Friday, August 31, 2007
Thursday 30th August Bundaberg to Pancake Creek - Cape Capricorn and on to Yepoon
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GILLY, HAVE A BLAST
Had a great sail to Pancake Creek and was great to revisit after 26years although was very nervous going into the anchorage as this is the first place we went aground when we came up here with Katie O. Wow,… now they have Port and Starboard markers and leads all very posh and updated. All we had were leads of which the bottom one had fallen down so it was just pot luck and we didn’t have any.
Saw the eclipse of the moon which was awesome and so clear….what a sight.
Left early the next morning for Cape Capricorn, again a pleasant day’s sail.
When we arrived at CC had time to go ashore and walk up to the lighthouse and on the way stumbled across n echidna ambling along the path. The view from the top was amazing and we could see into Yellow Patch across all the shelving sands. Blast,… forgot to take my camera, will have to do the walk on the way back and hope the echidna crosses our path again.
Had a great day’s sail from Cape Capricorn after a very lumpy night, roller coaster ride without the washing machine.We surfed along with goose winged sails and averaged 6 knts to arrive in Rosslyn bay at 11.30 instead of our estimated time of 1300 hours
Pam’s fishing Notes:
Hooked the most amazing Spanish Mackerel and managed to bring it right up to the boat and as Nick was lifting it on board and I was visualizing the way I was going to cook it as they are great eating… the Damn thing spat the dummy and flopped back into the ocean. The fish was happy and lived, Nick was happy that the fish lived and I was “NOT HAPPY PAM’
Thursday 31st
Changed engine oil, oil filter and fuel filter. Bled and refitted fuel filter. Stocked up the wine and rum cellar. We sail on the morning tide for Port Clinton or Pearl Bay and then on up through Island Head Creek, Percys then maybe Digby and on to Mackay, so we won’t have any more access to the internet for about 7days.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GILLY, HAVE A BLAST
Had a great sail to Pancake Creek and was great to revisit after 26years although was very nervous going into the anchorage as this is the first place we went aground when we came up here with Katie O. Wow,… now they have Port and Starboard markers and leads all very posh and updated. All we had were leads of which the bottom one had fallen down so it was just pot luck and we didn’t have any.
Saw the eclipse of the moon which was awesome and so clear….what a sight.
Left early the next morning for Cape Capricorn, again a pleasant day’s sail.
When we arrived at CC had time to go ashore and walk up to the lighthouse and on the way stumbled across n echidna ambling along the path. The view from the top was amazing and we could see into Yellow Patch across all the shelving sands. Blast,… forgot to take my camera, will have to do the walk on the way back and hope the echidna crosses our path again.
Had a great day’s sail from Cape Capricorn after a very lumpy night, roller coaster ride without the washing machine.We surfed along with goose winged sails and averaged 6 knts to arrive in Rosslyn bay at 11.30 instead of our estimated time of 1300 hours
Pam’s fishing Notes:
Hooked the most amazing Spanish Mackerel and managed to bring it right up to the boat and as Nick was lifting it on board and I was visualizing the way I was going to cook it as they are great eating… the Damn thing spat the dummy and flopped back into the ocean. The fish was happy and lived, Nick was happy that the fish lived and I was “NOT HAPPY PAM’
Thursday 31st
Changed engine oil, oil filter and fuel filter. Bled and refitted fuel filter. Stocked up the wine and rum cellar. We sail on the morning tide for Port Clinton or Pearl Bay and then on up through Island Head Creek, Percys then maybe Digby and on to Mackay, so we won’t have any more access to the internet for about 7days.
Friday, August 24, 2007
25th Saturday
Looks like we will be here till next Tuesday as the weather is not improving and with the Indonesian boat being washed up on Rainbow beach in the Storm a few days ago, who wants to go out in that when you can sit on the lawn and enjoy a very nice BBQ and meet all the other stranded yachties. Three American couples we met have lived on their boats for 10, 12, and 21 yrs. Another couple we met from Bne who are very nice and of course we ended up spending the afternoon of their boat chatting and drinking…….What else can one do under these storm conditions.
Listened to the plight of another boat which was in trouble off the north of Fraser Island with a couple and two cats on board. They had no food and hadn’t eaten for weeks. Left New Zealand for Bundaberg 6 weeks ago. Was dismasted 4 days out from NZ and then found out that their diesel was contaminated so had no engine. For 6 weeks they have been drifting along being becalmed then ran into all these storms which we have been experiencing safely tied up in the marina. By the time the boat was rescued two days ago they had portholes smashed out and lots of damage. Think I would give up and go home, but at least they are safe now.
