Page 10 ... October 2011

October 2011  The Whitsundays, Queensland, Australia

Saturday, 1st October 2011  -  Macona Inlet

Still at Macona and didn’t do anything worth recording.

Sunday, 2nd October 2011 - Macona Inlet to Airlie Beach

Up and 0800 and the winds are ok to head back to Airlie so, after bacon and eggs, we up anchored after 10 am. It took 25 minutes just to motor out of Macona Inlet. Once outside we had the wind on our beam so off with the motors and up with the sails and we are hooting along but in quite lumpy seas. We averaged 6.4 knots and that was with over a 2 knot current against us.  When we got closer to Airlie there was a race going on with small racing cats haring around buoys and Geoff had to have eyes in the back of his head again. “Boy, they can move” he said.  We anchored just outside the marina just after 1pm and had a cuppa and some lunch. Geoff then put some tape around the bridle (snatchemstrap) to stop it rubbing and cleaned up around the compressor ready for the refrigeration guy tomorrow.

Monday, 3rd October 2011 - Airlie Beach

Up earlyish and head off to the public jetty and, luckily, it was empty. We docked fine and Geoff went up for a shower, filled up with water and hosed the boat down whilst we waited for our freezer guy. While we were

waiting we watched three marine park rangers carrying four collared goats onto their boat. The lady ranger saw me looking and taking a photo so she called across to me and asked if I wondered what they were doing. I said I thought they were probably used as decoy goats in goat eradication and I was right, of course. I then went up to the marina to get some money out and when I got back the ’Multivolt’ guy was onboard

and checking out the freezer and a small trailer sailer was rafting up next to us. It was a 25ft Noelex called

‘Toucan do’ crewed by a couple from Gippsland and the Gippsland Lakes is their home sailing ground.



Ninety minutes later and $225 poorer we had a working freezer again. He re-gassed it and changed a valve. About 11.30 we left the jetty  and Geoff decided that we would go to the new marina at Muddy Bay to have a look.  A lot of work and money has been spent and they have put in a long sandy beach, tourist complex but the actual marina area is very small with a lot of the marina berths still bare poles.  Due to the financial crisis and lack of tourists the whole complex is in receivership as is Abel Point Marina, both marina complexes.  Who would have ever thought this would happen.  We then anchored opposite the little beach that leads to the lagoon and, once we were happy the boat wasn’t going anywhere, we went ashore and wandered around Airlie Beach.  There are a few shops for lease and our little handy service station has closed down but it still seems reasonably busy to us although the locals say it is very quiet.  Geoff bought a 2nd hand book but apart from buying bread and milk at exorbitant prices, nothing else took our fancy.  In fact, the shops at Airlie really aren’t of interest to us and we find Cannonvale much better.  Back to 2Abreast for lunch and relax.  Wyn rang so we caught up on all of their news. 

Tuesday, 4th October 2011  -  Airlie

A nice day although a little overcast to start.  After brekky we went ashore and caught the bus into Centro where Geoff bought an inspection hole for his water tank from BCF.  I was the last of the Big Spenders when I bought a new sink plug as I think I have chucked out my lovely stainless steel one with the potato peelings.  We ate lunch out and it was Sushi for me and steamed pork bun for Geoff.  Back to the boat and check the freezer and it is working well although we are having to fiddle with the knob a bit to get the temperatures to what we like. 

After a cuppa Geoff disappeared into his cabin to cut out the hole in his water tank so he can get baffles into it.  But not before I washed and conditioned my hair as he was dumping all the water out of it.  I wasn’t going to waste it.  Once the hole was cut out he got the Teflon cutting board he had bought the other day and cut it into two, added slots and made it into a ‘T’ and it fitted through the hole and into his tank perfectly.  So, off ashore he went again and went to the Reject Shop and bought another four boards which was all they had in stock.  They are a stock item so they will get more in.  He then spent most of the afternoon making up more T’s (like Jacks).  Once they were all made up he put them in his water tank and now all he has to do is screw in cross pieces to keep them in place.  But not today as he had had enough.



Wednesday, 5th October 2011  -  Airlie Beach

Up at 7.30 to another nice day.  But the winds are turning NE/NW again from Thursday on so we will have to decide whether to ride it out or go elsewhere.  We up-anchored at 9.15 and made our way to the VMR/Cannonvale side of the bay and anchored just in front of ‘The Blue Pearl’. 

Time to make myself busy again so I made up some Ginger cookies using my ‘cheat’ recipe.  It is so easy I will give it to you. 

1 x Generic brand cake mix (70¢ or cheaper)   125g Butter/marg     6 teaspoons dried ginger (or choc chips, sultanas, other spices)   … Melt the butter and add to the cake mix and ginger and mix until it makes a soft, slight sticky dough.  Roll teaspoons of the mixture into balls and place on a greased tray 3cm apart.  Flatten slight with a fork and bake at 180º for about 20 minutes turning once if you do not have a fan forced oven and until golden brown.  Rest on tray for 10 minutes then cool on a rack.  Yummy!

After I had cooked the biscuits I noticed how dirty the oven was so got stuck into it and cleaned it thoroughly then used a soap pad on the shelves to get them sparkling.  I made a horrendous mess but it is all spick and span now.  All this time Geoff was finishing off the baffles for his water tank.  As he had the genny on to operate his power tools I also took advantage of the power and got our emails and did some more work on my journal.  There was an email from Wade with the attachment of Chris’ journal when they picked up their new cat ‘Take it Easy’ from Sydney to take back to Victoria.  It was really interesting as Chris has a really good way with words.  There was also an email from Lesley saying she had a clean bill of health (phew) and that they were heading back to Canada on Friday to try to relieve the marina there of their boat.  I hope they succeed (they did). 

