East Coast Cruise 2014

Sunday, 8 June 2014

Bundy to Mackay

S 21 06.90’, E 149.13.48’

Bundaberg to Mackay

Overall, some good sailing legs and motor sailing over the past two weeks, and some lovely anchorages and sunny calm weather.

There was no attraction to stay and see Bundaberg or its famed distillery again. Now Bundy Rum seems to be the state drink of Queensland, but like many southerners, we would sooner drink water or even rat poison than that rum. Caribbean rum on the other hand is a fine drink. So we only stayed one night anchored at the mouth of the Burnett River.

Cape Capricorn lighthouse with substantial cliffs

Kirra Kirra, Cape Capricorn

The railway used in the past to provision the lighthouse.
Now automatic and unmanned

24^th May 2014. We sailed up the coast and crossed the placid bar and navigated the very narrow shallow channel to anchor off the quaintly named town of 1770 – yes a town named after the year of Lt. James Cook’s landing here, and as chance would have it, on the 24^th May!!

So we were at 1770 244 years later to the day that Cook made his landing. Were treated to a fairly spectacular fireworks display that night as part of the local celebrations.

Amphibious vehicle used to take tourists to Bustard Hd from 1770

Its OK - rubber one tied to the saloon roof on Kirra Kirra.
Keeps the sea birds away - but not land based birds

Cairn at the town of 1770

Blue butterflies are in profusion up and down the coast.
Here feeding on malalluca flowers

1770 inlet and beach.

Then to Gt. Keppel Island – superb weather there so we stayed for a few nights.

Wild goats - Gt Keppel Is.
Many of the islands have large numbers of these whiffy animals

Then into Yeppoon - Rosslyn bay marina - to resupply. We were welcomed by TV cameras, there to film the 3 metre croc that had come into the marina. Funnily enough we tended to walk down the centre of the marina walk ways!

One nanny-state sign one tends to take notice of.

We hired a car for the day and drove the 40Km into Rockhampton (Rocky to all). This small city is located on the Fitzroy River, with lovely historic architecture overlooking the broad river.

Rainbow lorikeets - wild ones

Cheeky rainbow lorikeet

A lovely lace monitor - aka goanna

Old Customs house - Rocky

Legal chambers - Rocky style

Old legal chambers - Rocky

Moving north, a short sail to Pearl Bay for 1 night then onto one of our favourites, Island Head Creek. Again another very successful mud crabbing expedition - 3 whoppers and all males (ie keepers).

Shit does happen - Beached yacht - Island Hd Creek

We sailed on up to Middle Percy – a nice long sail. We intended to stay only one night at this iconic yachty stop over, but the lure of this place is strong and had a lovely few days in sunny calm idyllic weather. Great meeting up with Mike and Lynn from Time 2, and a fun afternoon with Mike catching reef fish – and eating them!

Sunset - at Percy Is. "Yacht Club" ie the A-frame

We sailed towards the coast and anchored for a night in the protected bay at Curlew island – a very pretty spot.

Curlew Is. with rock bluff

At anchor, Curlew Is.

Then a bit of a protracted blow was predicted, so we high tailed it to Mackay marina, where we will leave Kirra Kirra while we go back to Melbourne for a few days. We caught up with friends Tim and Lea who had sailed up from Victoria, and 6 of us feasted on Spanish mackerel caught by Mike (and Lynn) from Time 2. No photos of this feast to try and keep a lid on how good times up here can be.

Yes, it’s predicted to be 30-35Kts for the next few days – a good time to be tied up in a marina

Highlights of the last 2 weeks:

· Swimming in crystal clear waters at Gt Keppel Is and at Middle Percy.

· Mud crab feasts at Island Hd Creek.

· Middle Percy – great vibes and fishing

· The isolated beauty of Curlew Island

Friday, 23 May 2014

Manly, Brisbane to Bundaberg

S 24 45.42’, E 152 23.68’

Manly, Brisbane to Bundaberg

We finally set off on our East Coast 2014 cruise up the coast of Queensland on the 14^th May. With a fair breeze and friend Robbi aboard we had a fast sail across Moreton Bay over to Tangalooma on Moreton Island, where we moored for the night inside the wrecks placed there to provide a more secure mooring – they don’t work that well, but good as bird roosts.

Tangalooma wreck, Moreton Bay

Channel marker Myora, Moreton Bay

Then, another nice fast sail up to Mooloolaba, where we stayed in the marina rather than anchor in the river as we expected the stay to be a bit longer. The SE winds stayed at 20-24Kts for the next few days so a bit of a swell built up on the ocean, which prevented us from the next leg, which was to cross the Wide Bay Bar to go in behind Fraser Island – the extra ocean swell of 3M makes the sand bar unpassable. So we spent 4 relaxed days of chilling, downing coffees and cakes, and kicking the tyres of a few boats and boat deals. Jo made sure I kept my cheque book on Kirra Kirra.

Nice new genoa doing its work

Genoa adds 1-2 Kts speed.

Surfing the Mooloola River bar on a surf ski

Jo and Robbi, Mooloolaba beach

After 4 days, the winds had dropped a little, we had itchy feet and were bored with being in one place for too long, so we sailed up to Wide Bay and anchored for the night in behind Double Island Point – of course the swell came around the point and made our O/N anchorage a bit of a roller coaster.

Our anchorage off sand cliffs on Rainbow Beach, Wide Bay. Note the swell

White water on the Wide bay Bar - not a biggie as it was off to the side

Then crossed the bar, which has a well-deserved reputation for surprises, but this day was normal – just a bit of white water to the side and the swell built to 1.5-2M on the bar, making it a bit of a downhill run coming in. And then we were into the calm protected waters of The Great Sandy Straits - it is a tad shallow in spots and we bumped one sand bar.

A night at Garry’s Anchorage saw my best haul of mud crabs to date – 6 angry and snappy crabs in the one crab-pot! Only 2 keepers, both very good size – of the others the 2 females had to go back (isn’t that always the way with the girls) and 2 were undersized.

Garry's Anchorage, Fraser Island

Garry's at sunset. Feel that tranquillity

After a visit to Kingfisher resort on Fraser Island (the largest sand island in the whole wide world – so ‘tis said - we spent a night anchored off Big Woody Island. Hooked 3 nice sized fish using prawn heads for bait - landed one nice snapper. One too big and broke the 30lb line.