#8 August – Whitsunday Cruise – 2020 Wandering Aimlessly

1 & 2 August Stayed safely behind Scawfell Island during southerly blow.

3/8/20 Departed for pleasant short sail across to Keswick and St Bees. Anchored Egremont passage Horseshoe Bay 1100. Joined by 4 other boats later in day and predicted wind underestimated. 27 knts kept us sailing around our anchor. One cat parked too close which added to the worry for the night. Greg up till midnight keeping watch till wind settled and tide changed.

4/8/20 Took dingy ride to check Basil Bay and moorings further up which looked too wild for comfort. Signs for coming ashore on boat ramp. Permission required by phone due to covid ?Left for Brampton via south passage at 10 am. Pleasant sail around western end and anchored. Today is our 36^th wedding anniversary.

5/8/20 Brampton. Kayaked ashore and walked up to the lookout. Mild weather and lots of butterflys everywhere ( blue tiger) even over the water. Many boats anchored . The resort had been closed the last few years and has deteriorated. Last time here in 1989 with Emily

6/8/0 Brampton to Roylen Bay Goldsmith Island. Were heading for Thomas but fog and mist made very poor visibility.

7/8/20 Stayed Roylen Bay which is a pretty protected bay and nice swimming beach.

8/8/20 Roylen Bay to Thomas Island 17 nm. Only one anchored but 11 boats arrived during the day. Lovely Beach.

9+10/8 stayed Thomas, Greg doing some fishing from dingy around small islet with no success. Could see whale and calf about a mile away at sunset.

11/8/20 Thomas to Shaw Island middle anchorage 7 nm. Greg catching lots of little stripey fish at sundown. Then caught edible size bream. .

12/8/20 Shaw to Whitehaven beach through Solway passage at slack tide arriving 11am. 22 boats anchored.Bright sunny day. Glad to see a lot of the big tourist boats head home around 4pm.

13/8/20 Whitehaven to Nara inlet. Loved the tranquility and good holding.NE 10kns.

14/8/20 Nara inlet 10 knts.

15/8/20 Nara to Coral Sea Marina arrived 10am to fuel dock. Had to wait in line. Good docking on our own , always nerve wracking. Borrowed Marina car which we had booked. Kym went grocery shopping while Greg washed down boat. Sandy and Niall on board by 4pm . Sandy’s birthday. Out to dinner then birthday cake on boat.

16/8/20 Borrowed car again to Bunnings and liquor store. Departed marina 1130 and headed for double cone 15 knts and boisterous sailing so didn’t stop for lunch as planned but continued to Blue Pearl Bay and took a mooring at 3.30.

17/8/20 Walked up hill on Hayman to check out resort from above. Resort opening again post covid in Sept. Rang security to let them know we were up on the trail and advised could not go to the resort. Short slow sail around to Butterfly Bay on Hook Is.Once again able to pick up mooring for the night. I went for a little kayak around the coral.

18/8/20 Left Butterfly to go to Nara inlet via Langford Island. Walked and tried to snorkel at Langford but choppy and poor vis.

19/8/20 Nara Inlet to Turtle Bay via very boisterous Fitzalan Pass. 25-30 knts North west. Saw 3 whales cavorting in the Whitsunday passage. Lots of boats in for shelter and a bit lumpy at anchor till later in day.

20/8/20 Nice walk on beach before heading around to Whitehaven via Solway pass.

21/8/20 Walked to nearly the other side . Swimming and walked the beach.

22/8/20 Whitehaven to Hamilton Marina, walked over to resort and swam in pool. Explored resort . Out to dinner in Tavern. Low tourist numbers due to covid and most restaurants closed. Good grocery store there now.Concierge service to fit all boats along dock.

23/8/20 Hamilton to Shaw , very rough ride for first hour due to wind against tide between Hamilton and Lindeman.Niall a bit green .

24/8/20 Watched a neighbouring boat pull in a trevally then lose it just at the boat. Set off from Shaw around Hazlewood Island hoping to pick up a mooring at Chalkies but no luck so back over to Whitehaven.

25/8/20 Left after morning walks to Tongue Inlet and took mooring. Walked via lookout to hill inlet and back. Very large grouper appeared after dusk when Greg was putting fishing gear away under lights. Hung around for over and hour hoping for an illegal feed.

26/8/20 sailed in brisk 15-20kn SE wind to have a look at Cataran bay on Border Island then back through Hook passage to Macona inlet.

27/8/20 Macona to Cid harbour. 15-20kns SE . Very pleasant and protected anchorage with lots of boats. Boys walked up to lookout and Sandy and Kym walked along shore track to next bay.

28/8/20 Sailed across to Happy Bay on Long Island but no room and uncomfortable in boisterous winds now 25 – 30 kns.Onto Airlie beach to park in Muddy bay. 3 tries to get anchor to hold. Very uncomfortable conditions. Strong winds up to 33 kns overnight.

29/8/20 At last into Marina by midday. Given easier berth thank goodness. Rob and Glenys in town for the start of their kayak adventure. Out to dinner at the marina.

30/8/20 Met Rob and Glenys for breakfast in Airlie. Then off to get groceries. Taxi back to marina. Sandy and Niall fly out later today so saw us off the fuel dock. Sailed out to Nara inlet. Had Peter Sinclair and partner on board for drinks. They had a charter boat and were picking friends up in Airlie next day.