After an uncomfortable night we decided that we would head for Mackay. Over breakfast we calculated how long it would take to get there. Then what time we needed to set off, to arrive during daylight. So we needed to set off at 4:00pm and sail overnight.
This meant we could explore more of the island. Arriving on the beach without a spill this time we headed inland. We came across a very rare tree.
Over the years I’ve only come across two other examples of this species of tree , I’m sure they must be on the endangered list. The shoetree is easily mistaken for the European sandalwood, see photo.
We also discovered what looked to be erosion in a gully. The slip had uncovered a red soil and colourful rocks. We walked across the hill to the other side of the island where we could see how sheltered our bay was from the South Easterlies. Returning to Imagine we stowed everything away for our voyage to Mackay.
We arrived at South Percy Ilse last night, anchoring in the bay with 7 other boats. Although we were sheltered from the wind and swell, we had a small amount of rocking.
Karl and Robyn had said previously that they wanted to experience everything about boating life. This morning after breakfast we all piled in the dinghy and set off for shore. As we approached shore Andrew slowed the dinghy down to surf in on a wave. As everyone got ready to jump out upon reaching the beach, the balance of the dinghy altered and we slid down the wave side on.
Karl fell out of the high side, launching Andrew into the air and over the top of Sue and Robyn. With the girls on the lower side of the boat, sank even further into the water, which sent them backwards into the water. Being a RIB the dinghy didn’t tip over but did take on a large amount of water.
We picked ourselves up and dragged the boat ashore. Luckily the cameras and things were in waterproof bags. Still soaking wet we headed off to explore the island. We walked the beaches and came across another ship wreck in the sand. Back on board Imagine we all showered and relaxed the rest of the day. By evening the swell had started coming around the point which made it an uncomfortable night.
Friday 26th June Yesterday we all piled into the dinghy and headed around the west side of Great Keppel island. We found the large bay (ship wreck bay) we had sailed past on the way to our anchorage. A beautiful bay but not as sheltered as our anchorage. In the sand at high water mark we found parts of a ship wreck including the pins used to hold the timber boat together.
Returning to Imagine Sue decided to fish off the boat. She surprised us all by catching two Shark Sucker Fish about 450mm long. Not good eating but good bait for later.
Today we explored the eastern bays. One of which had a small river inlet with two boats tied up in the mangroves, as if they were there ready for a cyclone. We also took a look at where the resort was.
After lunch we were met by Eileen, Mark, Alby and Helen from Black Diamond.
They had had a problem with a gearbox on one motor. Luckily we had some parts to help fix the problem. After the repair we all enjoyed drinks and nibblies on their back deck as the sun went down.
Unfortunately when it came to head back to Imagine, Sue, Andrew, Karl and Robyn piled into the dinghy, but the outboard motor wouldn’t start. So out came the oars. Karl and Robyn rowed us back to Imagine.
On Tuesday morning, we awoke to 20 to 25 knot winds and a choppy sea. We intended to stay another day at Lady Musgrave, but with the high winds we decided to go. By 10am we had set off back through the narrow channel and off to Great Keppel Island. Just as we had cleared the atoll, we spied a set of sails. We called on the radio and yes it was Black Diamond ( Eileen & Mark’s Cat). so we missed catching up with them there. We will try to meet them at Great Keppel or some other point in their journey up north.
The day’s sail started with nice high winds behind us but after lunch slowly died to only 3 knots so we had to motor for a while. During the night the wind came back and we were able to continue sailing. A first for Sue, she got seasick so the evening shifts were divided between Andrew, Robyn and Karl. During the night we had to cross a shipping channel and as luck would have it we had to negotiate around three cargo boats, one of which passed only 100 metres from us and we could easily see the windows on the bridge! We arrived at Great Keppel at dawn and found an anchorage on the north side.
Whilst Sue was still recovering, Andrew, Robyn and Karl went ashore to do a little exploring. The rest of the day we relaxed on board.
We woke to a breezy morning. After breakfast we went to explore the island. Had a nice walk around, saw several noddie birds.
We also came across some campers, a dad and two sons that had come all this way in their tinnie to camp for a week who had packed all their gear including gas cartridges but had forgot the gas cooker. The dad asked if we would happen to have one on board. We weren’t sure as we have thinned out a lot of stuff on Imagine but after exploring the island some more we came back to Imagine and Andrew found we did still have it onboard (a bit of rust on it but it should work ok).
We had come back via some of the reef but by that time wind had picked up again so we decided to leave the snorkeling today. The dad and his sons were coming out fishing and stopped to see if we had found the cooker, which we happily passed across in exchange for a fishing lure (they wanted to give us something). Later in the afternoon after they’d been fishing they came back and gave us a couple of fish which Andrew filleted and Robyn cooked up for tea tonight. Yum!
Andrew went up the mast to fix the light at the top that was working intermittently. Unfortunately the lovely neighbours despite seeing him there decided it would be a lot of fun to take their speedboat and a jet ski past at high speed creating much wake! After seeing Andrew having so much fun, Robyn decided she’d go up the mast too! I do have to put in the blog today that Karl and Andrew worked really hard on cleaning the boat ….. read that as they spent a small amount of time cleaning the windows and Robyn and I are still hearing about it !!!
Sailed overnight with variable wind to the point we had to bring the sails in and motor. Fred (auto helm) decided he’d had enough so packed it in early this morning. Whilst we could still steer manually, Andrew quickly did a temp fix and has done a more permanent fix today when he had some light.
