Practising patience and flexibility

Winds can be lower than forecast...

Or higher!!

As any boatie knows, for journeys at sea to be pleasant, and successful, it requires a person to be patient - to wait for the right weather - and flexible - to change plans quickly if the weather changes. Yes, you can go boating in bad weather and yes, you can stick to your plans if the weather forecast changes, but the results might be quite disastrous!

Haycock Island

After two lovely nights at Dunk Island, we dropped the mooring on Monday morning and headed south west, towards Rockingham Bay. Our plans were to have lunch at Goold Island (and hopefully spot some dugongs), then cruise over to Cape Richards, at the top of Hinchinbrook Island, for the night. Then we were going to walk across the island to Shepherd Bay, return to Manookatoo and head down the west side of the island to Zoe Bay, where there is a lovely waterfall and you can swim in the rockpool. From there we would head to Orpheus Island. BUT!! The forecast changed, the wind got up and, as it would have been very unpleasant on the outside of the island, we changed our plans. Instead, we continued across Rockingham Bay to the Hinchinbrook Channel, between the mainland and the island. We dropped the anchor and enjoyed lunch in the calm conditions off Scraggy Point, then continued down the channel to Haycock Island, where we anchored in the calm, still water and enjoyed a lovely night, the breeze keeping the mozzies and midges at bay. We enjoyed “virtual drinks” with our friends Jo-Anne and Ian before dinner outside. 

Rugged Orpheus Island

Next morning we lifted the anchor at 7am and continued down the channel, heading back into the swell and bouncing across past Dungeness and the long sugar jetty at Lucinda, on our way to Orpheus Island, glad to only have a short stretch of choppy seas as we crossed the water. There were several boats already at Pioneer Bay, but we spotted a free mooring bouy and were going to take it, however our friends Ian and Angela, on Marookatta, rang to say there was a spare mooring near them, in Hazzard Bay, just near the resort, so we opted to join them. The mooring was behind the hills so we were protected from the worst of the winds and it was easy to pick it up - we have a system; the first mate drives the boat while the Captain wields the boat hook and drags up the mooring rope. It works for us! Soon after, we took the dinghy across to say thanks for the heads-up and then motored ashore for a swim. It was half tide, though, and very shallow, so it was more like a paddle in a babies pool than “swim”. Back in the dinghy, we picked our way out between the coral bommies and around the corner to Yanks’ Jetty, where the water was deeper and we could get properly wet! Later in the day, Angela and Ian joined us on the flybridge for sundowners and we enjoyed a few laughs and swapped stories. A breeze persisted into the night, rocking us gently.

Wednesday was a “lazy” day, we started with exercises on the flybridge then went to the (much deeper at high tide) beach for a swim. Later we took the dinghy and ventured close to the (very exclusive!) resort, checking out the facilities from afar. We spent the late afternoon paddling around the bay in our kayaks, admiring the coral from above and being splashed by the rippling water - very cooling on a hot afternoon! An evening breeze was pleasant as we sat on the back deck gazing at the stars.

Acheron Island, Steamer Pass

Thursday promised lighter winds on our journey across to Townsville, although there was enough of a swell to be “interesting” but not unpleasant. The Captain dropped the mooring at first light (5:30am!) while the first mate enjoyed her morning cuppa in bed as we cruised out, then did her yoga while we still had the protection from the islands in the Steamer Pass, between Great Palm Island and the mainland. Three hours later we were in the lee of Magnetic Island and conditions settled down, an hour later we were tying up at Townsville Yacht Club marina.

Townsville Maritime Museum

Drinks with Chris, Townsville Yacht Club

We spent a week at the marina, mainly due to strong easterly winds, which would have made cruising and anchoring uncomfortable, but also to have a few essential maintenance jobs done and to restock the boat. We are fortunate to have Chris in town, he lent us his car, which allowed us to buy the maintenance goods we needed plus do some shopping in the suburbs of Townsville, the main city being devoid of many essential shops - there is a Woolworths and four op shops, but not much else. We also walked, caught up with friends, enjoyed dinner and a few drinks at the yacht club, as well as visiting the extremely interesting Maritime Museum. The nautical history on display there is fascinating and it takes hours to explore well. We were very glad we found the time to visit!

Busy Townsville Port, Ross Creek

Beautiful Horseshoe Bay

On Thursday morning, a week after we had tied up, we departed the marina, returning down the busy Ross Creek and out into the ocean again. There were a few lumpy waves but the cruising was relatively easy and we anchored in Horseshoe Bay, Magnetic Island, just before 11 o’clock. I have written before about how much we love Horseshoe Bay; the scenery is beautiful, the small township has everything we need, and there is a great bus service to take us further afield to dine, shop or walk. This time, we did very little while we were here, we swam, we kayaked, we did a short walk through the wetlands and along the beach, we had sundowners ashore, we met other Boaties and swapped stories, we relaxed. All very pleasant!

Leaving our mark at Maggie

Sunset, Upstart Bay

On Sunday, our plan was to go to the markets, either host Chris for lunch or go by bus to Picnic Bay for lunch, maybe have a paddle in the kayak, have a swim or two. We planned to continue cruising south on either Monday or Tuesday. BUT!! The Captain woke that morning to a changed weather forecast, with a windy week ahead. It was leave now or next weekend! So we hoisted the dinghy, secured all the loose items, made a course plan and left by 7am, bound for Cape Upstart for one night and then on to the northern Whitsundays. Conditions were not perfect, with a persistent swell and lumpy seas, which continued throughout the day. At around Cape Cleveland we passed the spot where, three years earlier on the same date (11th October), we had headed north from Cape Bowling Green to Magnetic Island! What great memories. Finally, after 6pm, as the sun sank behind the horizon, we arrived at Cape Upstart and dropped the anchor, enjoying pizzas for dinner before a well earned sleep.

Before Sunrise, Cape Upstart

Big coal ships at Abbot Point!

With the wind forecast to increase as the day went on, Monday started with the anchor raised at 5.15am! It is different travelling south, not only is the land on the right, the sun is in front, shining in through the large front window and warming up the cabin very quickly. On days at sea, when the waves splash water on the side windows, it can be quite a challenge to stay cool without getting wet! We passed close to Abbot Point, where two large coal ships were anchored, as we ate our breakfast, then rounded the cape into Edgecumbe Bay and headed south, choosing Cape Gloucester over Bowen as our destination, picking up a mooring outside the eco resort just after 1pm. We are now in the northern Whitsundays and we look forward to relaxing and exploring in the coming days, knowing that our patience - and flexibility! - has served us well.

Captain’s log: Dunk Island to Cape Gloucester 

Distance travelled: 218.1 nautical miles

Fuel: 273.5 litres

Travel time: 37 hours 10 minutes

Fuel economy: 1.254L @ NM