We anchored just past the boats
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Cairns here we come
Horseshoe Bay on Magnetic Island has great holding, so anchor watching isn’t necessary. One would hope for a great night sleep. Sometime during the darker hours we had a fishing boat come in with lots of shouting aboard plus a yacht leave, they had a spotlight on their sails checking that all was well. It looked rather nice, picking up the ghost like shapes of their rig against the land that jutted out behind them, a contrast to all the light ashore.
A unanimous vote had a 0615 departure and with a really muddy anchor to deal with, thanks goodness for the salt water hose down pumps.
Overcast skies with showers, SE 20 to 25 kts again. This can get boring, but these winds give us some great surfing and push us along. Passed some great spots like Hinchinbrook Island, which we have very fond memories of. Dunk showed it’s self from the clouds and we turned to go and drop the pick for the evening in front of the resort. Yes now we remember why no other sane person is around, it rolls and rolls as the swell comes around the point. After some investigation in FA's tinny with the depth sounder, we all moved 100 odd meters. Who knows if we had a better night as rain pelted down for most of it, but was I glad to see dawn the next morning Hatches have to be shut tight and this with the consistent rolling around makes it not conductive for resting. The planned walk around Dunk was cancelled early as FA said that they both had sprained ankles. I think that they didn’t want to challenge me to the wet ‘T” shirt award. After throwing some options around , where to now? Cairns, why not .Rain clouds around us with dark grey skies, but we seemed to be spared. About time! Up past the main wharf and around into Trinity Inlet, yes no swell in here thank goodness.
It’s a long weekend with Anzac day tomorrow. The locals puttered past as they went to check their crab pots or just go fishing. One or two jet skis flew past, then, the noise greeted us first and towards us came this jet propelled boat towing a water skier. Seems that they must have been practicing for the world record as they flew not once but enough for me to ponder, what if I put a long rope across the inlet uhmmmm ???????? Hey it didn’t rain that night and we could keep the hatches open, first time for over a week.
Our marina berth at Yorkys Knob beckoned, so on Anzac Day we found our allotted space and here we are. They run a courtesy bus to a large shopping centre so yesterday Ian and I ventured out. Our plans are to wait here until we hear from the local Steyr agent to come and check out the port engine and replace the thing that keeps our warning light on.
We all have taken the chance to defrost fridges, wash clothes and fix the pages of …when we are in port next, list. The communications over the next month will be very intermittent as we head for the top. The charts have been pulled out with lots of cross reference to books and articles that we have collected from those who have done it.
The lack of not being able to jump on Skype and speak to the family and see our wonderful grandchildren will have me monitoring the phone connection closely.
A unanimous vote had a 0615 departure and with a really muddy anchor to deal with, thanks goodness for the salt water hose down pumps.
Overcast skies with showers, SE 20 to 25 kts again. This can get boring, but these winds give us some great surfing and push us along. Passed some great spots like Hinchinbrook Island, which we have very fond memories of. Dunk showed it’s self from the clouds and we turned to go and drop the pick for the evening in front of the resort. Yes now we remember why no other sane person is around, it rolls and rolls as the swell comes around the point. After some investigation in FA's tinny with the depth sounder, we all moved 100 odd meters. Who knows if we had a better night as rain pelted down for most of it, but was I glad to see dawn the next morning Hatches have to be shut tight and this with the consistent rolling around makes it not conductive for resting. The planned walk around Dunk was cancelled early as FA said that they both had sprained ankles. I think that they didn’t want to challenge me to the wet ‘T” shirt award. After throwing some options around , where to now? Cairns, why not .Rain clouds around us with dark grey skies, but we seemed to be spared. About time! Up past the main wharf and around into Trinity Inlet, yes no swell in here thank goodness.
It’s a long weekend with Anzac day tomorrow. The locals puttered past as they went to check their crab pots or just go fishing. One or two jet skis flew past, then, the noise greeted us first and towards us came this jet propelled boat towing a water skier. Seems that they must have been practicing for the world record as they flew not once but enough for me to ponder, what if I put a long rope across the inlet uhmmmm ???????? Hey it didn’t rain that night and we could keep the hatches open, first time for over a week.