Geoff finished working on his water tank and then filled it up and now has to wait for a side swell to see if they work (and they do).  He then went to fill up the now empty water containers whilst I started tea.  He hadn’t been back long before Lynne arrived back from work and had a nice bottle of red in her dinghy.  She came onto 2Abreast and we sat on the back deck and demolished 2 bottles of red wine, dip and crackers.  She and Geoff went back on shore to move her car as it was illegally parked and then Geoff and I ended eating dinner at 9pm.  My head was so fuzzy from the red wine that it is amazing that I managed to finish the cooking at all!

Thursday, 6th October 2011  - Airlie Beach to Bluff Point

I didn’t sleep too well … too much red wine!

Geoff went off to Coles to get bread, milk plus heaps more that wasn’t on the list and then ended up carrying 20 kgs of supplies back to the boat.  I had sent him off with a list of about six items! 

When he came back we decided to go off to Bluff Point which was only 4 nm away and we got going just after 1 pm.  When we got there we noticed a ketch rigged catamaran tied off to the mangroves on the only small beach there.  It was quite shallow and we anchored just round from a spit of land to get protection from the northerly winds.  We thought we would touch bottom at low tide but the book said it was mud and sand where we were.  Geoff went for a little snooze as he had worn himself out carrying all those goodies back earlier.  It got a little swelly at high tide but nothing to worry about.  So far so good.

Friday, 7th October 2011  -  Bluff Point to Grassy Island

We had a bit of a broken sleep as we touched bottom at midnight and again at 3pm when we came off again.  It was noisy, as if the sand was tumbling underneath our hulls and was a bit disconcerting as we had never heard this before.  At 8am it was high tide and we had 1.7 metres under us with the tide dropping another 2.7 metres.  As we didn't fancy bumping up and down again in the stronger winds predicted we decided to try for Grassy Island whilst the wind is from the NNE.  We can also turn for Shute Harbour if we have to bash into it too much.  As I was making brekky down in the galley a huge Sea Eagle flew right next to the window.  Nice.  Before we left we went for an explore and a troll.  First stop was to visit the big cat which was called ‘Dream On’ and we met Sue, Wayne and the dog.  Sue and I thought we had met each other before somewhere.  They said they were staying there about another month as they have swallows nesting onboard and they were waiting for the fledglings to leave the nest.  Silly B’s. 

Dream On

We left them and went further inland and decided this bay should be renamed ‘Turtle Bay’ as there were so many in there.  We explored up quite a deep and wide creek and decided it would be a good bolt hole in a cyclone if you didn’t have time to go somewhere more secure. Trammel Bay is, apparently, the place to go in a cyclone.  

Saturday, 8th October 2011  -  Grassy Island

No wind overnight and a calm night.  By mid morning it was quite blowy again but we are well protected here.  The other cats and one mono left this morning.  We lowered the dinghy and went over to the reef to look at the coral.  Some spots were really mucky with a film of something over them and other spots  were clean and healthy looking although not very colourful.  There were some huge patches of vivid purple coral and some enormous brain coral but, overall, mostly disappointing and I am starting to wonder if it is just us, having seen so much coral over the last 6½ years.  No walking at Bluff Point as it was only mud and no walking here because of the birds nesting.  Grrrrr!  So not much exercise at all.  Did see some interesting sights with one being a huge bird, maybe an Albatross.  I’ve never been much into bird spotting and identifying them but Chris Danger has got my interest piqued as she mentions birds a lot in her sailing journals.  The other sight I saw was a naked male human on the yacht next door.  He probably didn’t think I was looking.  Nice little bum!

Once back to the boat and my rod went back in and I kept it off the bottom this time.  It wasn’t long before we (a joint effort) had a nice Shark on the line and it was fun trying to get it in.  He was reasonably large and Geoff cleaned him on the front deck and we will get a few feeds off him.  The resident seagull did well too as he was given his liver and other bits we didn’t want.  (Michelle, down in Vic, will be happier with me feeding him natural food as I was always getting into trouble when I fed them on bread or chips.)  Battered fish for tea.  Yum. 

Back to 2Abreast by 9.30 and leave shortly after, before the tide dropped too much.  It was 8 nm to Grassy Island and we got a call from Sarah on Baybird en route saying they were on their way south and would be in Bowen tonight so we will give them a ring on Monday to see if we can catch up.  The wind was kind and we did manage to get the headsail up for an hour but with the engines ticking over as well.  We anchored two hours later and there are four monohulls and 2 cats here.  Alas, it is bird breeding season from 1st October to 31st March so we are not allowed ashore on the beach  (where, what birds, did anyone tell the birds they were supposed to be breeding?).  There are rocks further along but I am not sure how you would get out of the dinghy there. 

By this time it was blowing quite steadily but the anchorage was relatively calm.  Geoff said if it was blowing like this in Airlie it would not be comfortable in the least.  Got a text from Owen saying to go on the web and look at an article in the Bundy Newsmail.  Owen volunteers for the Outreach Drug Arm and twice a week he and another guy go out at night and feed the homeless and under privileged of Bundy.  But now, due to a lack of funding, the plug is about to be pulled which is a shame.  Owen also has more health issues and may have to go down to Brissy for more tests.  Poor bugga, he just gets over one thing and another crops up.  Plus our little Mia has been a bit off her food for the last few days . 

Time to try our luck at a bit of fishing and something sneaky and quiet is taking our bait.  Probably crabs.  We also seem to have a resident seagull sitting on our bow waiting for any handouts that may come his/her way.

 Sunday, 9th October 2011  -  Grassy Island to Airlie Beach

A little rocky overnight as the wind moved to the west.  All the other boats have gone.  Geoff decided to have a shower and then do a nude ‘Titanic scene’ on the front of the boat.  Always the exhibitionist! 

We left at 8am and passed the little cream boat (of the naked guy fame) who was very slowly sailing south as there was hardly any wind to assist him.  Maybe he doesn’t have a motor.  It is still forecast for NE winds but very light so should be ok at Airlie overnight as I have a Neato appointment at Cannonvale tomorrow.  We got into Airlie at 9am and just in time for brekky on ‘The Blue Pearl’.  Grabbed some bacon and eggs and headed over.  They are sneaking into the new Port of Airlie marina later to fill up with water and wash and vacuum the boat.  Naughty but just what we would do.!

