ROSSLYN BAY, YEPPOON TO HORSESHOE BAY MAGNETIC ISLAND (TOWNSVILLE) S: 190 06.79’ E: 1460 51.62’

 

Magnetic Island: S: 19⁰ 06.79’ E: 146⁰ 51.62’

Been nearly a month since I posted a blog update – luckily been a bit  busy with sailing almost every day and socialising.

Here is a map of our movement overall since leaving Mooloolaba,

 And a more detailed map covering the region covered by this post.

 

Sailed out of Yeppoon and called at one of our favourite anchorages,  Island Head Creek in the Shoalwater Bay military training zone, only accessible by boat and only when there are no military exercises. Just an overnight stop this year, too many sand flies and bugs.It has giant mud crabs aplenty and a fishing delight - we are assured.

Then overnight stops island hopping to Hunter and then Curlew Is. a very pretty anchorage, with the island to ourselves and we stayed 2 days. Had Fathers Day at Curlew. Swims on beach as the weather was certainly warm enough and no crocs this far off shore we assumed. 

 

John on beach at Curlew Is, Fathers Day 2020

The attractive cliff and slope that dominates the beach at Curlew Is.

Jo - Curlew Is.

Another angle of Curlew Is. Nice spot.

After Curlew, there were strong winds predicted, so sailed quickly in the 20Kt SE trade winds blowing up ,  to Mackay marina, where it always seems very windy, but maybe its just because the only time we go there is when it is windy. Caught a large albacore tuna on the way, a bit of a fight to get it in.

Still alive and kicking when gaffed so this one was released to produce more fish.

Getting daily exercise

 After Mackay the stops are in the magic 100 miles of the Whitsunday Group of islands. 

All very pretty, the southern islands being relatively isolated with great beaches. Goldsmith, Thomas and Shaw Islands all overnight stops.Thomas a favourite anchorage, all good in 30Kt winds that blew up overnight.

Thomas Is. Blue Tiger butterflies - live for up to 6 months

Another Blue Tiger butterfly.

Lt James Cook named the Smith Islands - Goldsmith, Tinsmith Silversmith Islands

We sailed fast on just the genoa up to Happy Bay on Long Is. for a long walk on the island, stayed overnight in this snug anchorage, then into Airlie Beach - jumping off point for yacht chartering in the Whitsundays. Airlie was very quiet compared to its usual bustle. The trip into Airlie was fast on just the genoa from Long Island, nice to sail everywhere but we are both a bit tired of the 3 weeks of 15-25 knot winds.

Coral Coast Rally: In Airlie, stayed at the 6 star Coral Seas Marina ($140 bucks a night with Shaggers discount) . This gives access to the upmarket floating Ocean Club facility in the marina.

Upmarket facilities, free espresso coffee and upper deck for evening drinks.

 We then joined 10 other boats in the Coral Coast Rally, run by the Abell Point Yacht Club, sailing in company from Airlie to Magnetic Island over a week. 4 cats and 6 monos, with global circumnavigators and Pacific -Asian cruisers. Fastest boat was a cat, naturally – a Schionning design 52 ft.

Great program and plenty of activities during and after a days sailing. Jokes on the radio – bocce and BBQ on the beach. Some really good sails and the Windy Whitsundays lived up to their name – 20+ knots of SE trade winds for the first day race up to Gloucester Passage – a nice downwind sail. Plenty of liquid refreshment to lubricate the 30-40nm passages for the Hippy fancy dress at the Gloucester Passage Resort. 

Raided an opp Shop in Airlie and Jo made Johns wig

Prize for best dressed hippy.

 

Further stops at Cape Upstart and Cape Bowling Green for a beach bonfire and BBQ.

 

Just getting the BBQ going

Dinghys lined up, all with anchors out as it was still blowing

The mandatory cruising bocci competition

Then with more downwind sailing, and the final days run to Magnetic Island (Maggie) Horseshoe Bay.

Calm downwind sailing in 20Kts

 

Wolf herring - a good fight but only used for bait up here - too bony

After a big night in the Marlin Bar at Horseshoe we moved to the other side of Maggie island to Nelly Bay marina. There we had use of the resort pool.

The final night of the rally in a "French " restaurant with prize giving.

 Kirra Kirra came 3rd in the rally - more wine as prize, plus a $$ voucher from the Airlie chandlery!!

Bundaberg to Yeppoon . Yeppoon 23 09.700' S 150 47.238' E

 After quite a few days in Bundy marina, we set off for 1770 with a very civilised 8.30am departure .

Here is the chart of our course for this post - what a great idea, whoever suggested that (Scott).

 

We had a SW wind of 10-12 Kts coming out of Bundy, so had a champagne sail up to the town of 1770, sailing at 8 kts in a 12 kt breeze. Consequently we arrived way too early for the low tide at 1510 hrs. Had to wait nigh on dusk to come across the bar and anchored in fading light. We have been into 1770 several times before so know the unmarked channels - great place for walks, and this time we discovered the huge vanilla slices at the marina cafe. Top notch for this area.