Our marina berth at Yorkys Knob beckoned, so on Anzac Day we found our allotted space and here we are. They run a courtesy bus to a large shopping centre so yesterday Ian and I ventured out. Our plans are to wait here until we hear from the local Steyr agent to come and check out the port engine and replace the thing that keeps our warning light on.
We all have taken the chance to defrost fridges, wash clothes and fix the pages of …when we are in port next, list. The communications over the next month will be very intermittent as we head for the top. The charts have been pulled out with lots of cross reference to books and articles that we have collected from those who have done it.
The lack of not being able to jump on Skype and speak to the family and see our wonderful grandchildren will have me monitoring the phone connection closely.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Brampton to Magnetic Island
Brampton Island, by the state of their jetty had suffered from the recent cyclone. We dropped anchor close in with plans to walk around it the next day .The weather pattern was still 20 to 25 kts. SE gusting to 30 mid afternoon, a lay day was very welcome. If there had been a wet T shirt competition at the end of the 3 hour walk, I would have won it, as everyone else took a jacket except me. The humidity was still high and in hind sight glad I didn’t. The sight of 4 bedraggled walkers going the resort back to their boats caused a few comments.
These 0600 starts are becoming too familiar as we set the alarm at 0530 so that we can get a coffee and some cereal. The anchorage for the evening is Butterfly Bay at the top of Whitsunday Island. Here you can pick up a buoy as anchoring is not allowed in some parts due to the damage they cause to the coral. Overcast sky’s made looking around not as good as in the past; but Ian had a swim and the first lesson for me on how to use the outboard. The wind funnels down the inlet and with Kiella being swung this way and that and the running over the large buoy, better nights we all have had.
It was great to see first light as Cape Upstart here we come. This area has some homes around the bay which I think where all squatters originally. The idea of dropping the pick around lunch time and after the early starts, nanna naps are very welcome.
Our fuel situation was getting low so a planned stop over in Townsville to fill up was needed. Ringing around we found that Cairns were 8 cents cheaper so just enough was popped in to get us there on Sunday. We are in Horseshoe Bay this evening which is on Magnetic Island.
Tomorrow should see us at Dunk, well maybe.
These 0600 starts are becoming too familiar as we set the alarm at 0530 so that we can get a coffee and some cereal. The anchorage for the evening is Butterfly Bay at the top of Whitsunday Island. Here you can pick up a buoy as anchoring is not allowed in some parts due to the damage they cause to the coral. Overcast sky’s made looking around not as good as in the past; but Ian had a swim and the first lesson for me on how to use the outboard. The wind funnels down the inlet and with Kiella being swung this way and that and the running over the large buoy, better nights we all have had.
It was great to see first light as Cape Upstart here we come. This area has some homes around the bay which I think where all squatters originally. The idea of dropping the pick around lunch time and after the early starts, nanna naps are very welcome.
Our fuel situation was getting low so a planned stop over in Townsville to fill up was needed. Ringing around we found that Cairns were 8 cents cheaper so just enough was popped in to get us there on Sunday. We are in Horseshoe Bay this evening which is on Magnetic Island.
Tomorrow should see us at Dunk, well maybe.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Welcome to the Whitsundays
Early morning starts are rather mandatory on the water. This way you can do the miles in daylight and if there is time at the end of the day you can go ashore for a walk or just sit back and enjoy a drink or two. Having sundowners with traveling boaties is lots of fun as we all reminisce on the day’s voyage or past adventures.
Leaving Pancake Creek at first light we followed the snail trail on our plotter and Ian pointed out the spot were he anchored with Flynn and his mates in 2003. Having the latest Furuno gear on Kiella is tops, but the phone calls to Taz are still happening as we encounter another glitch. We have our manual and he has his, although I feel it is not referred to often.
The passage to Island head Creek was lumpy and bumpy as the quartering seas built up as the day proceeded. We managed to make a light lunch and just snack on fruit. At 1405 we heard the sound of a dam big truck, and as we both were up on the chardy deck at the time turned around and there was Coast watch in their plane, a bit low. We where duly called up as KKK as a start. After answering some questions and I’m sure having our photo taken this I’m led to believe is the start of scarring the …… out of us.
With the forecast still SE 20 to 25 increasing to 30, we decided to keep going while we could surf down waves, boy do we. Twenty –two kts, so far and she handles it well better than I do on the odd occasion.
