Great sail with mainsail and code zero. Wind came up and got quite hectic halfway over Cleveland bay so dropped the code zero and put out the headsail. We maintained our speed. When coming into Horseshoe bay there is a lot of special purpose mooring balls. Not sure what they are for but they take up a lot of good anchoring spots 🤷‍♀️

After a shocking night with consistent winds 25-30 knots we had a nice sail today with headsail and mainsail. Beautiful sunrise this morning, and happy to be in such a calm anchorage at Bowling Green with no wind. Very beautiful 🌅

Thought we would be celebrating 1000nm today but will just have to keep the 🥂 until tomorrow’s anchorage ⚓️ We intended to go further today but chose to hop into this beautiful anchorage CAPE UPSTART and get some reprieve from the wind and enjoy the afternoon since we wouldn’t be getting in to Cape Bowling Green til after dark. A great parasail with following seas but as the wind got up over 20knots and the swells increased it seems like a great time to pause and appreciate the day on anchor. ⚓️

After catching up with friends we took the opportunity of a light wind to sail to Bowen. Code zero and headsail wing on wing. Nice 👍 first time we tried that because we usually use the parachute 🪂 it is an easier option when the winds are variable and slightly light. Waiting on an electronic part to arrive into Airlie and will hire a car to go pick it up. We could have waited at Airlie but we had been in the Whitsundays for a while so got a couple of sails north towards Darwin while there was some wind

A last minute decision to head north even though we are still waiting on an electronic part for our washing machine. Beautiful downwind sail with code zero or headsail as the wind was shifting. Gloucester resort have mooring balls for $40 per night with full access to bar, restaurant, showers and laundry. Can’t ask for more than that. Beautiful spot. Just a cautious transit through the Gloucester passage at low tide. We are hoping to get a transfer from here to Airlie beach to pick up the part we are waiting for but if that is not available we will head to Bowen and get a transfer from there. Nicer to be here at Gloucester resort than hanging around Airlie.

Intending to go to Hook island refuge bay but was a bit messy past the point

Karina and the family have gone back home to the Gold Coast. Mark now has a mate on board so this trip is recorded over the few days. Only a couple of sailing moments due to low wind conditions.

We headed through Solway passage with the tide. A calm and perfect day to go through. We were over to the right with PLENTY of room for all. Along comes a total dickhead in a large motorboat (against the current) with total disregard for any other boats transiting the passage (4 knots of current) with his wake causing large breaking waves. He came by so fast and so close it was impossible to turn fully into his wake. It was a very intense few minutes and the babies were both screaming and very traumatised. In all our time sailing including offshore, we have never encountered such disregard for other people. We have always said boaters are all amazing people because we all rely on each other at some stage. Thank goodness that is mostly the case. This guy was obviously compensating….

With family on board and the winds just doing the same same we headed back to Chalkie’s and were able to grab the mooring ball closest to shore. Less worries when not affected by wind against current but also easier to manage the kids to get to shore etc. We had a resident turtle spend about 45 mins at the back of the boat. Such a treat and some good GoPro footage. 🐢 Did the walk to the outlook again (with shoes this time 😅) and enjoyed the wind dropping off finally. We were trying to work out the current to go through Solway passage so sent Rory off in the tender and he encountered whales coming through the passage. Pretty amazing. Unfortunately no footage as proof. 🐋

After our hike across to Dugong we motored around to TONGUE BAY and picked up a mooring ball further in. Still very windy. The kids (young adults) took the opportunity to get the actual kids off the boat and get some land time. Billie (the 2yr old) seems to be better with two trips ashore a day. Over to Hill inlet beach they went and really enjoyed it albeit incessantly windy. A makeshift birthday cake for our baby girl 🎂 and a good old fashioned Bunnings bucket bath.

Another trip into Hammo. Love the concierge although we had a 45min wait in the queue to get in. Always good to get some laundry done and meet some people at the laundromat for local intel. (Still waiting on washing machine parts). Pick up our daughter Alesha and her hubby plus a 2yr old and 5yr old. Motored around to CID harbour and enjoyed a beautiful sunset on the beach. Next day a walk across to Dugong beach which was really sheltered and had a lot of campers there.

