A quiet week - Mackay to Rockhampton

S 23⁰09’70’’, E 150⁰47’10’’

 

Mackay to Yeppoon (Rosslyn Bay)

A "quiet" week with friends Marion and Richard aboard as we headed south down the Queensland coast in mostly near perfect conditions – N to NE winds, light 10-12Kts, with the odd day of 18-20Kts, which added a few thrills. More of that later.

The Kirra Kirrians get some ships biscuits and rum into us at the Eimeo pub,
before casting lines.

 

We headed out of Mackay harbour at a very civilised hour, replenished with liquid refreshments and what seemed like half a ton of ice, arriving at isolated Curlew Is. (44nM) in time for a good walk and swim off the beach. Quiet night aboard (such things are relative), with BBQ and only a few bottles of vino.

Beach at Curlew Island, with magnificent rock bluff.
Note the turtle tracks up and then down the beach
- its nesting time for the Green turtles to lay eggs on /in the beach.

 

Next overnight anchorage was the isolated Duke Isles, anchoring at the bottom of Hunter Is., again swims off boat and Richard caught a nice coral trout dinghy trolling over the reef . Fantastic volcanic larva shapes on these islands. A big fish banquet of coral trout and Spanish mackerel washed down with mainly soda water (not). Have readers noticed how spirit bottles seem to be getting smaller?

Just relaxing while trolling.

Now where is the next anchorage?

Debate amongst the crew about anchorages

Hunter Island, Duke Group

It looked bigger in real life

 

An early start and an excellent spinnaker run down to Is. Head Creek, arriving at the right tide to set the crab pot. Another quiet night aboard. In this case yachtie's midnight, which is often said to be around 8pm was damn near midnight!

Sustenance, before weisswurst for lunch

 

A superb smooth downwind spinnaker run south for 7 hours, averaging about 8Kts, to arrive at Gt. Keppel Island again in time for swims. Fresh mud crab for dinner, great wines and company, sweet in every way.

Spinnaker set and looking good

What could possibly go wrong?

Making way - 10kts under spinnaker.
Kirra Kirra on rails

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fish? What fish?



Long Beach, Great Keppel Island late afternoon



Long Beach, Great Keppel Island late afternoon

West Bay, Great Keppel, near the ex resort

Still discussing anchorages?

GKI reef shot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then after swims and exploring and snorkelling some reefs on Gt Keppel Is. (GKI to all the locals), with the wind picking up to 18Kts, we spied a drifting $3.5 Mill Horizon 60’ power catamaran (see photo) which when it was 1nM off-shore and heading out to sea, we concluded required rescuing. Richard and I gave chase in the dinghy, found no-one aboard, considered all options and ended up boarding, raising the anchor and I motored it slowly back its starting point on GKI. The thrill was to drive this palatial vessel. The owner returned after it was made safe, and said his gruff thanks through embarrassed clenched teeth. Momentarily lusted after one of these power cats myself till I heard they burn fuel at 220 litres per hour (at 20+ knots).

Moral of this true story – when anchoring 40 tonnes of vessel, put out more than 15 metres of chain – even if it is in only 3 metres of water.  You are not anchoring a bloody dinghy!!

Rescued 60' power cat makes off, her tail firmly tucked between her hulls

And then followed the bumpiest sail in Kirra Kirra’s history in 20Kts rising to 26Kts (gusts to 30+) across the shallow waters of Rosslyn Bay to the marina.  Think Pt Phillip Bay in Victoria at its worst and you not quite there. And so into Rosslyn Bay marina – Yeppoon, which sounds like something out of the Goon Show. A great marina with ultra friendly staff and nice coffee and bar, plus a free (yes free) courtesy car to go shopping in.

Rosslyn Bay -Yeppoon marina (near Rockhampton).

