an ordinary but necessary day

Retrieved our anchor early on Saturday, and motored to windward, out of Windwark Bay and right across Pioneer Bay  to Airlie Beach and directly into the marina.  Fortunate that the public jetty was unoccupied (space for one boat only) so we were able to tie up, refill tanks and ditch the gash without delay.  Then out to the mooring area and picked up the mooring we had rented before.   Back again by dinghy for ablutions, and walked into the village to buy supplies & a little outboard fuel.  Stayed on the mooring as it cleared to a really nice sunny & warm day.  So a day of re-stock and re-supply, now ready for the next few days.  No photos today, just an ordinary, but necessary day....

Another play-day

As predicted, we had a day of no sailing action; stayed at anchor in a grey-ish overcast sky early morning, although it brightened later to be mostly sunny.  Completed some basic maintenance and simple repairs during the morning and went exploring the reef and ashore this afternoon.  That was cut short after an hour or so when I went a little too near a rather nice patch of coral, touched it with the outboard prop and sheared the shear pin.  That meant a long row back, and in that breeze it was work.  Repair was easy but stayed aboard then and enjoyed the peace & solitude.    This business of playing is tough. 

Here is H making the morning brew, and a screendump of our current position and recent track.

Out of the Whitsunday group

After Sawmill Bay, we sailed over to Nara and enjoyed the quiet anchorage there surrounded by hills.  At least it was, until another boat, a charter boat, came along; apparently they were fans of bongo drums which seemed long & tedious when played out on their deck, even a couple of hundred meters away.  Eventually they went below at the end of daylight and peace reigned again

Now breezier than we might choose, so departed the next day to cross Whitsunday passage, getting rather lumpy, but turned into Funnel bay on the mainland.  Well-named, it funnels all the wind into bullets, short squirts of heavier wind, but otherwise sunny and very acceptable.  Also, pleasant surprise, we’re also in TV range, so we had a bit of news, something we haven’t seen for a while.  Not a lot seems changed though.

Departed next morning and sailed north on a square run, out of the Whitsunday island group to some of the northern bays on the mainland.  Double Bay east was first, lovely, sheltered, nice beaches, very few boats, and reasonable fishing although I still didn’t land one.  Explored the nearby beach, and we enjoyed being somewhat more remote with more solitude.

Today the wind is increasing more and forecast to last a couple of days, so might hide away for a while; at least its still sunny & warm.  Up anchored and sailed into the next bay, Windwark bay, which is equally nice, sheltered and was again able to explore the beach via the dinghy.

These images show our approach to Point Grimstone, and anchored in Windwark Bay

Funnel Bay

Now a little more breezy, with cloud and the odd shower. Last night was spent in Nara Inlet, but today sailed to Funnel Bay on the mainland and anchored in this nice bay, a new venue, quite pleasant and will consider new horizons tomorrow.

No movement

So here we are, in picture perfect weather of 22-24 degrees, with lovely warm sunshine and clear skies.  We didn’t move yet, still enjoying the location, the R&R and all the lovely surroundings.  On Saturday, did the walk to Dugong Inlet, a pleasant, non-taxing plod through a rainforest to a delightful beach around at the next inlet.  Today I attacked what is listed as a ‘difficult’ walk, up to the Whitsunday peak, some 450M of elevation.  It was a steep, and somewhat taxing walk, partly following a rocky creek, but hardly what I might call difficult, and the view from the islands peak was stunning, wonderful, could see forever in every direction and hence dallied there for hour or so.  Took a dip in a freshwater rock pool on the way down to cool off and remove the sweat, then completed some minor repairs on the freshwater system back on board.  A great day, mixing exercise with everything else, and completed by entertaining visitors from a nearby yacht in the anchorage during the afternoon; how fortunate I had just made some fresh muffins, but perhaps they smelled them from downwind..!    Brilliant sunset tonight.

Images are from Dugong Inlet, and at the peak of the island.

Back aboard, and sailing again

Now back on board after an interlude away, and it is wonderful to be out sailing again.  GD managed very nicely by herself on the mooring, but the seagulls sure found it a good perch, and the decks were sadly fouled by piles of thick bird crap.  The heavy deposits are now scrubbed off, but it will take a long time to completely remove it all.  Spent a full day re-assembling, replacing all the deck gear, replenishing all the food and filling all the tanks, then sailed away on a sunny warm day but into a strong breeze to refresh the experience.  We even had a pod of 8 or 9 dolphins dancing around the bow as we sailed accross Whitsunday Passage; as if to say 'welcome back'.  Now snugged down in a lovely bay on the NW side of Whitsunday island, very sheltered and about to tuck into another full roast dinner with all the veges and a good red.  Its all on again, excellent…!

Some of the deck fouling can be seen here along with sundowners at sunset.