. There were 100knt winds down at Newcastle people have died and a tanker ran aground. Glad we are not down there.Anchoring near Huon Mist. Having drinks on Huon Mist we saw a large dingo on the beach on Fraser Island.
Had four extra for dinner with the fresh fish Paul caught on the way up.
7 June 2007
Eplored the town-very commercial and touristy. Had a big breakfast at a little eatery for $5.00.
6 June 2007
Tangalooma to Moloolabar
38mn
Left early morning 3am, there was no wind and it was wet and raining. Passing the shelter of Moreton Island the wind picked up, the current also helping us alnog another 3 knots. Open ocean, swell one metre but seas confused making it very uncomfortable. Both feeling seasick, entering the heads instantly felt better as was calm and sheltered in here. Fishing boat entered behind us, as we entered with main up found we had to go a fair way in to pull it down
5 June 2007
We scrubbed the bottom of the dingy as was dirty and a bit green. I swam over to boat for a cleaner and the rip was very strong, I bearly made it to the boat-a bit scary. Then went over to the wrecks snorkling (wetsuit on but no weights-big mistake I couldn't get down). The water was so very clear and there were millions of fish around. Helped Ben collect razor shell (actually I just held the bag).
4 June 2007
We walked to the resort and had a look around.
3 June 2007
Hamilton Reach-Brisbane River to Tangalooma Wrecks
26.7nm
Waking at 5am, pitch black and put sails up (very little wind) and motored down river through the port (only one ship entering port) and had a very pleasant motor sail with water maker filling our tanks up. We anchored near the Tangalooma Wrecks which is at Moreton Island. It is where workboats have been scuttled forming a break for boats.
Weather is overcast but not raining.
Great Keppel Island - Wreck Beach to Leekes Beach-5nm
Motored around and anchored in NE corner of Island. Went for walk along beach, sand squeaking under our feet, we walked to the resort and had a cuppa and cake. Walking back as the tide rose we went back to boat to plan trip up the coast. The defence area is closed which makes it a long sail about 100nm or so, as we cannot enter the coast where the defence training is taking place.
28 June 2007
Yellow Patch to Hummocky Island-9.2nm
Motor sailed, genoa up giving us an extra 1 knot of speed. Bit swell. Small beach and the terrain very rocky.
Hummocky Island to Wreck Beach, Great Keppel Island - 17nm
Motor sailed, genoa and main up. Sun out but a cold wind. Wind not consistant jumping between 5-15 knots. Approaching Great Keppel Ilsnad showed white beaches, beautiful white beaches and steep hills. Water clear, dropped anchor and saw it hit the bottom. Went for a walk to Butterfish Bay and saw two warships in Bay. Coconuts on beach as well as lots of plastics.
27 June 2007
I caught a cold and spent the day in bed. Cold and rainy day.
26 June 2007
Went by dingy to Cape Capricorn to explore lighthouse. I climbed sand dune.
24 June 2007
Cold wet and rainy. Sundowner on Huon Mist.
23 June 2007
Cape Capricorn to Yellow Patch 2.7 nm
Wet and raining. Motored around on high tide. Solan followed us in the route was well marked by fishermens bouys. Anchored in delightful well protected cove. Amazing dark yellow sand du ne. Beautiful clear water. Police came by and chatted us up re registration. Huon Mist here.
22 June 2007 TROPIC OF CAPRICORN 23 deg 30'
Grahams Creek to Cape Capricorn 30.6 nm 5 hours 30 minutes
Motored with mainup wind South 0-5 knots. Overcast and cold-no rain. Some areas shallow in the North Channel, Passed warship on the horizon. Passed the Tropic of Capricorn. The Cape has a lighthouse and some cottages perched precariously on top. Track up is 1.7 gradient.
Clear blue water, could se the anchor hit the bottom. Beautiful sunset, celebrated passing the topic of Capricorn with a glass of wine.
21 June 2007
Graham's Creek to the Narrows
Cold wet and rainy. We did a bit of maintenance then anchored closer to the narrows. Took the dingy to check depths. Watched tide changes deciding to try at hight tide tonight as the beacons are lit.
1am
High tide - a little moon out to light our way. We made our way slowly negotiating our way thought the shallo sections. Hittling bottom where it is marked -1.7 we made the decision not to continue and made our way back to Grahams Creek.
20 June 2007
Gladstone to Graham's Creek-11.5nm
Motor sailed, bridge opened for us at 10.30am-overcast and cold. Anchored fair way up the river. Mangroves. Cold and wet. Will head up the narrows tomorrow as have to have a very high tide to get through as it dries 2.5 metres above LWH water.
19 June 2007
Refuelled and headed up the river -the bridge opened up for us and we anchored right up the river. Taking the dingy down to the town we walked through and had a cuppa.
18 June 2007
Seven Mile Creek to Gladstone -29 nm 6 hours 30 minutes
Waited for high tide, motored, no wind and the sea flat calm. On route two guys on a tinnie stopped us and asked for directions - they were lost. We passed a reef and ran over a fishing net which luckly was easily removed thankfully it had not gone around our prop.
Saw a turtle. Called into Gladstone Harbour Channel 13 as there was a $15,000 fine if we do not. Pulled into a fuel jetty at the marina but they had gone home so we stayed on the jetty until the morning.
