We were up early and the wind was already approaching 15 knots from the SE, but the forecast remained unchanged, so we decide we have seen enough of Port Clinton and agree to head off to Yeppoon, despite the possibility of an uncomfortable day at sea.
We leave at 8.30 am as we want to arrive at Rosslyn Bay marina at around 5.30pm to have a few hours of the rising tide with us as went enter the shallow entrance.
The motor out of Port Clinton was comfortable enough, but once we crossed the entrance shoal we were back into a lumpy sea. It gave us a good opportunity to check the antifouling on each others boats as a good part of both of them were out of the water at times.
Four other boats also decided to leave but only one of them was going South and he left about early.
After a couple of hours we could alter our course more south as we would clear all of the headlands and other obstacles along the way, and we were able to carry a headsail for the rest of the way which gave us a bit more speed ( and used less diesel) and greatly reduced the rolling. From then on it was a reasonably comfortable trip motor sailing.
We got quite a surprise anong the way when a large whale suddenly appeared behind our boat , only about 20 m behind us swimming in the direction we were sailing. We can only assume we went straight over the top of it, as we were moving much faster than it was.
We passed the yacht that had left over an hour earlier than us, as he was sailing on his headsail. We found out later talking to him at Rosslyn Bay, that he was desperately low on fuel and wanted to save it to get into the marina. He arrived in the dark an hour or so after us.
A couple of hours out from the marina we were well ahead of Cooinda, who can't sail quite as high as us, so couldn't carry a headsail with any success, and had a rolly ride under motor only for most of the way. We were going to arrive at the marina too early, so slowed down to wait for Cooinda to catch up. We turned the motor off and sailed for a while until they passed us, as were are still dependent on following them through the shallow water until our depth sounder is fixed.
We arrive at the marina right on 5.30pm and go straight in to our berth as there should be enough water under us now to get in.
We tied up next to a 44ft Island Gypsy and after they helped us secure our lines, had a bit of a chat to the couple on board. They had come up from Hervey Bay with a plan to spend some time in the Whitsundays. They abandoned that idea given the poor weather and have based themselves here to explore the nearby islands, if the weather ever improves. Brian de Boos may know this boat, it originally came from Sydney and has been heavily modified as you can see below. Apparnetly the modifications were done at Woolwich dock
Our neighbour at Yeppoon
Rod and Lee are on the other side of the marina, so we catch up for drinks on Mica after a well earned shower, and head up the road to Beaches restaurant, where we ate with Kathy and David last time we were here, as there was a wedding on at the restaurant at the marina.
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