This morning we had blue sky and a bit of cloud, wind was quite light still so although we sailed some we also motored some. We arrived at the entrance to Lady Musgrave early this morning, it is a very narrow entrance only about 100 feet wide (about 30 metres) and a squall passed through at the same time which made things even more interesting! Andrew went up the mast to guide us in and Robyn and Karl were also lookouts, letting Andrew know what they saw so he could feed instructions back to Sue on the helm.
Having navigated the narrow entrance, we then had to weave our way through the numerous bommies within the atoll. We found our way to a patch where we could anchor for the night. Andrew, Karl and Robyn took a dip in the clear aqua water and we all relaxed for the rest of the day. Tomorrow we will go exploring the small island and do a bit of snorkelling.
On Thursday Robyn and Karl joined us and we left Brisbane for Moreton Island where we overnighted. Quite rolly! Met up briefly with Eileen (cousin), Mark, Helen and Albie. Eileen and Mark recently purchased a cat (Black Diamond) but have been unable to pick it up and sail it back to Weipa due to the covid19 travel restrictions. They are now sailing up from the Gold Coast and we hope to catch up with with them along the way.
Yesterday we set off early and headed up the coast. Weather was overcast and we ran into several squalls. As we were coming out of one of the squalls we were very surprised by a couple of large humpback whales as they breached either side of the boat. Sue almost shit herself because they were so close, but it was an amazing sight and we are all just happy that they came up either side of Imagine and not underneath! Shortly after that when the hearts had all settled down we were delighted by a small pod of dolphins frolicking around the bow of the boat.
On and off squalls all night gave us a wind range from 4 knots to 29 knots so we were constantly changing sails and 2am we gave up and motored for about 3 hours. Daybreak had brought catches of blue skies and no more squalls so far, though winds are still variable. Currently sailing along at average of 6 knots.
Another overnight sail tonight then hopefully to somewhere sheltered to anchor tomorrow.
While we were trying to edit your next video,we got interrupted. the solo skipper of the boat anchored behind us came over in his dinghy asking for help. He had been trying for two days to raise his anchor. It was stuck on something big and heavy. So of course I went off to help. After a while of driving back and forth and straining the winch we got it off the bottom. Heaving it to the surface we discovered it was an old pylon. The anchor chain was still wrapped around the pylon and in knots. It was fun keeping out of the way of the ferries going by as the current was dragging us down river and we had to somehow untangle the chain from the pylon. A couple of hours later and a lot of colourfull words we broke free. So maybe I can get back to your video tomorrow.
We haven’t done a lot in the past few days, just putting more coats of varnish on the timberwork. We ventured out to get a little exercise. Brisbane is set up well catering for walkers and cyclists with bike tracks everywhere. There are miles of walkways and cycle tracks running along the riverbank where we are. They have exercise equipment along the walkways for fitness freaks (not in use with COVID19). They even cater for dogs, with water bowls at every drinking fountain and doggy signage.
Someone must have dobbed us in. The past few days every time we go on deck there has been a man standing on shore watching us. We have tried waving out to him but he just stands there in his yellow coat with his fist in the air. He has no expression on his face. I’m sure he’s just waiting for us to go ashore again so he can snitch on us. As soon as I find my glasses I will go ashore and give him a piece of my mind (what’s left of it).
Sue went to make a coffee for morning tea. Turned the gas on, filled the kettle, lit the stove and put the kettle on to boil, then went back to doing her crossword while Andrew pottered around on deck. Five minutes later it was apparent we were in big trouble.
The kettle hadn’t boiled! The gas had gone out. After trying to relight the stove several times Sue called for Andrew to check the gas. Sure enough we were out of gas. NO COFFEE. How are we going to survive the day?
Being used to our big 19kg gas bottle that lasts us over six months we had forgot to keep checking the smaller 8kg swap bottle. Jumping on the internet we located a service station less than 2km away.
We lowered the dinghy into the water. Andrew disconnected the gas bottle and retrieved the fold up hand cart from the Lazarette (the black hole). With Andrew in the dinghy Sue used a rope to one at a time lower them over the side of Imagine and into the dinghy.
Andrew then set off across the river to an old floating jetty at Mowbray Park. Problem! There are no cleats to tie the dinghy to. Andrew had to tie the dinghy to the gangway of the floating jetty using rope as the chain used to lock up the dinghy was not long enough to reach.
With the gas bottle strapped onto the cart Andrew headed off through the park to the main road. The park seemed eerie as there was no-one around. Empty BBQs, Picnic areas and playground. Andrew made his way up the road pulling the cart behind him. Upon reaching the pedestrian crossing had to press the crossing button. COVID19 stays on stainless steel for days. Placing his hand up the inside of his T-Shirt Andrew was able to press the button and keep safe. Across the road and up the road a little way was the service station.
With the cart still behind him Andrew walked up to the counter and asked for a swap gas bottle. “That will be $29 thank you” as she pointed to the EFTPOS machine. (Having a NZ bank account, we are charged a fee everytime we use the card internationally.) Andrew placed a $20 note on the counter. “We are not supposed to handle cash”. The girl eventually accepted the note but didn’t give change.
With the bottle swapped for a full one Andrew made his way back to dinghy. Andrew arrived back at the jetty to find the dinghy was still there. He loaded the cart and bottle into the dinghy and headed back to Imagine. Using the rope Sue hauled the bottle and cart back on deck. Leaving the dinghy tied off the back of Imagine Andrew reconnected the gas.
The catastrophe sorted, Sue put the kettle on for a coffee to go with the lunch she had prepared while Andrew was away. As a dutiful wife should.
Hopefully this killed 10 minutes of your boredom!!