After 2 days at 1770, so named because Lt Cook landed there on 24th May 1770, we sailed the 10nm further up the coast to Pancake Creek. Jo made the traditional buckwheat pancakes for lunch, and we did the walk up the hill to Bustard Head lighthouse - built 1878 and one of the first on the Qld coast. We went with the Upyerkilters - Colin and Kerry.

Lt Cook in 1770 is said to have shot a large bustard bird near there - hence the name. It was most likely a bush turkey - a most unattractive bird.

Bustard Head lighthouse

Prefabricated in Bridgwater (no e), England

Small renovated cemetry attesting to centuries of lighthouse keepers and families. About 30% drowned while swimming on Pancake Ck. A creek up here is very like a large river.

Aircraft Beach - so named because day joy flights often used to land there - until an accident a few years ago - no one killed.

 

 

 

Overlooking Aircraft Beach on the walk up to Bustard Hd

 After 2 days in Pancake Ck., we then motor sailed up outside Curtis Is. near Gladstone in light following winds- a very busy port exporting coal and bauxite. At the top end of Curtis Is. is Cape Capricorn, where the Tropic of Capricorn crosses the coast. And of course there is a lighthouse on the tall cape. Not so important now with GPS navigation, but essential just 30-40 years ago for safety of all shipping.

Cape Capricorn with lighthouse and keepers accommodation.

We continued on and anchored in the small cove to the NW on Hummocky Is. A delightful spot.

Hummocky Island before sundowners on Kirra Kirra

Next day a nice sail the 25nm up to Great Keppel Is. Another favourite anchorage of ours.

Better for catamarans (isnt everything?). After a few days in the Keppels we got out of the 30Kt winds forecast and stayed in Yeppoon marina for a few nights.

Bird watching has become a favourite pastime, although capturing the birds on camera takes more patience than I have. Here is a selection of snaps.

Brahminy Kite - eats fish and small prey plus carrion.                 A beautiful deep tan colour not seen from underneath

Brahminy Kite

Eastern Great Egret - hunting fish in the marina. We have even seen them walking down the main drag in Yeppoon.

Grevillia and flowering grass trees

Osprey nest on a lighttower in the car park at Yeppoon

Red tailed black cockatoo showing off his bright red tail.

Red tailed black cockatoos feeding on a Beach Almond tree

Never swim in murcky water up here!!

And watch where you walk - outside the marina - a Black Bellied Swamp Snake. Apparently a close relative of a politician. Your choice which one!!

Mary River to Bundaberg (Burnett Heads). 24 46'16" S, 152 24'51"E Episode 2

 We also went by bike into Burnett Heads  - and explored the town at the mouth of the mighty Burnett River.

Of note was a restored lighthouse identical to the one on Big Woodie Is., and a quaint church.

Burnett Heads historic wooden lighthouse

J&J and Burnett Heads quaint Anglican church

Kids diving from the jetty

And the birds here like to perch and nest on boats - same as everywhere - bastards. 

Besides ospreys and sea eagles, there are Brahminy kites and Whistling kites, and diving terns and noddies. Hard to photograph - so no good photos. Next blog maybe.

Next stop - the inlet of 1770.

Mary River to Bundaberg (Burnett Heads). 24 46'16" S, 152 24'51"E Episode 1

 Have received feedback that some would like a map showing our route - so here for those not able to operate Google Maps is our track since leaving Mooloolaba.

After leaving the mouth of the Mary River, we called into the beach near Kingfisher Resort on Fraser Island and spent a night anchored there. Lots of history - timber industry in the early 1900's, and the commando training school during WW-II. 

Relics of the timber industry include a large rusted out boiler in the beach .

 

 

A very crusty orifice

Nice colours in rusty iron.

I'll have to be very careful here - almost doesn't require any comment.

 

Jo on the beach.

Further up the great Sandy Straits is Big Woodie Island. 2 days of strong westerly winds made this a safe anchorage, enough time to go ashore and explore the restored wooden lighthouse - erected 1880's.

With view across Hervey Bay -

 

Big Woodie lighthouse with support

Unfortunately, the weather was too windy and rough to go whale watching in Hervey Bay.

And so the winds became favourable and we sailed up Hervey Bay to the Burnett River, the town of Burnett Heads where the marina is located and the provincial town of Bundaberg about 15km away. This is a sugar town, surrounded by sugar cane as far as the eye can see, with the sugar mills right in town. Nice.

Bundy CBD anchorage. Note the sugar mill.

 

Its claim to fame is to use waste from the sugar industry (molasses) to make a type of rum - which every Queenslander loves but for others all I can say is its'an aquired taste. Horrible stuff.

Not the town hall, but the Bundaberg Post Office - let Trump try to demolish this.

 There is a very good Sunday market at the unusually named Shalom College - definitely not a catholic /jewish joint venture. Reprovisioned there for the next few legs going  north. The market has everything locally produced  - trailers full of loose mandarins, and stalls selling salami, tools, large locally caught fish and not a lace doily in sight. 

 

Jo in gaol? No, just the solidy built school buildings at Shalom.😊

 

 

Crooner at the market - good voice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No doubt at the Shalom market that its a Chinese virus