The Sea Eagle has landed..........

To coin a phrase, at Newport Marina to be honest. The feeling was a bit strange as it has ended for now the adventure. Not realy as now we can get things sorted out here and plan what we do next. We have paid till xmas which at least gets us some stability. We bought our catamaran here 3 years ago and like the feeling here.

Leaving Mooloolaba boat harbour....

Calm and warm run south.....

No whales but plenty of dolphins........

 The redcliff coast approaching, 900 or so nautical miles from Cairns where we started...........bugga reality is back.

The last bit........

Tin Can Bay was lovely, we realy do like this place.

The sunsets have been very colourful due as much to the smoke from bushfires around the south east.

Looking back at the marina from Snapper Creek.

The boat ramp and Coast Guard.......

Someones long term project, an ex ferry......

Heading out over the Wide Bay Bar, deceptiveley calm but get the weather wrong and its lethal.

Double Island Point with lighthouse, the weather is quite good by then.

We saw more whales today than the rest of the trip. These 2 were broaching and tail slapping right outside the entrance to Mooloolaba harbour. As usual getting the best pics was not going to happen, balancing and getting the right timing is not easy. The weather had by then gotten brisk so the plan was to moor in Mooloolaba harbour so thats what we did. At Kawana Waters Marina till friday when the last leg to Redcliff happens. This marina is well known to us as its where we had quite a few looks at a yacht we almost bought, its still for sale.

Feels like home.......

Tin Can Bay that is..We spent so much time here 4 years ago with Avalon when we bought her that it could easily be a place to call home. The run down from South Cliffs was calm and warm, just as we remembered from the last time we were there. The quiet at night and the cool misty mornings are just wonderful.

Start of another great day.......

Our wake barely leaves a ripple......

Anchored outside Garys Anchorage........
All that remains is a run into Tin Can Bay Marina where we spent a lot of time with Avalon.

Were up the end on the left, this is a lovely marina and the whole town is just a great place to hang. We have both thought of basing ourselves here at some point so who knows!!!!
We will be out of here monday as there is a group of Riviera boats doing a run north and this berth was booked for them monday arvo which suits us fine. A day or so anchored out ready to cross the Wide Bay Bar down to Mooloolaba then onto Brisbane. A visit to the local Coastguard to get the latest info on the bar crossing this arvo will help us with it. Good weather is pretty well forecast all this week so it shouldnt be too taxing.

Just like buses !!!!!!

You wait all day then 2 come along at once.....

Mckenzies wharf just south of Kingfisher resort. Derelict now but once had a logging railway run out with timber to be loaded.
A beautiful day with smooth water and warm sun, just like up north. Only a 2 hour run to where we are now, South White Cliffs. We anchored here 4 years ago in Avalon so it marks the start of familiar territory.

Were in 10 plus metres with this wreck off our stern. Its called the Ceratodus.

The view from the bow, thats deep creek with an old wharf there. Further up the creek is the wreck of the Palmer, just abandoned after years of service. I think it was built in scotland in the 1880's.
Now to organize some spare ribs for dinner on the bbq..................

Back in Sandy Straits......

As the weather had abated we left Pancake Creek on monday as planned heading for Bundaberg.

For a change a sunrise shot leaving Pancake Creek.....

Bustard Head lighthouse.......
The sea was quite good so it became an easier journey which is definiteley more enjoyable. Approaching Town of 1770 we saw a schooner which turned out to be Young Endeavour anchored just outside. Their blog says their on a run north from Brisbane.

Looking back at Round Hill Head........

So with the skipper with her feet on the wheel we were in safe hands!!!!!!

 Bundaberg was only a quick stop so we anchored just inside the approach for the night. As its supposed to be a pretty place to explore and is actually upstream we plan to spend more time here next year.
Tuesday we left early for the run to the Sandy Straits behind Frazer Island. After a while the weather got a bit rougher than we had thought but pressed on anyway, not as bad as St Bees thankfully. The nearer we got the calmer it became so we planned to anchor off Kingfisher Resort.

