Saturday 13th August
Thursday was a bit windy and choppy in the bay so we stayed onboard Imagine and lazed around.
Friday brought light winds from the east so we decided to make a run for it. The light winds stayed with us most of the way south to Rodd’s Harbour, arriving 3am. On the way we had to navigate the cargo boats going into Gladstone. As usual, as we got in amongst them some decided to move just as a rain squall came up behind us.
Today after Andrew doing some boat maintenance we just chilled out and caught up on sleep as there was no wind at all.
We are up 7 mile creek, no swimming here, one because water temperature is still 16.9° and also because there are crocs and sharks here.
Sent from Iridium Mail & Web.

Monday 8th August
Yesterday we set off heading south again. We tacked all day and night and continuing again today. We are doing shifts of 2 hours on the helm and 8 hours resting and eating. Because the wind is coming from the direction we want to travel, it is a slow journey.
Sent from Iridium Mail & Web.

Saturday 6th August This morning we moved around the corner to Rescue Bay. Safia, Bram and Sandra went ashore and took the track back to the homestead to find Bram’s sunglasses that he left there. In the afternoon Bram tried spearfishing for the first time. Unfortunately all the big fish must have seen him coming and they left, so it was spaghetti bolognese for dinner.
Sent from Iridium Mail & Web.

Friday 5th August
The day started with blue sky and hot sun. As the morning progressed fog rolled in. It started in the hills of the island and then it’s started rolling in across the sea. At times you could not see across the bay, then it would clear again.
One time as it cleared we saw two whales breaching in the distance. As we watched they came closer. They stopped breaching and one lay still in the water and drifted closer. Andrew put the drone in the air to get a closer look. It was a mother and her newly born calf. The whale was teaching it’s baby to swim as they came within a few hundred metres of Imagine. The other adult whale followed behind some distance away. It took about half an hour for the whales to come past and swim off in the distance.
Another BBQ at the A frame and it was Safia and Bram’s turn to cook. More Boaties and more tales.
Sent from Iridium Mail & Web.

Thursday 4th August
Yesterday was another day of exploring the island followed by sundowners and a BBQ ashore on Middle Percy. A lot of the boats left yesterday morning and were replaced in the afternoon by another lot of boats. This meant different stories to be told over a glass or two of wine.
During the evening we all volunteered to help out fixing the leakey water pipeline and working in the veggie garden. Andrew was nominiated to drive everyone up the hill in the 4×4 in the morning. This time we were one of the last to leave, so we put out the fire and headed back to Imagine in the dark.
In the morning we were on the beach by 8:30am. A lot of the boats had left by this time. Greg and Vicki from Ocean Piper and Kate the owner of the island lease met us on the beach. That’s when we noticed all four tyres on the 4×4 were flat. On close inspection , some ass hole had removed the valves from the tyres overnight. It was obviously one of the boats that had left had done it. So Andrew and Sue went back to Imagine while Kate and the new manager (Carey) went back to the homestead to work out what they were going to do. Safia, Bram and Sandra joined Greg and Vicki walking up the hill following the pipeline to see if they could find the water leak.
Sandra was back early, but we didn’t hear from Safia and Bram till 3:30pm. They had spent all day helping out with the waterleaks and then the hives and honey.
Andrew got dinner prepped and we headed ashore and back to the A frame. Although there were 17 boats in the bay, only one other joined us at the BBQ.
We had finished dinner by dusk and in the dimming light we spotted several dolphins swimming between the boats. We put out the fire and headed back to Imagine. As we were all in the dinghy not far from Imagine the dolphins started jumping out of the water in front of us. What a great end to the day.
Sent from Iridium Mail & Web.

Four pm and everyone piled into the dinghy to head to shore. Someone had already started the BBQ and was cooking their dinner, so all we could do was pour a wine. It wasn’t long before Andrew was able to cook the sausages, potatoes and onions.
Several boat crews had made their way to the A frame to swap tales of their travels over food and drinks. There were only a couple of people left by the time we ventured into the dark to find our way back to Imagine.
Sent from Iridium Mail & Web.

Tuesday 2nd August
Everyone was up at sunrise, eager to set off on the first day and night trip. The day started like the others, we hauled anchor and headed out into the southerly breeze. Everyone took two hour shifts on the helm.
It was hard to make headway against the southerly wind and swell. After 4 hours we sailed past the northern side of Scawfell Island on a tack heading out to sea. An hour and a half later we were forced to tack back to avoid a cargo boat heading south. Another two hours went past and we had to tack again as we were heading into the eastern side of Scawfell.
Safia was on the helm as we reached the shipping channel again. Once again a cargo boat looked like it was going to greet us. Andrew calculated that the boat would pass just in front of us and said to stay on course. With worried looks on their faces the crew nervously watched as the boat approached four times faster than we were moving. The look of worry turned to relief as the boat past about 500m in front of Imagine. We continued on this tack enjoying the company of several groups of whales including a pair breaching for us.
Back on the port tack we passed the southern side of Scawfell. Twelve hours after departing we had managed to travel 10 nautical miles south. We knew the trip to Percy Island was going to be a long trip sailing into the wind.
Suddenly the wind turn easterly and we were off. The easterly meant we could sail directly south. Not quite in line with Percy but close enough. Four hours of sailing at 7 to 8knts took us almost all the way to Percy. Then it was over, the wind suddenly dropped from 17knts to 8. Imagine needs 10knts to sail, so on came the motor for the last 25 nautical miles.
Once anchored the crew were eager to get off the boat and explore Percy Island. This afternoon will be some chill time before heading over to the A frame on the beach for sundowners, catching up with other Boaties and a barbecue dinner.
Sent from Iridium Mail & Web.

Sunday 31st July
This morning Safia and Bram were up at sparrow’s fart and watched the sunrise. “Why is everyone having breakfast so early?” came from Sandra at 7.30am. I think she thought it was Sunday sleep in.
By 10am Safia, Bram and Sandra were off to explore the island’s tracks. They arrived back about 12.30 ready for lunch. Sue had made pancakes, blueberries and bacon for lunch.
Another lazy afternoon and getting the boat ready to set sail. The first long sail, two overnights and three days against the wind although the winds should be lighter. We are aiming for Middle Percy for a few days stop over

Saturday 30th July
Although we love Goldsmith, it was time to start heading south again. After looking at the weather and after breakfast, we said goodbye to the turtles, hauled anchor and set sail for the next place.
We still had southerly, sou-easterly winds reaching up to 25knts at times with a 1-2 metre swell. Safia, Sandra and Bram took turns on the helm. After three and a half hours tacking we decided to pull in at Brampton Island we had only travelled less than 10 nautical miles. Which meant that if we wanted to go back to Goldsmith we would be going with the wind and it would only take 1.5 hours.
When safely anchored and had lunch, Andrew, Safia and Bram went ashore to check out where the walking tracks were. Tomorrow will be trekking around the island and up to the top of the hill, but today was a walk along the beach.
Sent from Iridium Mail & Web.

Friday 29th July
Another day of sunshine. Yesterday we were sheltered from the high winds with a nice sunny day. Today the wind has dropped and still sunny. Bram & Safia did their ritual exercising on the beach followed by a quick swim. Sue and Andrew passed the time fishing off the side of Imagine. They didn’t catch anything worth keeping.
The afternoons are consumed by the strenuous job of watching the turtles in the bay come up for air. It never gets tiring watching the turtles chill out
Sent from Iridium Mail & Web.