On to Airlie Beach

Friday 30^th June 2017

Only a short trip planned for today from Happy Bay to Airlie Beach. We are not in a hurry but want to use the last of the outgoing tide, so planned to leave at around 9.30am.

Our neighbours at our anchorage are a bunch of young guys on  what could only be described as a seaworthy yacht, from Darwin. They seem to be keen fishermen and enjoy the NT custom of a breakfast beer.

Getting the anchor up too a while, as we had 50m out and there is sticky clay on the bottom which takes a bit of washing off.

There was a reasonable breeze, but fluky currents, so we decided to motor to Airlie and recharge the batteries. Along the way, we wanted to have a look at the cyclone damage to Daydream Island, and initially planned to go between the island and South Molle, but the 2 knots of negative current soon changed our mind, and we changed our heading towards Pioneer Point. We did get close enough to take a few photos.

South Molle Island

Daydream Island

Rounding Pioneer Point the weather was not looking the best, with the wind still around 15 knots, but the clouds rolling in and rain looks like a real possibilty. We were hopeful the rain would hold out until we were in our marina berth and fortunately that turned out to be the case.

Despite the weather forecast, the diehard fisherman we out fishing the reef off Pioneer Rock

It was hard not to notice this vessel, "Pursuit", anchored out in the bay (with helicopter on board)

Abell Point Marina is showing the strains of the cyclone damage. We have been berthed on q arm, about as far west as you can go in the marina and a very long walk to anywhere.. There are plenty of vacant berths on the south marina where we are. The marina legs are a bit wobbly, ie not always level, but it all seems secure enough.

When I went up to check in there  was a little bit of extra information that the laundry on the South marina was not functional and the only one working is at the north marina complex, about 500m away. They are building a  floating shower and laundry complex with easy walking distance of our current berth, but it seems weeks away from commissioning. It will make a big difference when they get if up and going.

Having booked in and covered the admin stuff, my next stop was Quadrant Marine, the chandler, a healthy walk from where we are to see if the Lewmar Block I had ordered had arrived. Fortunately it had, so I can now sort out my spinnaker halyard issues and should have the code zero up at the next opportunity.

Tomorrows project to fit the new spinnaker halyard block

Whilst I was at the chandlery, I booked the one of the Shaggers cars for this afternoon so swe could go shopping at the excellent butcher in Cannonvale, and get our groceries and refreshment essentials at the Whitsunday Shopping Centre.

"Shaggy" now has nearly 600,000 km on the clock and a few things still work

Of course it started raining as we headed back to the marina, but it was only light and we loaded all of our purchases into a trolley for Carole to take to the boat while I returned the Shaggers car. I called in to the south marina office to see if the gas bottle I had dropped in to be filled was ready for pickup, only to be told that it had been delivered back to out boat.

These people really try hard to please, and it is a credit to the management of the place just how well everything flows and how willing they are to help, obviously in not perfect circumstances after the cyclone. However, there are a few niggly charges starting to sneak in, like surcharges on credit cards in an environment where this place is not exactly cheap and they are trying to rebuild their tourism.

Anyway, we did our shopping, and got it on board before it rained heavily.

We were going to eat out, but we are so far away from anything we decided to eat on board, and maybe have a meal onshore tomorrow.

Great Sail to Long Island

Thursday 29th June 2017

There was a mass exodus from Shaw Island this morning, as soon  as it was light, as the tide is running in the right direction until 9.30am, and getting a knot of extra advantage is certainly worth it as well as the flat water that is an added benefit of the wind and tide running in the same direction.

We had the anchor up at 7 am with a plan to sail to Cid Harbour. Etre Jeune, the other Hanse at the anchorage had left before us, and were well on their way before we left.

Once the anchor was up, we motored out and set the mainsail, in about 13 knots of breeze. Once we pulled away, we were doing a comfortable 5 knots, using just the main, and a bit of current assistance.

