Bona Bay and Exploring Gloucester Island

9^th August 2017

The anchorage was a bit less comfortable than our past memories, mainly due to some unusual swell patterns, but it did not disrupt our sleep greatly.

After breakfast, we put the dinghy in the water and went exploring., initially in the direction of a shipwreck on the island just east of our anchorage.  It turned out to be a Japanese, fishing boat, well and truly up on the shore as a result of the cyclone.

There are notices on it to say that it is under 24hr video surveillance, so obviously there has been some looting. A desktop computer is in he water just beside the ship.

Having walked along the beach where the wreck is now the prominent feature, we got back in our dinghy and headed east to the “main” beach.

A few of our colleagues from the other boats were also heading to the same spot, and soon all of us were assembled on the one beach for a bush walk to the other side of the island. Sue, from Imagine was the leader and we all wandered off aimlessly into the bush in the hope of getting to the other side.

The guidance was a bit variable, but we safely reached the other side, where we met a couple from an American boat, who we chatted with for a good part of our walk east along the Gloucester Passage.

Once we reached the end of the beach access, we turned around and headed back. The overall walk took a few hours and was very enjoyable, except for a few green ants that were shaken out of trees and bit a few of our intrepid team.

Finally back on our side of the island, it was already lunchtime and it was time to head back to our boats. We agreed we would catch up for sundowners on Mica  at 4.30-5pm.

In the meantime, Bella sailed into our anchorage. We subsequently find out te have wrapped a 200lb fishing line around their prop and are planning to dive tomorrow to clear it with the help of a friend with diving gear arriving tomorrow.

Unfazed, the joined us for sundowners making a total of 10 people in the cockpit of Mica, a new record. We had a great few hours enjoying drinks and everyone’s company before it was time for everyone to head home and get ready for a departure to Cape Upstart tomorrow morning.