Another early start, as it turned out not that early as the winch played up and we had to lift the last 15plus by hand. The problem has been sorted out and we both are much more the wiser for this test if it were to reoccur .
The wonderful chart plotter tells me that we are 8nm, from Brampton Island and our anchorage for tonight, maybe the next, who knows, welcome to the Whitsundays.
Leaving Pancake Creek at first light we followed the snail trail on our plotter and Ian pointed out the spot were he anchored with Flynn and his mates in 2003. Having the latest Furuno gear on Kiella is tops, but the phone calls to Taz are still happening as we encounter another glitch. We have our manual and he has his, although I feel it is not referred to often.
The passage to Island head Creek was lumpy and bumpy as the quartering seas built up as the day proceeded. We managed to make a light lunch and just snack on fruit. At 1405 we heard the sound of a dam big truck, and as we both were up on the chardy deck at the time turned around and there was Coast watch in their plane, a bit low. We where duly called up as KKK as a start. After answering some questions and I’m sure having our photo taken this I’m led to believe is the start of scarring the …… out of us.
With the forecast still SE 20 to 25 increasing to 30, we decided to keep going while we could surf down waves, boy do we. Twenty –two kts, so far and she handles it well better than I do on the odd occasion.
Another early start, as it turned out not that early as the winch played up and we had to lift the last 15plus by hand. The problem has been sorted out and we both are much more the wiser for this test if it were to reoccur .
The wonderful chart plotter tells me that we are 8nm, from Brampton Island and our anchorage for tonight, maybe the next, who knows, welcome to the Whitsundays.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Pancake Creek
We dropped anchor in Pancake Creek at 1630 after leaving Gary’s Anchorage on Fraser Island at 0630. What a difference having those motors pushing us along. We traveled 134 nautical miles in 10 hours.
Today is a catch up one, we have filled our main fuel tanks from those bladders and I’m sure Kiella will love having less weight aft. Started the generator and will, with help from Bill, get the water maker going and not squirting water back at me from the safety valve.
The walk to Bustard Head Lighthouse is a must when you are here, so the good hour up with some bush bashing saw our sea legs get a work out. The view is as always worth it, but with all the seeds to extract from our sox’s and clothes not sure.
Tomorrow Island Head Creek beckons, and as Bill mentioned on our walk this morning we are 10% into our trip to Broome from Brisbane. Ian remaindered him that we have already done 33%. Boy have we really!!!!!!
Today is a catch up one, we have filled our main fuel tanks from those bladders and I’m sure Kiella will love having less weight aft. Started the generator and will, with help from Bill, get the water maker going and not squirting water back at me from the safety valve.
The walk to Bustard Head Lighthouse is a must when you are here, so the good hour up with some bush bashing saw our sea legs get a work out. The view is as always worth it, but with all the seeds to extract from our sox’s and clothes not sure.
Tomorrow Island Head Creek beckons, and as Bill mentioned on our walk this morning we are 10% into our trip to Broome from Brisbane. Ian remaindered him that we have already done 33%. Boy have we really!!!!!!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Mooloolaba to Pancake Creek
What an adventure the boys had. The story goes that the catamaran Nitro and his solo skipper had endured auto pilot problems and with the general fatigue involved in hand steering and maybe lack of water, he was is in a wee spot of bother.
They found him in a shipping channel back in Moreton Bay. With coaxing from his cousin Bruce, they finally got him to follow FA to the finish line. The outboard then would not start and one could say that was when the fun really started. Needless to say he finally made it back into the boat harbour on tow from FA. At 0445 Bill and Ian crawled back into their bunks and Sandy and I turned off the radio and all slept for a couple of hours. We kept to our plan of leaving Mooloolaba that morning but a little later.
Fifty nautical miles on saw us anchored for a few hours behind Double Island Point, before crossing Wide Bay bar. This bar is said to be amongst the most dangerous on the east coast. The past weather patterns had been favorable so we had a good crossing considering. Twenty knots surfing in; down to 4.6 meters under the keel. It took 16 minutes and needless to say the tomatoes got another soaking. Why am I persisting with this project to have fresh tomatoes on board, heavens know? An early night with rain showers, thankfully to wash off some of the salt.