The reception was rather grand, which end to dig for the pot'o'gold............
We are moving down to South White Cliffs after lunch which is as far north as we had come in Avalon so its familiar territory from then on. A few days around Tin Can Bay to see friends and also because we love the place so much.
Brisbane is maybe a week away..................bumma.............

Update update update.....

Yeh time gets away sometimes.......
We anchored by Great Keppel Island for a couple of nights but the swell was a bit uncomfortable so we decided to head to Keppel Bay Marina for a few nights.

As Isy had some centrelink bumf to sort out it worked out fine. I think apart from the views from Abel Point Marina this is the best 1 we have seen. Very user friendly and great food at the restaurant there. The staff are realy friendly and relaxed too. The inevitable hired car gave us a chance to look around a little and we went to the Singing ship memorial at Emu Park.

 So a few days turned into nearly a week as the weather cycled through and we left on wednesday morning to go further south. Anchoring off Humocky Island after 4 hours made for an easy days run.

Once again a bit rolly but we were there so that was that. Thursday had us running down past Gladstone with its large commercial traffic, though most ere at anchor there was 2 inbound we kept an eye on.

Passing Cape Capricorn lighthouse means we are now out of the tropics.

1 of the 30 or so ships waiting to get into Gladstone.
Our stop was in Pancake Creek, a tidal system behind Bustard Head.

Looks wide and inviting but it dries to many channels and we had to be in the deeper section.
Friday there was a strong north west front move in and caused us all to swing about, some dragged anchors and had to reposition themselves including us. All ok though and just part of keeping watch, the quite strong tide run adds to the interest as well.

This is the view saturday lunchtime at low tide, thats a huge sandbank ideal for the crew to run on.

Theres 2 metres plus water there at high tide.
We plan to move on to Bundaberg maybe monday if the winds are kind, if not well more walks and chilling out !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Percy Island

We left Curlew bound for Middle Percy, once again it was calm and foggy. Often there was less than a kilometer viz so we were very aware that others couldnt see us if we couldnt see them. We had seen a few whales previously but usually in the distance. While Isy was snoozing and I was trying to decide whether to bring up a bean bag to make my seat comfier, a humpback surfaced just astern of us and blew. It was so close we must have passed over the top of it as it was surfacing. I dropped us out of gear and grabbed the camera but as usual the shots were only average. But the sight of it less than a boat length spouting will stay with me for some time.

There was 2 plus a calf I think..........
We had hoped for more encounters but that was it. So after a few hours we anchored in West Bay on Middle Percy island. Just a beautiful spot again!!!!

We were close to shore and the only yacht there, until later when there ended up being 6 others as well!!!!!

It is a popular place to visit after all. S we took Roxxi ashore and had a good look at the mementos going back to the 60's that have been left there. Its a real eclectic mix of improvised and almost proffesionally made items. And there 1000's of them.

Sunset looking back to Pine Islet from Percy..................
Today saw us leave Percy and head for either Island Head Creek or Port Clinton, as we made good time we are in Port Clinton. This is a large area in behind the coast and is well protected from the weather. Its also part of the Shoalwater Military area, though were not being shot at yet!!!!!

There room for hundreds of cruisers........but lots of room as well.
Tomorrow were moving down to Great Keppel Island where we might stay a few days while some stronger southerley winds do their thing..........................till then..............

Off again

Finally the weather abated so we left Mackay Marina on a damp saturday morning. Calm with overcast drizzle wasnt enough to remove the smiles. Although its a great place we did leave rather a lot of money there with GPS and steering repairs!!!!!!

With only about 2 or 3 miles viz we motored through the large number of coal vessels moored waiting to access Hay Point facility. There can be up to 100 here sometimes according to the locals.

There was less visiblity than the foto shows and with these moored in a grid with 1 mile spacing they do seem to gang up on you. Luckily none were on the move.
So with a 6 hour run to Curlew Island we just settled back and watched the new gps work......

The rocky headland on Curlew Island, Its a beautiful spot again and even though not in the Whitsundays its just as beautiful. We are here tonight then move on to Middle Percy in the morning, the site of the famous A Frame and where yachties have for decades hung a memento of their visit. We will also leave a calling card.