17 June 2007
Pancake Creek to Seven Mile Creek, Robbs Beach 15 nm
Left on high tide, no wind but increased to 15-20 knots gusting our sailing speed averaging 7-8 knots. Paul marked fishing zones on the electronic maps reminding us that we had to wind in the trolling lines. Big fines otherwise. Anchored out from hut on shore.
15 June 2007
Went for walk on shore round beaches, saw dingo tracks. Had sundowner on board.
14 June 2007
Chalmers Point to Pancake Creek -64nm 11hours
Pulled anchor at 2.30am No moon, dark as dark we headed out, the beacons leading the way looking rather like a airport runway. Wind was 10-15 knots so motor sailed until about 8am SE 20-25 knots and we sailed with main and genoa. Speed averaging 6-7 knots-beautiful. Then about 12 noon the wind dropped and we motor sailed again. Anchored just outside Pancake Creek until high tide. Lots of yachts here, also lots of shandbanks and shoals so high tide is best.
Took the dingy and depth sounder up the leads to anchorage checking depths. We moved into anchorage later in afternoon at high tide.
13 June 2007
Bundaberg to Chalmers Point -10nm
After collecting mail from Post Office at 9am we caught high tide heading down river to Chalmers Point near the heads where we anchored. Went to Burnett Heads Marina and had a look around having a beer at the sailing club.
We saw a boat being rennovated which was SPRAY a replica of Joshua Slocums yacht.
12 June 2007
Woody Island to Bundaberg -57.5nm 10 hours 30 minutes
High tide at 6am, the wind had picked up and had a lovely motor sail to Bundaberg. We motored up the river-long way it was shallow in spots-thankfully we were at high tide and anchored near townsite. River very muddy and lots of mangroves.
Went ashore and explored the town-lovely town a lot of character.
11 June 2007
MacKenzies Jetty to Woody Island -9nm
So very very cold, freezing, mist rising off the water this mroning, when the sun had defropsted us we went ashore and walked on the beautiful white beach, saw the welcome poles.
After the walk we went on high tide (9am) across to Woody Island, scrappin g the bottom on rocks-horrible sound. But made it through to deep anchorage.
Went ashore and walked on shore-rocky and not very attractive.
10 June 2007
Sun out so went ashore and went for a walk, had a big stick to fight off dingoes who the signs say can be very aggressive. Mangroves, lots of blue soldier crabs.
Gary's Anchorage to MacKenzies Jetty-Fraser Island
18.4nm 4 hours
Waited for high tide at 1.30pm and motor sailed up the channel keeping a close eye on Beacon to Beacon with binoculars handy keeping a close eye out for beacons showing where deep water is-very shallow out of channel. It is a sunny day with cold wind. Dropped anchor at MacKenzies Jetty ruins a disused jetty and wrecks.
9 June 2007
Rainy and Cold-got the ugg boats out and extra blankets and jackets as it was getting colder and colder. Sundowner on Huon Mist.
8 June 2007
Mooloolabar to Gary's Anchorage, Fraser Island, Great Sandy Straits
73.3 nm 12 hours
We had a good sail-averaging 7knts. Good winds and seas at 1.5 metres and gusts up to 20+ knots. We mainly motor sailed but had turned off when wind was strong enough to keep us up at 5 knots. Paul caught two mackrel-fresh fish yumm. Going across Wide Bay Bar was fine with waves breaking port and starboard but reasonable in the leads. Weather was fine but cold. We stopped at Pelican Bay to say farewell to Marites as they were going into Tin Can Bay to fix their motor which was not working very well.
We continued on to Gary's anchorage, thank goodness for Beacon to Beacon which showed the leads which were hard to pick up, we had the binoculars at the ready. There were 100knt winds down at Newcastle people have died and a tanker ran aground. Glad we are not down there.Anchoring near Huon Mist. Having drinks on Huon Mist we saw a large dingo on the beach on Fraser Island.
Had four extra for dinner with the fresh fish Paul caught on the way up.
7 June 2007
Eplored the town-very commercial and touristy. Had a big breakfast at a little eatery for $5.00.
6 June 2007
Tangalooma to Moloolabar
38mn
Left early morning 3am, there was no wind and it was wet and raining. Passing the shelter of Moreton Island the wind picked up, the current also helping us alnog another 3 knots. Open ocean, swell one metre but seas confused making it very uncomfortable. Both feeling seasick, entering the heads instantly felt better as was calm and sheltered in here. Fishing boat entered behind us, as we entered with main up found we had to go a fair way in to pull it down
5 June 2007
We scrubbed the bottom of the dingy as was dirty and a bit green. I swam over to boat for a cleaner and the rip was very strong, I bearly made it to the boat-a bit scary. Then went over to the wrecks snorkling (wetsuit on but no weights-big mistake I couldn't get down). The water was so very clear and there were millions of fish around. Helped Ben collect razor shell (actually I just held the bag).
4 June 2007
We walked to the resort and had a look around.
3 June 2007
Hamilton Reach-Brisbane River to Tangalooma Wrecks
26.7nm
Waking at 5am, pitch black and put sails up (very little wind) and motored down river through the port (only one ship entering port) and had a very pleasant motor sail with water maker filling our tanks up. We anchored near the Tangalooma Wrecks which is at Moreton Island. It is where workboats have been scuttled forming a break for boats.
Weather is overcast but not raining.