Back to Hamilton island 🏝️ for family pick up. Loved our time at Butterfly bay 🦋 Some lovely rock formation coming around the top of Hook.

Beautiful

Main and headsail. A tad rolly here. Anchored in 11m

Whitsunday Passage was better today. We know how sassy it can become so have learned to judge the tide and wind slightly better. Arrive at Airlie to find our washing machine has decided to pause its usable life. Waiting on hubby to work a miracle. A few days here til more family arrive inc a 2yr old and 5yr old. 😬

Chalkies to Whitehaven for a swim and paddle board then a sail around to Sawmill bay. Dropping guests off tomorrow morning at Hamilton island. Made boat donuts while on passage. 🍩

A short trip here for half a day. Moved across to Chalkie’s on Hazelwood. Stunning there once the wind dropped off. North west mooring ball was good while the wind was low but once and wind came up and was against the current the mooring ball was bashing against the hull. Took another mooring further down and closer to shore. Nice snorkelling here 🤿

Dugongs and Turtles hanging around the boat for the whole time we were there. Did the hike across to the lookout and Hill inlet. Very windy atm.

Motoring with no wind to the top of Hook passage. Madi and Ethan took a snorkel 🤿 We then moved on to Tongue Bay

Whitsunday passage much more palatable today. Headsail only up to CID and very pleasant. Raining

A quick motor across to Hamilton Island to pick up our daughter and her boyfriend. Concierge escort in was a great help while docking, (compared to Mackay Marina who sends the receptionist down who knows nothing about docking) 🙄 Enjoyed a breakfast at the cafe (rather expensive). We paid for the minimum of 3 hours stay at Hamilton only to find out a few days later that you can pay pick up and drop off 1 hour 🤦‍♀️ Off to CID Harbour

Heading back across to Hamilton island to position ourselves to pick up guests on Saturday. We tried to time it to get the south current down to Long Island and then the current with the wind to cross the Whitsundays passage to Hamilton island. We got both wrong and with winds 22knots was one of the most uncomfortable passages I can remember with such short periods between waves. We found a reasonable smooth albeit windy at FITZALEN beach to wait overnight before heading into the marina.

Well this was an interesting sail!!! Forecast 15-20kn winds we thought we might be in for another parasail. 🪂 We started with the headsail to get out of the bay and very quickly realised that we wouldn’t be putting up the parasail as it was gusting up to 25knots. And to top it off we were battling a 2kn current. The waves were standing up and had a very short period between. So, all in all a very uncomfortable sail up until we got through the gap of Long Island and South Molle island. Then we had the protection of the island and the current with us. Chalk and cheese sail. Anchored outside Coral Seas Marina. 😅 time for a wine or 3 🍷

Glass out today. A beautiful passage despite having to motor all the way and being engulfed in fog all the way with only approximately 250m vision ahead of us. Just as we reached Shaw Island we encountered 3 whales so turned motors off and watched them as they passed us by. Once anchored inside Shaw, it was early afternoon before the fog lifted and then the breeze started to come through.

After a 6 days sheltering at Mackay Marina we had a feisty exit out of the harbour and then settled into a beautiful parasail to Goldsmith island. What a spot 🤩. Very protected from the SE winds with a very gentle swell coming into the bay. 2 mooring balls and plenty of room for anchoring. Apparently whales have been sighted between Thomas island and here so hoping we will have an encounter when we sail north today. ATM we have glass out but winds are coming in tomorrow again.

A quick and feisty sail today with the Main sail and head sail.

Rocky coming out of the anchorage. Winds variable today so needed to motor sail part of the way. Main sail and code zero. Light rain most of the day. Pretty route into Curlew.

Parasail all the way. Very strong current and confused seas coming through the inlet to island Head Creek. Anchored in first anchorage on the left but in hindsight going further up the creek and around the corner would be less roll although it wasn’t too uncomfortable.

Great code zero and then Parasail north. Made good time before winds dropped. Anchored at Leeke’s Beach. Beautiful calm and protected. Had dinner at the resort Hideaway. Beautiful sunset

With high tide at 11am we left Gladstone Marina 8am and having to Pause at the main channel for a ship to pass by. We reached the narrowest part of the narrows right on high tide. The current was strong through there and our depth sounder said 0.00 while we passed through the narrowest and shallowest part but thankfully we didn’t touch. Anchored at the NW point on Curtis island. Wind dropped off and very calm anchorage.