Relax for the rest of the day with Geoff on his laptop and me reading or doing crosswords.

Monday, 10th October 2011  -  Airlie Beach

A calm night and up reasonably early and Geoff took me ashore.  The outboard is still playing up and then the start cord broke so Geoff started to row back to the boat.  Ian must have seen him and came to tow him back.

It was quite a hot day as I walked to Neato and I was hot and sweaty when I got there. 
I had forgotten how humid it can get up this way.  Still, I had time up my sleeve and was able to quietly sit and cool down a tad before my appointment.  The girl at Neato was very nice and I was with her for about 45 minutes.  She put me in for three jobs whilst I was there, so we shall see.  She has also signed me up to do some online courses.  Basically so I can update my skills with Word and Excel (which don’t need updating) and power point and Access (which do) and then a basic MYOB course that I have only played with.  It will keep me occupied and I have a year to complete it all.

Onto Coles to fill up the backpack and walk back to shore to call Geoff to pick me up.  As I got there Ian was just dropping two people ashore so he gave me a lift back which saved Geoff coming back.  Whilst I had been away Geoff had, once again, worked on the outboard and got it going again.  He said there was still muck in the fuel and was wondering if a component inside was rusting out.  He had also been busy changing the anchor point in the front locker.  It was very bouncy as the wind was from the NE at 15 knots and we were all on a lee shore.  Geoff wanted to see what it was like at Airlie in these conditions.  Ok but not the best.  Not dangerous but just uncomfortable.  These conditions are here until Thursday so I may have to sweet talk Geoff into moving again.  More computer time as I updated my resume and emailed it to Neato and then finished off my September journal and sent it off.  Bounce, bounce, bounce!  Geoff also worked on the computer making up some DVD’s etc and that was it for the day.  Missed Baybird!

Thursday, 11th October 2011  -  Airlie Beach

Got up at 8.30 after a calm night as the northerly winds seem to die at night.

Time to get all the bed linen and dirty clothes together and head to the marina to do the laundry.  We tied up at the public jetty and went to the laundry in the new section of the marina and walked to Abel Point to grab a shower.  My shower  kept getting really hot and then cold but it was actually quite nice and refreshing when it was cold as it was such a humid day.  But, as soon as you dry off and get dressed you are dripping again.  Onto the chandlery to buy some sail tape to fix the small rip in the headsail and then back to the laundry to put the washing in the dryer and have a cold drink whilst we wait for it.  Geoff chatted to an Irish girl who was going on a 3 day cruise on a boat called ‘Avatar’.  When we had finished our chores and were motoring back to 2Abreast we saw that ‘Avatar’ was a large racing catamaran and we both wondered where the 15 backpackers onboard were going to sleep.  Still, backpackers seem to put up with a lot but we thought it would be hot sleeping inside.

Once back onboard I made up some lunch and then Geoff went on the web to see where we could get a new BBQ burner.  Geoff managed to ID our barbecue on the web and, would you believe it, it is made here at Cannonvale.  Geoff rang the owner who said, from our description, that it was a pre 2000 model, so it has done well.  $115 for a new burner, alas, but such is life and the guy is not back to Thursday so we will think about it for a while.

We then played Carcassonne and he beat me AGAIN!  What’s new?

Also a severe weather warning has been issued for a lot of places including the Whitsunday’s but we never got it and the winds stayed light so it was not too bouncy.

Wednesday, 12th October 2011  -  Airlie Beach

A warm night but quite comfortable.

Whilst having breakfast we watch three people try to launch a small motor boat at the ramp near the VMR. (Volunteer Marine Rescue) Not easy when you have a NE swell.  One of the waves hit the boat side on and one guy fell overboard and I thought it was going to tip over.  They eventually got it out of danger and two of the people went to the small beach and waded out to be picked up.

After brekky we walked up to the bus stop and caught the bus into Proserpine at $4.40 each for the day.  We arrived there just after 11am and our first stop was a machinery/parts shop to buy two oil filters.  We then wandered around the limited shops looking for a hairdresser for me as I was now wild and woolly.  The first shop quoted $37, the second quoted $42 and the third quoted $25 which was more in my price range.  She did a great job and only charged me the seniors price of $20.  Nice.  We bought a few things from Crazy Clarks and the Supa IGA and then just missed the 1pm bus.  Still, we hadn’t eaten lunch so we went in search of a reasonably priced lunch.  Eventually we found the small RSL Club which had a lunch special of battered Snapper, chips and salad for $5.95 each.  That did us and it was nice and air conditioned.  This used up an hour so we went to the newsagent and Geoff bought a newspaper and I bought a cheap magazine and we read in the park until the bus came.  Back to the boat by 4pm, open all the hatches to let the stale hot air out and get ourselves a nice long and cold drink.  It has been very hot and humid these last few days and we need some southerly winds and some rain to cool it down a bit.

Thursday, 13th October 2011  -  Airlie Beach

A warm day again.  We made up a little parcel for Arnie, Barnie and Carnie (Mia’s will be next) and rung the marina at Bundy to make sure that ‘Femme de la Mer’ was still there.  Jan answered so we had a nice talk and caught up with all the marina news.  Geoff is looking at going out to Bait/Hardy Reef whilst we are still up here and it is best to go out after a southerly blow and on a neap tide.  Just in case it came good in the next week or so we headed off to Coles to complete our shop.  It was quite tiring carrying it all back to the dinghy.  Once back at the boat I spent some time putting the meat into meal sized bags and getting them into the freezer.  Then I had to put all the rest of the stuff away.  This is always a chore but it was soon done and the rest of the day was spent relaxing  apart from having a really long chat to Sally.  Then Wynn rang and said Ann was going into hospital for an ear op on Monday.  Wished her luck.