At 0600 we up anchored and are heading to Bustard Head. Last time we visited this lovely place we had Que on board , after going into Pancake Creek with is at the base of the lighthouse there we attempted a walk.. Nothing more will be said on that matter except I hope Ian’s navigation skills are better on water than on land. A lay day is planned, but who knows?
.
They found him in a shipping channel back in Moreton Bay. With coaxing from his cousin Bruce, they finally got him to follow FA to the finish line. The outboard then would not start and one could say that was when the fun really started. Needless to say he finally made it back into the boat harbour on tow from FA. At 0445 Bill and Ian crawled back into their bunks and Sandy and I turned off the radio and all slept for a couple of hours. We kept to our plan of leaving Mooloolaba that morning but a little later.
Fifty nautical miles on saw us anchored for a few hours behind Double Island Point, before crossing Wide Bay bar. This bar is said to be amongst the most dangerous on the east coast. The past weather patterns had been favorable so we had a good crossing considering. Twenty knots surfing in; down to 4.6 meters under the keel. It took 16 minutes and needless to say the tomatoes got another soaking. Why am I persisting with this project to have fresh tomatoes on board, heavens know? An early night with rain showers, thankfully to wash off some of the salt.
At 0600 we up anchored and are heading to Bustard Head. Last time we visited this lovely place we had Que on board , after going into Pancake Creek with is at the base of the lighthouse there we attempted a walk.. Nothing more will be said on that matter except I hope Ian’s navigation skills are better on water than on land. A lay day is planned, but who knows?
.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Mooloolaba
What a different carrying 500litres of diesel in the rear cockpit can make, and Kiella was not a happy little vegemite. On Tuesday 13, after a farewell and welcome BBQ courtesy of Gill and Bob, we left Raby Bay.Such wonderful folks you met and nothing seems to be too much, even the gift of a donger to quieten down all the fish that we are meant to catch. After 7 days in Brisbane it was nice to get back on the water, with a stiff SE and a quartering beam sea , it only seemed like yesterday that we were surfing down all those waves.. Our stop was Mooloolaba and with all the Trans Tasman Solo yachts coming in, was good timing. The winner by 2 ½ days, Bruce Arms worked on and helped build FA, so Bill and Sandy spent some time with him and his entourage .It was interesting to hear how one can just keep on racing across from New Zealand with little or no sleep for 6 or more days. He and his wife Susan have also been heavily involved in getting Jessica Watson to the place she is in. The daily or more as is necessary talks, to keep her up to date with the weather patterns and her general well being has given them both lots of pleasure. Tonight’s conversation was about how to get her in safely and in good health so close to the finish. These people just volunteer their time and past skills, and are prepared to past them on freely. I am writing this part at 30 minutes past midnight as a boat is in trouble or should I say the skipper is, and Ian along with Bruce has gone out with FA to help. Tomorrow or should I say today our plans will have changed. Aren’t we lucky?
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Brisbane in 6 Days
We have completed the first part of our journey and that was to make Brisbane safely. Having Taz onboard was such a luxury as it allowed us to spent time with him. His valuable knowledge with our electronics, especially the navigation system had us on course .We both have learnt so much and the manuals will spend a lot of time out next to the steering station with the high lighter.
The list of things to do grows daily. Having the wonderful opportunity to stay with Bill and Sandy, their great help in taking us around to buy, source and rolling up their sleeves and guiding us both with stocking up and fixing things. We have had Steyr check the engines and gave them the tick.
Our plan, weather permitting is to leave Tuesday and spend approx 2 ½ to 3 weeks getting to Cairns.
The passage from Pittwater to Camden Haven was the usual 0600 start and with the ships clock not being changed to EST time yet. Some on board had their watches changed so it was rather fun. We passed floating fish traps with little warning to those on watch, less to others who were watching a movie or napping. The sudden coming to a halt from 13kts. . alerted all to avoid these.
The highlight of this day would have to be 8 minutes of shearwaters fishing with dolphins joining them in this massive feast. The dolphins came to visit and gave us a wonderful display, if only the grandchildren had been around to witness such an event. We crossed the bar and surfed in while it was breaking across. Fun I think they call it. We used the .RSL jetty and tied next to a large UK sailing boat. With Only roasts being served that evening and for $9.00 each, why not? Day light saw us heading over the bar again with Iluka our anchorage that evening. We covered around 120 nm. both days so a short run to the Seaway at Southport was welcome . Bill and Sandy met us and after just over 2 1/2 hours we tied up in Raby Bay.
