Hi all,
We are currently in the Mackay Marina with departure day unknown, depending on how the weather and wind shapes up later today and overnight.
Ideally off to the Whitsundays tomorrow.
I have been trying to update the blog with some photos but to date no luck, some glitch somewhere.
Since Roslyn Bay we have not had network access but a summary of our movements:
- left Roslyn Bay for the short run to Corio Bay. Spent a night there.
- departed Corio bay with the intention of making Island Head Creek but were turned off by vvery choppy seas on the beam. Given that the leg is greater than 50 miles we could not take the chance. So revised our destination to North Keppel. On the crossing we had a doozy of a wave come over the bow and the foredeck was awash (not spray but running water) that came halfway up the front screen - not nice!
- spent two nights at North Keppel. Great anchorage, very pretty, with toilets and a water tank that we used for showers - now that was luxury!
- then onto Island Head Creek - total distance that day 56 miles. A fanatastic anchorage but stayed only one night as a strong wind forecast was muted by Rockhampton Met' to appear in a few days and if that eventuated we wanted to be in Mackay.
- Up for another early one (1:30am) to ride the tide from Island Head to Hexham Island.
- One night at Hexham Is - one of the highlights of the trip. Very, very scenic, a small sandy bay that we had to ourselves for the afternoon (so swimming with no gear). Only downside was that the Tiburon did what all boats at Hexham do - danced all night!
- Another early one and on to Hunter Island for one night. Again a fantastic anchorage and smoothhhhhh as silk so a good nights sleep. Hunter is really interesting in that the group it is part of is a working cattle property.
- Another early one and on to Curlew Island. What a sail, a great sunrise, followed by a double rainbow and then a whale and calf.
- One night at Curlew, again a good, picturesque anchorage with a good nights sleep and then we were up early again for the 45 mile leg to Mackay.
- Mackay after eight days, showers, cold beer, store bought meals and fuel. On the latter we had to actively work to conserve to get to Mackay - made it with the reserve still in tact.
- all up around 180 miles covered since Rolsyn Bay.
So all the long legs are over and for the next month we will be in the Whitsundays with all legs less than 20 miles (only two near that) with most 5 to 10 miles - easyyyyy!
Current plan is to make our final destination Airlie Beach in the second week of September where we will leave Tiburon to be trucked back to Brisvegas and we will fly home.
One important aspiration is a few days in a resort, notionally Hammo, so Karen can have a buff and polish and Mark a game of golf.
Take care all and I will try and get some photos up.
Approaching the anchorage at Curlew Island - every panorama is different and unique. The beah at Curlew was long and clean and the volcanic monliths impressive and stretched the imagination. Karen is the one who wins at imagining objects represented by rocks - we have seen lions and dogs, bears and whales in the rocks.