A quick motor down the north Channel into Gladstone Marina for a few days to reset and restock. Fantastic facilities and really helpful and friendly staff. Gladstone VTS vhf channel 13 to report movements.

Lady Musgrave was beautiful. Had a few days there with Pristine conditions and glass out on the water. Sunday was my birthday and it couldn’t have been more perfect. We went snorkeling and the water was reasonably warm. I’m a sook so was probably really warm in other peoples opinion. Wind always seemed to come up at night and was a bit lumpy when high tide came up over the reef. We were lucky enough to get a mooring ball so were able to sleep well knowing we were safe. We left early Tuesday morning to go to Gladstone. Quite funky out there in the ocean on that passage. Made good speeds until the wind dropped out early afternoon. We had to come up with innovative ways to stop the drawers from opening. 33 ships anchored outside Gladstone harbour. Anchored just south of Oaks anchorage. If wanting go into the Oaks enter from the South of the anchorage.

Another great parasail all the way to Lady Musgrave. Good speeds with average of 7.4kn. Had to dodge a ship across the channel but the captain gave us the ok to stay our course. A tad nerve wracking I must say. Dolphins were the highlight of our day. They danced around the boat for about 20mins. Once we arrived at Musgrave we were very lucky to get a mooring ball. Staying here for the next few days as winds settling nicely. Head north again on Tuesday.

Another lovely sail. Anchored east of Bundy marina. Been there many times and never seen a ship come in. Pretty impressive. Glad we anchored closer to the wall

A very calm and lovely sail up the Great Sandy Straights. Headsail only. Motored for a short while going around the shallows. Tried to anchor at South White Cliffs but was very exposed to the increasing southerly wind. Went further north to North White Cliffs just south of Kingfisher resort which was calmer and more sheltered. It was interesting with the anchor and wind against current pretty much sat the boat above the anchor. 11pm wind came up and wave coming on the beam was very uncomfortable and noisy. Spent a couple of hours on watch and then it all seems to calm down. Still a bit rolly but comfortable enough to sleep.

Great sail with main and head sail then code zero. Good average speeds. Wind forecast to be westerly but was more NWN. From Double island point was on the nose so motored from there. Wide bay bar crossing was our smoothest yet. The way points have been adjusted. Coast Guard Tin Can bay VHF 80 kept a great watch on all 8 boats coming through. We plan to go to Gary’s anchorage tomorrow to wait out the strong southerly on Thursday. Fingers crossed there will be room

A great sail today. Following wind and seas most of the way. Deployed the Parasail which is our favourite sail for the first time this season. Always takes a couple of times to get the process completely smooth but we did super well today. Averaged 7-9 knots most of the way until the winds dropped off slightly a 11 am. The bar into Mooloolaba was calm and easy to cross. They are dredging atm but still plenty of room. Anchored up in the ‘duck pond’. It wasn’t too crowded and very calm over night. Went for a walk ashore and enjoyed dinner and wine at The surf club. Beautiful meal.

Started off at 6.30 destination Tangalooma. We had a beautiful sail across with headsail only and following seas. Half way across we decided that south Morton may be more protected from the wind. We anchored at 11 however the swell was coming in a little too enthusiastically so we thought we would have a look further up before deciding to head back over to the mainland and tuck in behind Scarborough point. Wind 20-25 knots and swell on the beam 1.5m with a 4-6 second period. Triple reef in the headsail. Seasickness kicked in but managed to deal without medication 😎 Tucked inside Scarborough point in Deception bay it is lovely and calm and flat waters. A quick trip in the tender to Morton Bay Boat club for a quick drink. Hopefully heading north tomorrow if we get favourable wind.

One step further for shelter from the winds but also to set up for a sail across to Tangalooma tomorrow to wait for a wind to take us across to Double Island point Rainbow bay for a crossing of Wide Bay bar Wednesday.

Left home and reached Canaipa pass for our first night. Motored all the way. Raining and visibility poor. We could have stayed home but can see good winds ahead for a parasail early next week heading north to Fraser island. So we did 14.5nm today. Only 7686nm to go.