A nice roast for dinner for a change.

Friday, 14th October 2011  -  Airlie Beach

Just after we went to bed a SE wind came through which wasn’t forecast but was good as we were facing the shore for a change.  We didn’t get up till after 8.30pm and it is going to be another hot and humid day by the look of it.  Saw the cat ‘Nardu’ was anchored the other side of ‘The Blue Pearl’ and wondered if it was the same people we had met in 2005 and 2006.

There was hardly any wind this morning so we took the opportunity to repair 3 small little tears in the headsail with the new sail tape.  The headsail is really on its last legs but it has done well.  It wasn’t in brilliant shape when we bought the boat so she has done really well to last another 6½ years.  The cheapest new sail is from China but we need to measure the sail first which we won’t bother to do until we are back in Bundy.  Geoff spent the morning installing the new electric fuel pump on the port engine and I gave the galley a thorough clean.  As there was no wind to speak of we were both soon dripping.  After midday a breeze sprang up which made life a little more bearable.  Geoff went onto the computer and I read and did crosswords in between little spurts of being industrious.

Saturday, 15th October 2011  -  To Shute Harbour

It got quite bouncy at low tide so I got up early.  I got the weather  forecast ant it is going to be NE/NW winds at 25 knots this afternoon so we decided to head to Shute Harbour for the weekend as it will be quite uncomfortable for us at Airlie.  We left at 0845 after letting Lynne and Ian know we were off.  It was very bouncy as we headed out but once past Pioneer Rocks and we turned we were able to sail the rest off the way.   Once safely anchored we had a late brekky/early lunch and Geoff went onto Google Earth and put in the co-ordinates for Rob’s mooring buoy.  About 2 pm it was really windy but we got in the dinghy with the GPS and found Rob’s mooring.  It was on a white buoy, not yellow, and we could only just make out the lettering.  It already had a cat on it called ‘Cool Runnings’.  When we got back we gave Rob a call to let him know it was still there.  He wasn’t worried that there was someone on it as he said that at least it was getting used.  He wasn’t going to worry about it unless we wanted to use it.

When we got back Geoff modified the cap security wire on the outboard.  Something he had been meaning to do for ages.  It blew really hard for the rest of the day.  Glad we moved!

Sunday, 16th October 2011  -  To Sawmill Bay (Cid Harbour)

Bacon and eggs and a lazy start to the day.  Geoff spent the morning making a new securing on the davits for the dinghy and I gave the bathroom cupboard a thorough clean and then did the rest of the head area.  The wind is now from the SE and is going to be 33 knots by Monday and Tuesday.  Geoff is thinking of going back to Airlie on the ebb tide but when we left at 1pm we headed to Sawmill Bay for a change.  We anchored at 3pm after motor sailing and it is a nice sheltered spot.  About an hour later we had a pear cider and nibbles on the back deck and watched the boats (50% charterers) come in to anchor.  Checked the weather again and there is a strong wind warning for tomorrow with winds from the SE at 33 knots and is continuing until Wednesday at the very least.  So I think we will be here for a while.  We put the lines in and got quite a few bites but didn’t actually catch anything but enjoyed it anyway.  Whilst we were fishing we watched 2 charter cats raft up together with both their anchors out.  Geoff said he thought they might have trouble later as the tide swings them around.  Just after we retired for the night we heard noises and got up and watched the 2 cats try to untangle themselves with one having to re-anchor away from the other.  This must have gone one for at least 45 minutes with 2 attempts for the one cat to anchor and all done in the dark which wouldn’t be a nice experience for someone who is just chartering.  Still, no harm done.

Monday, 17th October 2011  -  Sawmill Bay

Up at 0800 to hardly any wind but the forecast is for SE winds getting to 33 knots and a strong wind warning.  Not a nice day today as it is overcast and raining.

Geoff lowered the dinghy into the water and, yet again, the outboard wouldn’t start.  So, yet again, he pulled it all to pieces and found rusty steel swarf inside but couldn’t find out what was wrong.  He hopes the compression isn’t going as that might mean a new outboard and NOT a Honda again as there are so many non stainless steel components inside.  I bet it is made in China.  He put it all back together and it is still not working so to say he is a bit p’d off is an under statement.  Here we are trying to stay out of marinas to put a little bit of money away and things keep going wrong and we have to fork out more money.

Whilst he was doing all this I cleaned out the galley cupboards as we could both smell a strange but not unpleasant smell.  I washed the non slip rubber mat and thoroughly cleaned the shelves and never did find what the smell was but threw out stuff that was past the ‘use by date’.   Once the runners were dry I then had to put it all back in and now there's more space .  By this time it was 11.30 and there still wasn’t much wind but we expected it was on its way.  We then both went onto the back deck and I held the outboard in place and Geoff pulled the carburettor completely apart, a thing he hadn’t done before, and found a lot of dirt in it.  He gave it a good clean and it started so we went off for a trial run to a boat called ‘Cyclades’ that had arrived early morning.  We had met John and Helen, the owners, at Nimoa Island in PNG last year when they had helped to build a new elementary school in the village of Gigila and where we went to the official opening.  The couple who raised the money to build the school are based in Bundy but we had never heard of the project when we were in Bundy, which seems really strange.  Perhaps we go around with our eyes shut.  Helen was still in Mooloolaba but John invited us onboard for a cuppa and we didn't leave till 4 pm.  We had a lovely chat about the Louisiades and we found out from John that Phencara had arrived there ok so that was nice to know.  We had tried to raise them on the HF radio on the ‘Sheila Net’ but our radio grounding plate isn’t the best so we had not managed it.

By the time we got back to 2Abreast the wind was gusting but hadn’t yet reached the 30+ knots forecast.  There are a lot of boats in here now and Geoff has counted at least 48 as at 5.30 pm.  When it got dark some of the boats (probably charterers) put their navigation lights on instead of their anchor lights and when the wind gusts came through you would see first the green and then the red as they swung back and forth.  It’s a very pretty scene at night with all the lights twinkling across the bay.

