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.