Luncheon Bay is a nice bay sheltered from the SE winds. After a nice night we woke to having large fish swimming around the boat so we had to swim with them! We then noticed a large manta ray swimming back and forth across the bay so Julien had to go take a closer look and swam with it for a short time.
After lunch we hopped in the dinghy and went around to the next bay (Manta Ray Bay) and snorkelled with large Maori Wrasse, tuna, parrot fish, Pinnate Batfish and many, many more that were used to humans and came right up close enough to touch.
We left Shaw Island this morning and headed to the famous Whithaven Beach.
To get there we had to go through the Solway Passage. This meant timing it with the tide. We got through just as the tide changed and even in the slack tide the turbulent and eddie currents moved our 25 tonne boat around quite a lot.
As we rounded the corner we could see the immense white sand beach and boat loads of people at the southern end of the beach. We stopped quarter of the way up the beach for a couple of hours for a swim and walk. After lunch we headed off to Apostle Bay where we spent the night and fed the fish some more.
Tuesday morning we headed off to Cateran Bay, Border Island where it was a little more sheltered and we snorkeled around the reef. We would like to have stayed there the night but there was two hour limits on mooring in the bay and other boats wanted to come in. We headed off to Luncheon Bay for the night.
After the winds went through we headed back to Airlie Beach where we picked up new crew. Two guys from Canada, who have been touring Australia.
With Sam and Julien onboard we headed to South Molle Island for Saturday night.
This morning we had no wind so we had to motor south with the tidal currents to Shaw Island. After lunch we went ashore and trekked across the island to a stony bay on the south side. The guys went for a snorkel while Sue and Andrew flew the drone and took photos. The trek back was a little interesting as the path we took wasn’t the one we went on. After making our own path through the bush eventually made it back to the north beach and our dinghy.
As soon as we were back on Imagine the guys got out the fishing rods and thought they were going to catch dinner (we had Kangaroo steaks for dinner).
We left Airlie Beach on Sunday and went across to Stonehaven bay on Hook Island. Which turned out to be a popular place to stay with 21 boats joining us by evening. Sue had quite a scare as we were about to anchor it looked two snorkelers just off our bow. It turned out we were being greeted by a couple of dolphins. The breeze made it a bit too cold for us to go snorkeling even though the reef was only 50 meters away. So we sat in the cockpit with a drink watching the sun set.
When we checked the weather forecast on Monday, we could see high winds coming from the south. So we decided to head back to the mainland for shelter. Away from all the charter boats in the islands. We are going to hide out in Woodwark Bay till the weekend and the winds have died down a little.
This morning we greased the headsail furler as it had been getting hard to wind in and out. We then decided to try fishing in the bay. We didn’t come back with any fish but we did come back with a cauliflower. Is that called vegetarian fishing? We had just given up on fishing when a perfectly good and fresh cauliflower came floating by. It must have fallen overboard from one of the boats. So its cauliflower and cheese sauce for tea tonight. It wont need salting. Did we get the catch of the day or what?
After spending a few days of exploring Thomas Island and spending time on Naked Lady Beach, sorry no photos (been censored by Sue).
The tranquillity was interrupted last night by two Porpoises splashing around in the bay.
This morning we hauled anchor and sailed to Arlie Beach. While we were ashore checking out the town we posted a notice in 4 of the backpacker hostels, asking if anyone wants to crew for us as we will be sailing around here for a couple of months. There are a few tourists here (not nearly the amount they would normally have). Airlie Beach has a man-made lagoon (like the one in Cairns and the one in Brisbane) – we didn’t see too many sunbathers today – despite the weather being nice and sunny, there was a chill in the wind.
Late yesterday afternoon while we were writing emails we looked up to see a turtle peering in the porthole at us. Sue jumped up and started making faces through the porthole at it. Andrew grabbed the camera and headed on deck, to see a large turtle still looking at Sue. There seems to be two large and two smaller turtles living in this bay.
This morning we set sail for Thomas Island only a couple of hours away. The breeze was quite cool but died down as we got shelter in the bay at Thomas Island. Tomorrow we will go exploring and maybe stay a few days.