Time to check the emails and there was one from ‘Cruising Helmsman’ with a draft of my article ‘The Games Cruisers Play’ which is going in the December issue.  Caroline, the editor, had edited it quite a lot down to 2 pages from 3 (and cut out some of the good bits, I thought) but that is another $140 to go towards our insurance next year.

Later Wyn rang and said that Ann’s operation took three and half hours which was much longer then expected so we ring tomorrow to see how she is.

Tuesday, 18th October 2011  -  Sawmill Bay

It was quite a gusty night but the power is quite low this morning which surprised me but, maybe, the wind wasn’t consistently blowing and only came in gusts.  Another miserable, windy, cool and rainy day.  We will have to find some things to keep us occupied today.  But, whilst it was raining , we got our old  cothes/bathers on and went out to scrub the decks using salt water to wash off and the rain to give it the final fresh water rinse.  I noticed we were being watched by some people on a charter cat nearby and they probably thought we were mad.  We don’t know why the boat was so dirty but John had said that he had to go to the public jetty in Airlie and wash his off as it was black. If didn’t know better I would have said it was coal dust but that is impossible up here in the Whitsunday’s.

Geoff then made a bread and it came our very nice, although we will look for a better bread pan as the one we have isn’t quite big enough.  John popped by on his way to visit a mate on another boat and both he and Bink, his mate, are coming over for sundowners at 4pm.  Which, they did of course, and we sat on the back deck and drank and ate yum cha and looked at videos of the Giglila School Opening and other bits and pieces from the Louisiades. They left around 7 pm and we had a light tea and watched a movie.

Wednesday, 19th October 2011  -  Sawmill Bay

We turned the wind generator off overnight to get a little peace and quiet.  Nice.  We have quite a few bullets coming through although the actually anchorage is quite calm.  It’s raining on and off.

After brekky we decided we would go ashore whilst the rain had stopped.  We didn’t get far as we stopped and chatted to a guy on a trimaran close in to shore.  It then started raining so we scooted back to 2Abreast really fast and got back without getting too wet.  Checked the emails and there was one from Carnie and Deb from ‘Femme’  saying the dogs had received their parcel and caught up on all off their news.  It kept raining, on and off, so it was computer time and now my next journal is ready to be checked and to go off.  We also did a bit of fishing and John popped over to give us back our magazines and the rain jacket we had lent him.  John said there was sundowners ashore but it was too miserable to go so we didn’t bother either.  Did a few more mundane chores and, I must admit, it is getting a little tedious with this weather.



John from 'Cyclades'



Tuesday, 20th October 2011  -  Sawmill Bay

Boring.  But we didn’t get up till after 0830.  The morning went by surprisingly fast as we both kept busy.  I baked a cake and we cleaned the stainless steel safety lines in between showers and we had the rods in at the same time.  Something really big took my bait and the line went screaming out.  Geoff was a bit worried the whole line would run out but, as normally happens with something really big, the wire line broke and we never saw what it was.  The rain soon chased us inside where we played a game called ‘Letters and Numbers’ which is a TV show on SBS just before the 6.30 news.  Cheese on toast for lunch when a turtle came for a visit. About 3 pm we decided we definitely needed to get out of the boat for a while so donned rain jackets and jumped into the dinghy.  Will the outboard start … yes, yippee.  We headed off to a small beach close by but it was a very small and smelly beach (sulphur smelling) with mangroves either side and abundance of sand flies.  So, you can guess we didn’t linger there.  So back in the dinghy to the main beach of Sawmill Bay.  We could have walked from here to Dugong Inlet but it meant that we would have to wade through the creek (high tide) and we didn’t want to get wet and cold, plus we had done it before when Chris and Shoona were here.  The walk to the Whitsunday Peak was rated hard, took 4 hours and was often closed when it was wet … phew!  So it was tour around the bay in the dinghy and look at the steep slopes covered, in parts, by lush rain forest which was quite striking.  But we forgot to take a photo of the really lush parts.  It started to rain again as we headed back but we got back before it started really teaming down.  The wind has been quite strange.  Sometimes there is no wind at all for about half and hour and then you get this massive blow come through, then it repeats its cycle.  We are both getting stiff from too much sitting around.  We played Carcassonne  and you can guess who won again, can’t you!

Friday, 21st October 2011  -  Sawmill Bay

More rain overnight and still very windy.  At least we collected 20 litres of rain water overnight.  I got an email from Carnie saying she and Arnie and Barnie enjoyed their present and they knew what is was and who it was from when Deb took them up to the marina to get their mail.  What clever dogs to be able to send emails!  Also got an email from Deb and caught up on all of her news.

We  have decided to write an article on chartering in the Whitsunday’s from a charterers point of view so this morning we have nutted out a small questionnaire of 30 questions which we then printed off.  We will visit various charter boats of all types … monohulls, multihulls, powered etc and ask if they are happy to participate.  It should be, hopefully, and interesting article for us and for the readers. Whilst we were doing this John from ’Cylcades’ came by to say he was off to Hamilton Island to pick up his daughter and then off to Airlie to re-provision.    As we were chatting a text message came through and it was from Carolyn and Steve who were at  Bwagaoia on Misima Island PNG.  We had heard that Bwagaoia now had mobile reception but Carolyn said that it was a bit iffy.  Still, at least they managed to get a text to us which I replied to so I hope they got it.

Geoff made a bread and I lined the tin with glad bake to make the tin taller and it came out a treat.  We had just pulled it out of the oven when my rod’s fishing bells went off  and Geoff rushed out there and pulled in a lovely large Sweetlip.  Looking in the book it seems it is called Spotted Javelin Job Fish and is marked as good eating.  So fish for tea and the seagulls were also happy getting all of the scraps we didn’t want.