Our plan, weather permitting is to leave this Tuesday and head north. Why not?
The list of things to do grows daily. Having the wonderful opportunity to stay with Bill and Sandy, their great help in taking us around to buy, source and rolling up their sleeves and guiding us both with stocking up and fixing things. We have had Steyr check the engines and gave them the tick.
Our plan, weather permitting is to leave Tuesday and spend approx 2 ½ to 3 weeks getting to Cairns.
The passage from Pittwater to Camden Haven was the usual 0600 start and with the ships clock not being changed to EST time yet. Some on board had their watches changed so it was rather fun. We passed floating fish traps with little warning to those on watch, less to others who were watching a movie or napping. The sudden coming to a halt from 13kts. . alerted all to avoid these.
The highlight of this day would have to be 8 minutes of shearwaters fishing with dolphins joining them in this massive feast. The dolphins came to visit and gave us a wonderful display, if only the grandchildren had been around to witness such an event. We crossed the bar and surfed in while it was breaking across. Fun I think they call it. We used the .RSL jetty and tied next to a large UK sailing boat. With Only roasts being served that evening and for $9.00 each, why not? Day light saw us heading over the bar again with Iluka our anchorage that evening. We covered around 120 nm. both days so a short run to the Seaway at Southport was welcome . Bill and Sandy met us and after just over 2 1/2 hours we tied up in Raby Bay.
Our plan, weather permitting is to leave this Tuesday and head north. Why not?
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Port Franklin to Sydney
We departed Port Franklin as planned on time, with the weather Gods on our side on Thursday 1st. April. This date was chosen many months ago and with the luck of Ian all was on our side except the tides, this meant a 0300 start. The moon was at its fullest so a great help although we know the area well. Taz had offered to join us and help push us to Brisbane where we will meet Sandy and Bill from” Foreign Affair” who are traveling up to the Kimberly’s also.
I am writing this as we round Barren Joey .What a great few days. Easter Saturday and we are in the wonderful Pittwater area where we spent time with our family in 1986. Kiella needs fuel as she seems to use a little more than we hoped.
Our first 18 hours saw us crossing Bass Strait and anchoring at Eden. Boy did we all sleep well then. The sea state at the start was SE swell with a ESE light wind. We passed oil rigs which happen not to be were our charts said they would be, interesting. The usual sea life, of dolphins, seal, penguins and sea birds kept our watches far from boring. We passed Gabo light house at 1800 then started to head north and did we surf some great waves. We hit 21 kts. And as dark fell some on board felt we couldn’t do this all night. Our friend the moon was a little late getting up so we all felt that Eden was a good call. A 0730 start and a great track to Jarvis Bay and a safe anchorage in good time. Today the alarm went off at 0600 and our passage with an average of excess of 13knts. Saw Sydney entrance with a blink and now in Pittwater safe on anchor with drinks and nibbles after refueling.
Tomorrow another day. Taz would like to go to Port Macquarie while Camden Haven most likely will be our destination.
I am writing this as we round Barren Joey .What a great few days. Easter Saturday and we are in the wonderful Pittwater area where we spent time with our family in 1986. Kiella needs fuel as she seems to use a little more than we hoped.
Our first 18 hours saw us crossing Bass Strait and anchoring at Eden. Boy did we all sleep well then. The sea state at the start was SE swell with a ESE light wind. We passed oil rigs which happen not to be were our charts said they would be, interesting. The usual sea life, of dolphins, seal, penguins and sea birds kept our watches far from boring. We passed Gabo light house at 1800 then started to head north and did we surf some great waves. We hit 21 kts. And as dark fell some on board felt we couldn’t do this all night. Our friend the moon was a little late getting up so we all felt that Eden was a good call. A 0730 start and a great track to Jarvis Bay and a safe anchorage in good time. Today the alarm went off at 0600 and our passage with an average of excess of 13knts. Saw Sydney entrance with a blink and now in Pittwater safe on anchor with drinks and nibbles after refueling.
Tomorrow another day. Taz would like to go to Port Macquarie while Camden Haven most likely will be our destination.
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