Heres our anchorage between the beach and a large sandbar, oddly the official charts show only a metre of water in here but in reality it has plenty of depth. The book Noel Patrick's Curtis Coast is invaluable having all this extra info as well as most of the best spots to visit between Mackay and Bundaberg.
Bbq time....steak and salad............................bye.....

Boring week....

The week has been expensive, fitting a proper chart plotter as the temporary system we had was not realy suitable dented the credit card a bit. The upper steering unit being in pieces as the Hydrive pump was stuffed will bring another bill next week. So if we had a house there would be repairs to do so its not realy much different. How often can you move your house to get a different view out the window though!!!
The weather has been great which helps, keeping an eye on the week it might be thursday or friday before we leave Mackay. Straight to the Percy group and then south to Island Head maybe. Or was it a train to Brissy....
Weve had some good chats to people here as well which is part of what makes this such an experience.
All for now.........

Mackay Marina

I thought how easy it would be to get a train ticket back to Brissy this morning. After some reasonable runs south including getting to Lindemann Island, we had figured we wouldnt have anything rougher to come.
WRONG.............................
We left Plantation Bay and ran south around Shaw Island and onto Brampton, although we werent stopping there but going to Homestead Bay on St Bees Island.

The passage between Goldsmith and Farrier Islands......

Passing Brampton Island..........

Homested Bay St Bees Island..........The cat is aground as cats can do that, were in 20 metres and the light line is about 2 metres. Venturing a bit close we hastily reversed back when the depth shot up and there was no chance to anchor that close. Ending up in about 15 metres before we felt safe we had a very drifty night. The current between St Bees and Keswick Islands ran about 4 knots, we swung all over the place although we we were safe.

The ruffled water on the right is 4 plus knots of current running, were sort of on the edge with the shallower area on the left. Change of tide reverses the direction of the current.
The plan to stay there till monday was adjusted sunday morning and with 10 to 15 knots predicted we chugged away. From then on it just became worse, building to 20 plus knots we were bashing right into it....again. We had to run due south to make it bearable....just. With 4 or 5 foot choppy swell and blustery winds it was very uncomfortable. Isy tried to put some storm jib up to balance the boat but it didnt help.
Poor Roxxi was getting very anxious, and after a few big rolls and thumps that rattled me I passed the helm over to Isy and lay down with pup. Stuff was rattling around down below but we couldnt go below to tidy up, I hoped my desktop computer would be ok as since the toughbook failed I had cobbled together a nav system using the tv as a monitor in the cockpit. Vey heath robinson but it was all we could do. So after 4 very uncomfortable and nervous hours we stumbled into Mackay Marina. Crap was everywhere down below and the generator we had under the cockpit table had alternateley fallen on Isys and then my foot we were very relieved. All we had to do was find berth Z 07, which we did but thats not the end of the story.
The wind was behind us as we turned to get alongside the pontoon, with 3 or 400k worth of boat on the opposite side of that pen we had to get it right.
We didnt.................................
I jumped off and grabbed a mooring line but as Sea Eagle has a bit of windage we were pushed slowly towards the boat next door. I secured a bow line and tried to get Isy to throw me a stern line to get the rear in line but she was fending off the other boat. I then undid the bowline and tried to pull her further in but the wind was taking the bow further away. Im not sure how but I ended up in the marina, guess I held on too long but im not sure. By then someone had seen us struggling and rushed over to help me get out, then tied her off as Isy had by then gotten her ass alongside (the boats that is).
 So with me soaked and both our nerves very rattled we sat down and surveyed the mess below. Mostly just things thrown around and not damaged, but still its a bit demoralizing.
 So a train ticket or carry on?
Weve booked in for a week so we can have a good go over the boat and secure things more and tidy up. Look for a nav system and have the hydraulic steering checked as its playing up. Definiteley plan the weather more before leaving, and decide to come back if it gets worse rather than carry on. Hey were still learning.
One thing thats obvious is the boat is capable of handling far more than what we went through today, its so strong and the motor gives us the power we need to get through. We are the ones who need to get ourselves organized better.

Us safely in the marina...finally...........

Just to show it is worth it......sunset the night before at St Bees Island............