Another rainy day with the occasional patch of sun so no going over to the charter boats at the moment.  But, eventually we braved the weather and dropped off 4 questionnaires to three cats and one monohull.  Some of the people were more interested in talking to us than the other way round.  We picked up one completed one on the way back and will pick up the other three in the morning.  Back to the boat like drowned rats.

Geoff baked the fish with a cashews, breadcrumbs, tomato, chilli, ginger, turmeric and sambal ulek stuffing and it was absolutely delicious.

Saturday, 22nd October 2011 …  Sawmill Bay to Airlie via Bauer Bay

Geoff left the remains of the fish on the back deck last night with the intention of feeding it to the seagulls this morning.  Bad ides as we attracted two raucous crows who were partaking of it for their breakfast at the ungodly hour of 5.30 am.  Shoo x 3 times and then I had had enough and the fish went flying overboard.  Sorry seagulls. This meant we were up early so Geoff went off at 8 am to pick up the three other questionnaires.  He came back to tell me that it really was a small world as the five guys on the cat ‘Serengiti’ all knew our friend  Nick H.  One of the group gave Geoff his card (they had all been on Hamilton Island for a conference) and Geoff noticed he was a professor at Monash University in Melbourne so Geoff asked “Do you know Nick H”.  The replies came straight back “Yes, we all know him well and he’s a much respected person”.  They then all chatted about Nick for a while and Geoff came back tickled pink.

We then had a look at the three questionnaires and one had a very humorous tone to it which soon had us chuckling.  Time for brekky.

At 11.30 we decided to head for Bauer Bay on South Molle Island so we could hand out some more questionnaires.  When we got there, there were no other boats to be seen and it was really swelly.  We had a bit of lunch and decided that it wasn’t very nice there so we would head back to Airlie Beach.  I have never really liked the anchorage at Bauer Bay as it seems to be swelly all of the time.  We had a great sail to Airlie, getting in around 4pm.  No ‘Blue Pearl’ who were busy acting as the starter boat for some local boat racing.  We anchored in front of ‘Hattrick’ again.  If anybody out there is looking to buy a racing trimaran then ‘Hattrick’ is for sale.  Nice tri!

Sunday, 23rd October 2011  -  Airlie Beach

Up early and head over to Able Point Marina to sneak a shower.  Geoff managed to buy some silicone grease from the chandlery while we were over there so he’s happy.  Filled up two water containers and back to 2Abreast.  ‘Blue Pearl’ was back so we grabbed some bacon, eggs, hash browns and tomatoes and headed on over.  Lynn and Ian were a little (lot) hung over from socialising after the boat racing last night.  Another yummy but huge brekky of bacon, rissoles, egg, onion, fried sweet potato, hash browns and baked beans.  No lunch today!  This time we remembered to take the camera so we now have, at last, a photo of Lynn and Ian.  We went back to 2Abreast for about an hour and then headed ashore with Lynn and Ian and all piled into Lynn’s car and headed to Coles and the servo for us to top up on ULP.  We just about managed to fit all of the supplies in the car and it was head back.  Lynn parked the car and the two boys walked back to the marina to pick up the two dinghies whilst us poor girls lugged all of the shopping and the three small jerry cans of fuel down to the water’s edge.  I think we got the short end of the stick when it came to the chores.  Back to 2Abreast for a while and have an early tea and then back over to ‘Blue Pearl’ at 6 pm to show them the short movie of ‘Humbug’, when we took her into London.  They were interested as they are off to UK next year and would like to hire a narrow boat and do the canals.

Monday, 24th October 2011  -  Airlie Beach

Geoff hurt his back today.  He was cleaning under the saloon table and twisted funny.  He had pulled it previously when we were fixing the sail and must have sprained it again.  So the rest of the day he spent lying flat on his bed and dosed up.  So I read and did crosswords.  He did manage to get up and eat dinner and play a quick game of Sequence before it got too painful and he had to lie down again.  So a nothing sort of day.

Tuesday, 25th October 2011  -  Airlie Beach

I didn’t get up till gone 8.30.  Geoff got up and had brekky and sat up for a while until his back got too painful again  so back to bed to lie flat.  I searched out the little electronic muscle stimulator which I put in place and he gave himself a dose of massaging.  Hope it helps.  He said it helped and he spent less time flat on is back but it was still a quiet and nothing sort of day.

Wednesday, 26th October 2011  -  Airlie Beach

Geoff said he felt a  bit better this morning and managed a shower.  He then went up to the front deck for a walk and said his back was feeling a lot looser.  Because he felt better we went ashore and took the bus to Bunning’s where we bought some more solar lights to replace the one that went overboard last week.  We bought a few other bits and pieces (potting mix, globes etc) and then we splashed out and bought a Bosch electric airless paint sprayer.  More money but it will make the job of painting the boat so much easier.  We then caught the bus back the Whitsunday Shopping Centre where we had lunch at Hungry Jacks, a thing we rarely do.  We then went to the chemist to pick up Geoff’s scripts and then pick up a few more supplies and back to the dinghy.  As we got back to the boat we saw Ian and Lynn and another couple on ‘Hattrick’ and they were taking her out for a sail for a couple of hours.  Ian is normally in Bowen during the week building a new catamaran so it was unusual to see him back.  Maybe the people with him were prospective buyers.  After a couple of hours they came back and said they weren't able to sail due to the lack of wind.  Yes, they were looking at buying her and it was the third time they had come to look at her.  Keep our fingers crossed for them.  Ian invited us over for a drink but I had just cooked dinner and Geoff said his back was sore so we begged off.  Because there was no wind when it came up to high tide we were affected by the side swell.  Not uncomfortable but just annoying.

Thursday, 27th October 2011  -  Airlie Beach

Once again we didn’t get up till after 8.30 … nice.  It is a bit of an overcast day today so no power coming in via the solar panels and no wind so nothing coming in via the wind generator either.  Geoff put the genny on and spent the morning on the computer whilst I cleaned my cabin and thoroughly cleaned/scrubbed the galley … boring.