As the wind picked up a bit, it was clear we could carry a headsail and we wound the self tacker out. Soon we were doing around 7 knots and having a great sail in relatively flat water.

The Admiral on the helm, with Shaw Island in the background

As we passed Hamilton Island, and around the outside of Dent Island, the attraction of going toCid Harbour diminished and we decided to stay on our current course and anchor a bit closer to Airlie.

The 7 knot speed continued until we reached the top of Long Island, and as we went through the channel between Long and South Molle Islands, we felt the tidal flow starting to work against us. We had already thought we would try Happy Bay at the NW corner of Long  Island as a possible anchorage.

It turned out to be a very good choice, despite the fact that we have to overlook yet another failed QLD Island Resort,The Long Island Resort.Like most of them, there is great hope for the future, nothing happening, and cyclone Debbie has added a few finishing touches.

Cyclone Debbie's impact is pretty obvious

Two other boats are anchored here and all of the moorings have been removed, nevertheless you need to anchor in deeper water and it s well protected.

Rest Day at Shaw Island

Wednesday 28^th June 2017

There are some early departures this morning, but we decide to stay put. The forecast is for blustery easterly winds and this is a great anchorage to sit out anything from the south or east. It is overcast and we get a brief shower, before the replaces the overcast sky.

Anchoring is a bit of a herd activity, everyone anchors where the other boats are. We are out on our own and closer to the shore wondering why others are not here.

The now closed Lindeman Island Resort is just across the water from us

The easterly does come in and makes it more comfortable to spend the day on the boat than go through the exercise of getting the dinghy off and back on the bow in strong winds.

Strega, the CCCA boat anchored nearby, pulled up anchor and left early, and Etre Jeune sat the day out on their boat as we did. I am sure we will catch up with them along the way.

It has been a day of relaxing, reading and in Carole’s case, some baking. We eat verey well!!

I tried my hand at fishing at various times of the day, but only caught 5 small Trumpeter. Nothing appears to bite on pilchards, but the prawns at least get a bite.

Tomorrow we will head to Cid Harbour on the western side of Whitsunday Island, leaving early to ride the tide.

Yet another beautiful sunset 

A Lovely morning at Thomas Island and a leisurely trip to Shaw Island in the Afternoon

Tuesday 27^th June 2017

After a bit of rolling at our anchorage, but nevertheless a comfortable sleep, it was another overcast morning.

Most of the boats here seem to be waiting for the change of tide before moving on, but we see a few leave early. Maybe they haven’t seen how ugly the seas can be with wind against tide.

We decided to put the dinghy in the water and go ashore. We will leave after 1 pm when the high tide is reached and the run out tide starts running north, with the SE wind.

There are 3 beaches at Thomas Island and we head off to the largest and most westerly of the beaches. Once ashore, the effects of Cyclone Debbie can be seen, but the natural beauty of this Island is something quite special.

Looking out over our anchorage, the tree in the foreground uprooted by the cyclone

The beach is steep and the shoreline strewn with shells and is some cases large parts of coral that the cyclone obviously washed up in the tidal surges.

Carole exploring the rich array of shells on this beach

One of the first things you notice is how strong the wind must have been, stripping the trees of leaves, and more obviously the many bush orchids that were  in the trees.

Trees have been stripped pretty bare

Despite the carnage, the orchids are coming back

As we walk along the beach and Carole is collecting shells ,which are abundant, we actually find a green lobster that has been washed ashore recently (not yet smelly), and trapped in the sand..

Carole admiring and sorting out what she had found

What a waste of a lobster

It is a very scenic and unspoiled place, with turtles in the bay, and a lot of coral close to the shore . Sadly it is only a good anchorage if conditions are mild.

We had a comfortable nights sleep, but as the SE breeze built this morning, it was pretty rolly.

We motored around in our dinghy to the eastern most beach and met up with a Tasmanian couple, Ian and Margaret, from their yacht “Tiara”. They had also anchored overnight and are heading for Shaw Island this afternoon , as we are. Perhaps we will catch up again with them there.