We can now understand why no-one wants to join us as crew. Uninhabited islands, beautiful coral and shells scatter the beaches, Turtles swim metres away from the boat, schools of fish get in the way while swimming and colourful sunsets. Who would want to spend weeks doing this??
The past couple of days we have been ashore and checked out a couple of the beaches here on Goldsmith Island. Had a couple of swims and just chilled out. Today our bay got very crowded as we had three motor boats from the mainland call in over the course of the day, which meant we only had half the beach to ourselves.
Whilst on the beach we had a chat to a couple from Mackay who had come out for the day with a couple of their grandkids who as they were beachcombing the island, didn’t really mind there was no reception for their mobile phones! There is a small campsite on this beach and a composting toilet, which even here there is a sign re Covid-19 warning to keep social distancing.
Keeping our perfect fishing record intact, we headed out this afternoon for a couple of hours for a spot of fishing. We did so enjoy feeding the fish but do wish sometimes something would jump on the line and stay there! Needless to say it was a good job we got some roo steaks out of the freezer for tea! This evening when checking the mooring a turtle surfaced only metres from the boat, lifting his head and giving us a couple of looks before he dived down deep again.
Monday the weather packed in and so we were confined to the boat, watching movies. Tuesday and Wednesday were the same. So it was quick dashes between Dalitu (Kirsty and David’s boat) and Imagine as rain stopped. We swapped DVD movies and tails of the sea and travels.
On Thursday we made a run for it. Four hours north and we were at Brampton Island. The resort on the island had been closed down, with only the caretaker left. The weather was still scattered showers, so we didn’t do any exploring. We discovered that we could get some internet reception on the tablet by taking the cell phone up the mast and using the hotspot function.
This morning we continued north and are now anchored at Goldsmith Island. It seems quite sheltered with lots of little bays and beaches. We were greeted by a large turtle that seemed to be interested in our anchor. Maybe we stirred something up. Again the phone went up the mast so we could send this blog.
Sue survived her shark attack! We left Mackay on Saturday with the wind off our beam. With only the head sail up we were doing about 7 knots all the way to Scawfell Island. It was a really nice sail with not much swell until a couple of hours out from the island. Saturday afternoon we just chilled out. During the night the wind got up and was tunneling down the valley. By morning there were white caps forming down the side of the bay we and three other boats were anchored in so we hauled anchor and moved to the western side of the bay.
Later that day we explored one of the beaches. Today after Andrew took a very short swim off the back of the boat (water a bit cool) we explored another beach.
That’s where it happened! Sue bravely ventured into the water at the beach for a quick swim. Knowing that there have been 3 shark attacks in Queensland waters (1200km of coast) in the past 12 months.
And sure enough she returned to the beach without a mark on her. Maybe sharks don’t attack everyone, or maybe they’re not as prevalent as Sue thought they were.
We met a couple (Kirsty and David) from one of the boats anchored near us who were walking along the beach. They invited us back to their boat for a coffee. After lunch we went to their boat and talked for hours about boats and boating. They then came to Imagine for Sundowners (drinks) as we talked more about boats and travelling. It’s always interesting to meet fellow boaties and share tips and stories.
Image Thursday 2nd July No not Thursday, Sadday. Today we bid farewell to Robyn and Karl.
After a gentle all night sail we arrived to Mackay. There were lots of cargo boats anchored outside the harbour. We phoned the marina and were told which berth we had been assigned. Luckily it was at the end of the pier, so all we had to do was turn Imagine around in the alleyway and glide up to the pier. Sorry. no mishaps. no over shooting the pier. No one fell overboard. Just a perfect docking.
Sue & Andrew booked in and checked out facilities at the marina, while Karl & Robyn went and hired a car. We then all went in to town to get groceries to restock the boat. When we got back to the marina it was Sundowner time so we had drinkies in the hotel room Robyn and Karl had booked for the night.
We said our goodbyes and bought burger and chips on the walk back to Imagine.
We have decided to stay in the marina Friday as well. Get the laundry done and a few bits and pieces.