 

And after all the excitement of rescuing boats and fast bumpy sails, would you believe another quiet night aboard  - no neither would anyone else.
Its worth noting the superb dinner:  Victorian grass-fed porterhouse steak, blue cheese stuffed mushrooms, quinoa stuffed peppers, and magnificent Queensland wine. Yes Q'land wine - Stanthorpe region Golden Grove tempranillo.   An excellent feast to cap off the week.

J&J, M&R, Kirra Kirra, Nov. 2014

And so we said fond farewells to Marion and Richard and with livers still intact (just) J&J continue to sail south along the Queensland coast. No longer in FNQ, we are on what is considered the central coast. Weather getting a bit warmer and a lot more humid. No real rain for many months.

Highlights of the past 2 weeks:

·         A not so quite quiet week of sailing and frolics with friends Marion and Richard aboard.

·         Superb long spinnaker runs down the coast – proving the value of asymmetric kites for downwind cruising.

·         Fishing and crabbing - some success with both.

·         Plenty of G&T’s and white rum mixers as heart starters.

·         Revisiting our favourite haunt – Island Head Creek

·         Getting to skipper a 60’ power cat - even if only for 20mins.

South from Cairns to Mackay

S 21 06.90’, E 149.13.48’ – check lat and long

 

Cairns to Mackay

We left Cairns and then dallied for a fun weekend of frolics at Fitzroy Island with friends Heidi and James and kids, and the Arjunians (Catherine David and kids) for time in the sun, chilling and supping the odd wine, on board and at Foxy’s bar. Great pizzas by James.

The tourists leave Fitzroy Is at 4pm and serenity descends

 

It’s a bit of an anti-climax now coming south, but the coast of FNQ (F stands for Far) is an excellent cruising ground. The winds have been mostly favourable E / NE and we headed south via Dunk Is and  then Zoe Bay on Hinchinbrook Island to Magnetic Is. just off Townsville, one of our favourite spots.

A tour of Maggie via the local bus, and brunch back at Horseshoe bay before sailing south on a lovely NE’er down to Cape Bowling Green. Then a good days sail to Gloucester Passage, location of Shag Islet  and home port of the Shaggers CYC (just google it if interested),  and a further days relaxing sail down to Macona Inlet where we met up with Robina and Brenton from RBYC.

Gaff rigged ketch off Maggie Is.

Black Bastard the feared pirate of Gloucester Passage.
Rumoured to have a huge motor and capable of 40Kts in pursuit of victims
 

Then into Airlie to do the mundane chores  - won't bore you with the details of boat washing and polishing and laundry. Worth a mention was the superb paella at Café Barcelona washed down with a white rioja.  Then a good fast sail to Tongue Bay, just around the corner from the famed Whitehaven Beach, (as featured in any tourist photo of the Whitsundays) and then some gentle day sails through the southerly Whitsunday Islands down to Mackay – we love  Shaw and Thomas islands.

Yachtie built cairns on Shaw Island.
Ours is the one in the middle.

At these islands the tranquil still of the evening is broken only by the whooshing sound of surfacing turtles and the occasional dolphin to pass wind – (ie breathe).

Some good day sails, and fish!! Yes changing the trolling lure set up (thanks Graham and others) has reaped rewards of some nice eating fish plus plenty of fun.

Shark on soft lure on hand line

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I catch and release all sharks
 so hopefully it will live to bite another day.

 

Frigate mackerel -
Unfortunately not a top table fish

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


The prized Spanish mackerel - very fine eating fish

Highlights of the past 2 weeks:

·         Fishing - succesfully

·        Nice leisurely sails south in 12-15Kt NE’ers. Makes a relaxed change from bashing south through the brisk 20Kt+ breezes up round Lizard Is. and Cooktown.

·        Revisiting our favourite old haunts – like Horseshoe Bay on Magnetic Is.

·        Catching up with cruising buddies, like the Shining Stars / Wet Bars, Chakanians, Arjunians.

The Chakanians and Kirra Kirrians