After lunch we went ashore to the laundrette at the shopping centre and for Geoff to get something signed by a JP at the centre.  When we got there the JP office was closed on this Thursday, yeah that would be right.  Anyway, the washing was already in so we wandered around and signed a petition to ‘Save our Foreshore’, bought some wine and beer and a few more supplies.  On the way back to the dinghy Geoff popped into the police station and got his form signed.  The form was only so he could get a small amount of his superannuation back.  We had just got back to the boat when we got a call from Ian saying Lynn was sick and may have food poising or something similar. I think Ian was hoping we were still at the shops so we could go in to the chemist and get something for her.  I have a well stocked pill cabinet so could offer her Stemitil for her tummy and Imodium for the other end if she wanted it.  Ian decided to go ashore and get her some electrolytes as she was drained of energy, poor thing.

Friday, 28th October 2011  -  To Blue Pearl Bay

A rude awakening this morning as boat after boat went past causing us to rock badly.  What’s going on?  We had noticed yesterday that there was a large banner at the VMR advertising a deep sea fishing competition so the boats were congregating for that.  I counted over 20 boats and they soon all headed out to sea.  Ah well, I might as well get up and make a cup of coffee.

By 0930 we were up-anchored and motoring by ‘The Blue Pearl’ to say we were off and to ask how Lynn was.  Sleeping it off, we were told.  We had a great sail over to Blue Pearl Bay and managed to pick up the last mooring buoy which not many other boats could use as it was for a smaller boat.  Sometimes it pays to be a small boat.  Geoff rigged up a rope to help stop the buoy bumping into the hull and then it was lunch time.  After lunch Geoff made up a bracket to go on top of our little flag pole to hold the new solar light so we don’t have a repeat of it being knocked overboard by the boom when we forget to take it down.  He also bound the bridle to stop it chaffing and put a new flag up as the old one was looking distinctively chatty.  It is quite comfortable here although a lot more windy than I expected.  Two boats then left leaving a couple of the large mooring buoys free.

About 3pm we donned our bathers and headed over to the coral for a snorkel.  My goggles kept fogging up and we think the anti mist stuff we have is getting old.  Geoff towed me back to the boat as I can’t get back into the dinghy.  When I got out Geoff then told me he had seen quite a few jellyfish, thanks Geoff.  There’s a lot of fish activity here but it is a Marine Park Green Zone so no fishing, unfortunately.  Another blow is that there are no charter boats here  so we can’t give out any surveys.  Still, tomorrows another day.

Arrrrggghhhhh!  A huge backpacker tourist boat, about 35 mtrs, has come in and taken the large mooring right next to us.  They have their ‘boom boom’ music blaring so loud you have trouble hearing each other speak and the whole anchorage would be hearing it.  We had a bit of quiet as they had dinner but then they put on their air conditioning and genny and it was so loud you wondered how any of them got any sleep.  Then the PA system went on and they had loud games and music and dancing until the wee hours of the morning.  Geoff blew our air horn but they wouldn’t have heard it and wouldn’t have cared anyway.  We put on our genny and watched a movie which deadened it a bit and then, when we wanted to go to bed, we had to close up all of the hatches and had to have our fans on most of the night.  The fans were on because the boat was warm with all the hatches shut and also to drown the noise which you could still here.  The boat was called ‘Atlantic Clipper 3’so if it comes into your anchorage at anytime … get out of there!

Saturday, 29th October 2011  -  To Bait Reef

A very broken sleep as it was hot due to the fact we had to have all the hatches shut most of the night to deaden the noise.  Yes, it was as bad as expected as they partied on into the wee hours and their noisy generator was on all night (the noise would wake the dead).  The music is back on this morning.  What a ‘wrinkly’ I must be as they are only having a good time but some things go beyond the pale.  But, mustn’t grumble!  They had a water slide attached to the side of the boat with sea water cascading down it and I thought it might make a good photo but nobody went down it so it got packed away.  They left about 0930 with us leaving half and hour later and heading out towards the outer reef to go to Bait Reef.  Geoff had checked the BOM site and the US grib files and the weather is supposed to be SE 10/15 for the next couple of days.  He is very keen to get out there but the crew is ‘not so’ keen.  The wind going over was sitting on just over 10 knots and we had a beam reach and we sailed along well.  Geoff commented yesterday that we have managed to get quite a bit of actual sailing in this season.  After quite a while we had to put one engine on as the wind had died just as we were coming up to Bait Reef.  The visibility was good and the reef was easily seen and we were soon on a marine buoy at the ‘Stepping Stones’ at Bait Reef.  It is okay here with the wind still hovering around the 10 knot mark and is quite comfy but may get a bit more swelly at high tide.  There are heaps of fish under the hulls and some are massive.  One we recognise very well.  It was a huge Maori Wrasse which we called Wally but later found out was named George.  There were also some large Black fish with a white dorsal fin that we have yet to identify and loads of Batt fish.  George and the big black fish like the cooked prawns and the Batt Fish like the stale cornflakes.  It is good that we are now in the age of the digital camera as you can just click away to your hearts content.  Later, we decided to go over to the

 reef in the dinghy with the bathescope to see if it was worth snorkelling or not.  One of the bommies looked quite interesting but it was quite choppy with a fast current so we just looked and didn’t go in.  There are some really deep drop offs.  Before we went back to the boat we went over to the only other boat here which was a large ketch and a dive boat.  They were stopping overnight as well which pleased me as I felt safety in numbers.  We also had some sort of sea bird taking refuge on the boat which seems really tired.  Later it moved up onto the top of the deck for a bit more shelter and we offered it some fish and water but it wasn’t interested.  Hope it doesn’t die.