The trip to Shaw Island only took a little over an hour, and as we motored into  the anchorage at Burning Point, we were not alone in seeking a comfortable anchorage . A few boats that were anchored near us at Thomas Island were there as well , as were a  Etre  Jeune, a Hanse 445 we met up with in Mackay, and a boat flying a CCCA burgee, “Strega” who we hope to catch up with tomorrow if they are still here.

There are lots of boats here and a bit of anchoring discomfort.  We ended up pulling up our anchor and moving in the afternoon as we felt we were too  close to a smaller ketch anchored near us that seemed to have so little chain out, that at some stage there was the potential to end up too close for comfort.

As expected, even though the breeze had picked up, this place offers a relatively flat water anchorage under almost any strong breeze from the south.

We will probably stay here for the next 2 nighrs.

A Great Morning at Brampton and then on to Thomas Island

Monday 26^th June 2017

It was a bit rolly last night at Brampton, but not unbearable. We had a late arrival last night and the boat came in with great confidence, so hopefully had been here before. It took him quite a while to anchor and when we awake this morning he was gone.

Not sure what to expect weather wise this morning, this shot was at 7am

We intend to move further North today, whilst Kite Runner plans to spend a few relaxing days at anchor at Brampton.  However, we do not plan to eave until the tide starts running out at about 1pm, so we put the dinghy in the water and go ashore with Phil and Wendy to explore what is happening with the resort.

Approaching the resort in our dinghy

As we were heading off our boats, a small barge motored into the bay with drums onboard, and we followed him into the shore, as we figured he would know where all the rocks and coral were.

The Barge that arrived before us is setting up to unload their drums of diesel

Once we had our dinghies on the beach we felt sorry for these two old and one young guy, trying to get these drums off the barge and rolled up the beach, so Phil and I gave them a hand. Of course then the empties from previous deliveries had to be found and put on the barge for return to Mackay.

Phil and I rolling one of the drums up the beach

And then the empties had to go back on the barge

One of the guys turned out to be the caretaker, so once the barge departed, he was happy to talk to us about the resort and what was happening. It seems the resort is still owned by United Petroleum from Melbourne, and that they had submitted a proposal to council to develop a 7 star hotel. There is little clarity about where it is at, whether it will be approved and what happens next. It is such a pretty spot it deserves some high class development there.

Cyclone Debbie doesn’t appear to have done as much damage as looters, according to the caretaker, who have progressively moved most things of value they could readily carry away from the Island.

One of the Beachfront Ground Floor Units, now with it's internal beach

We had a good walk around and through the resort amazed at how it must have been and the deterioration that has taken place since the doors were literally shut 6-7 years ago, and the place was abandoned. There are still some parts where the furnishings are almost as they were when they left.

Remnants of a Lounge area

Not much happening on the airstrip these days

Carole and Wendy walking along the beach in front of the resort

Everything is very overgrown.

Much of the water sport equipment is still scattered around the resort including sailing catamarans and jet skis, and a lot of machinery that no longer works.

Remains of the sea sports department

After an enjoyable morning ashore, it was time to say our goodbyes to Phil and Wendy and I am sure we will catch up later on, after planned trips back to Sydney, maybe in early August, as our schedules now take us in different directions. We are heading for Airlie by Friday, they are heading to Hamilton Island, but don't have to be there till 8th July, so will burn some time in the lower Whitsunday Islands.

Heading back to our boats at anchor to prepare for departure

After getting back to our boat and getting the dinghy back on board, we pulled up our anchor and were on our way to Thomas Island, just before 1pm. The breeze was light and behind us, so we motored the short 20nm and had our anchor down at Thomas Island at 3.45pm.

Anchored at Thomas Island

It is another very pretty anchorage and looks like we may get a good nights sleep. We are in no hurry to leave tomorrow, so will have a good look around in the morning, before heading the short distance tis haw Island tomorrow afternoon.