Sunday, 30th November 2011  -  Bait Reef to Butterfly Bay (Anchorage No 2)

It was a little bouncy at high tide but not at all uncomfortable.  It was nice and calm at low tide when we got up.  At high tide it feels really strange anchored in what seems to be just the middle of the sea. All the big fish are back this morning.  We looked through all of our fish books yesterday and think the black fish is a Black Trevally.  The bird has gone this morning so he must have recovered his strength.  Another ketch ‘dive’ boat has arrived this morning and is on the buoy next to us.  Both boats have been dropping off divers and snorkelers whilst we fed George and the other fish.  Geoff went in with them and fed George by hand.  He said it was quite disconcerting having such a big fish (over 1 metre) coming towards you with an open

mouth.  As it was low tide and the water looked a little clearer we headed over to the reef for a snorkel.  I still found it a bit too choppy so I stayed in the dinghy and leaned over the side with my head in the water and my snorkel on.  Once again, the coral was healthy but not very colourful with mainly hard corals, some small soft coral and no fan corals but plenty of colourful fish and swarms of the small neon types.  There were some fish that couldn’t decide what colour they wanted to be with their front half black and there back half white and a distinct break between the two.  We were soon getting chilled so back to the boat.   We checked the two toned fish on the web and they turned out to be called Half and Half Chromis.  

We decided to catch the tide back as the tides were too high and the water too cloudy to get in much good snorkelling but we were glad we had come out.  A neap tide would have been much better but then you can’t guarantee the winds would be light at the same time.  So you go when you can.

We were on our way by 0930 and sailing well.  Geoff called me on deck to show me that our bird was back and hitching a ride with us.  Is it the same one  -  who knows?  He is not at all concerned about us.  Geoff had earlier spent quite a bit of time cleaning up all the mess he left behind so now he will have to do it all again.  We looked him up on the web and he is a Greater Crested Tern.  It was only a short rest this time and he was off but not before leaving a couple of packages behind.

We got into Butterfly Bay about 12.30 pm and there were no boats apart from a power cat that came in the same time as us.  Where is everybody?  Maybe it is as quiet out here as everybody has been saying.  Anyway, after a lunch of bacon and eggs (we missed out having a cooked brekky) Geoff delivered a charter survey to the power cat that had anchored in anchorage No 1 and then another crew were collared later as they went past in their dinghy.  We then went to have a look in Maureen Cove, the next bay over, but no charter boats to be seen.  By 4.30 pm there was only us in Anchorage No 2 with two spare moorings and in the bigger No. 1 anchorage there were 2 boats on buoys with another 7 moorings free.  Unheard of, we have never seen it so quiet.  These moorings are normally really hard to get on to.  An hour before dark we went round to the other anchorage to pick up our surveys.  Kathryn and Brett on the motor cat ‘Nautilus’ invited us onboard and we had a lovely chat.  We found they were on their honeymoon and had got married 3 weeks before at Airlie Beach.  We then popped by the sailing cat and picked up their survey.  So now we have another 6 and another 19 ish to go, if not more.

There is quite a side swell in this anchorage and now I wish we had grabbed a buoy in No 1 as well.

Monday, 31st October 2011  -  Butterfly Bay … Anchorage No 1

My water tank sloshed all night with the side swell plus the mooring buoy kept coming up and hitting the anchor so I slept badly and was up at 05:30.  I’m not sure what we can do to get baffles into my water tank as it is made of polythene with ripples.  I watched a large school of, maybe, School Mackerel chasing the bait fish and turning the sea into a cauldron of seething water.  Pity it is a ‘no fishing’ zone here.  Geoff got up just after 0800 and he had slept ok.  About 09:00 we headed over to look at the coral.  The best coral seemed to be just around the corner into anchorage No 1 so we went there donned our snorkel gear and went in.  Once again, healthy but not colourful coral although I did see two big clams and heaps of colourful parrot fish.  We must have spent a good 45 minutes there and then it was time to get back into the dinghy.  As I said before, I am useless getting back into the dinghy.  I can’t just flipper up as I am just too big a girl.  I got about a third of the way up and held on.  Geoff got into the dinghy and then started to haul me in inch by inch.  I got the giggles and Geoff said it was no laughing matter and not a pretty sight and he wished he had brought the camera and videoed it to put it on YouTube.  As if … I think he values his life more than that!  Back on 2Abreast for a shower and shampoo and then we decided to stay at Butterfly Bay but to move round to Anchorage No. 1 and out of the swell.  Geoff went up the front to untie the rope around the buoy and I was supposed to take the dinghy round to the side of the boat.  Don’t ask me how, but I dropped the dinghy line and the dinghy started to drift away from the boat.  Yell to Geoff who quickly stripped off and dived in to retrieve it.  We then raced another cat around into the other anchorage as we wanted to grab the buoy right inside the bay.  It was nice and calm inside with no swell.  The cat we raced in was called ‘Ally Cat’ and turned out to be a Simpson Cloud 12.  There were more friendly Batt fish here and they were very tame.

After lunch we had a few charter boats arrive so off we went to ask if they would be happy to fill out our survey.  Everyone says they are happy to fill them out but some put more effort into than others.  We managed to get a monohull and a cat with a family onboard which was good.  We left them with it and went off for an explore further into the bay.  We have been here before but we mustn’t have explored it too well as we found a huge rock with three others just breaking the water at high tide which must have fallen from the hillside many moons ago.  You could motor around the large one at high tide.  Geoff decided that if he climbed the hill it might make a good photo with the boats in the bay behind it.  So, off he went with the camera. 

Whilst he was away I took the opportunity to clean up a bit as the place was getting to be a little messy.  When he came back we went off with the camera to pick up the surveys and to take some photos of the participating boats and crew.   We are enjoying the interaction but, as I said before, people seem to be more interested in out life than telling us about theirs.  Back to 2Abreast where I noticed that there was no power coming in from the solar panels.  Geoff looked at the regulator and it looks like one wire is burnt out.  Serves us right for being cheapskates and buying the new regulator from China.  Geoff thinks/hopes he can fix it.