Monday20th – Friday 24th Bundaberg
I suppose there are worse places to be stuck. The Bundaberg Port marina is a reasonably pleasant place and a courtesy bus runs us into town when the mood takes us and The Blue Water Boat Club at Burnett Heads provides an insight into local society. Meanwhile a low pressure system ensures that we stay put. A yacht heading to Bundaberg was dismasted yesterday and another one seems to have sailed into Rainbow beach. Handy reminders to exercise patience. We’re provisioning today in the hope that we can get going again on Sunday in which case we should be at Great Keppel on Monday or Tuesday. Thence, for any interested navigators, to Pearl Bay, Percy Islands, Scawfell and the Whitsundays.
Monday 20th North White Cliffs to Bundaberg
Had the wet weather gear, complete with ski socks and seaboots, out this morning. Given our proximity to the tropic of Capricorn is this yet more evidence for climate change? Now in the Burnett River dangerously close to the rum factory. It’s blowing like a bastard and gale warnings are rampant. Best day’s sail yet though. Would definitely have got the double in the GFS twilight. Ray struggles with anything over 20knots so had to share the steering. Between us I got the top speed but Ray got the best hour’s run. It’s hard work steering for hour after hour but as someone once said, “I feel no pain dear Mother now, but O what a terrible thirst”
Pam’s fishing notes: no trolling- no fish……..But a short walk to the Bundaberg fish co-op…….fresh prawns and other yummy things on the menu for tomorrow. Thought I may buy a crab net and see what wonders I can catch!!!
Pam’s fishing notes: Crab net purchased then found we had one on board so two now….look out crabs
This is one of the nicest Marina’s with good facilities and little seafood cafe. Very friendly people in boats around us waiting to take off north, so it will be a flotilla that leaves here when the weather permits. We’re just mooching and taking time out to do jobs around the boat and generally clean up. Today the Marina is putting on a free lunch time BBQ so when we get back from town will saunter up and join in.
Looks like we will be here till next Tuesday as the weather is not improving and with the Indonesian boat being washed up on Rainbow beach in the Storm a few days ago, who wants to go out in that when you can sit on the lawn and enjoy a very nice BBQ and meet all the other stranded yachties. Three American couples we met have lived on their boats for 10, 12, and 21 yrs. Another couple we met from Bne who are very nice and of course we ended up spending the afternoon of their boat chatting and drinking…….What else can one do under these storm conditions.
Listened to the plight of another boat which was in trouble off the north of Fraser Island with a couple and two cats on board. They had no food and hadn’t eaten for weeks. Left New Zealand for Bundaberg 6 weeks ago. Was dismasted 4 days out from NZ and then found out that their diesel was contaminated so had no engine. For 6 weeks they have been drifting along being becalmed then ran into all these storms which we have been experiencing safely tied up in the marina. By the time the boat was rescued two days ago they had portholes smashed out and lots of damage. Think I would give up and go home, but at least they are safe now.
Monday20th – Friday 24th Bundaberg
I suppose there are worse places to be stuck. The Bundaberg Port marina is a reasonably pleasant place and a courtesy bus runs us into town when the mood takes us and The Blue Water Boat Club at Burnett Heads provides an insight into local society. Meanwhile a low pressure system ensures that we stay put. A yacht heading to Bundaberg was dismasted yesterday and another one seems to have sailed into Rainbow beach. Handy reminders to exercise patience. We’re provisioning today in the hope that we can get going again on Sunday in which case we should be at Great Keppel on Monday or Tuesday. Thence, for any interested navigators, to Pearl Bay, Percy Islands, Scawfell and the Whitsundays.
Monday 20th North White Cliffs to Bundaberg
Had the wet weather gear, complete with ski socks and seaboots, out this morning. Given our proximity to the tropic of Capricorn is this yet more evidence for climate change? Now in the Burnett River dangerously close to the rum factory. It’s blowing like a bastard and gale warnings are rampant. Best day’s sail yet though. Would definitely have got the double in the GFS twilight. Ray struggles with anything over 20knots so had to share the steering. Between us I got the top speed but Ray got the best hour’s run. It’s hard work steering for hour after hour but as someone once said, “I feel no pain dear Mother now, but O what a terrible thirst”
Pam’s fishing notes: no trolling- no fish……..But a short walk to the Bundaberg fish co-op…….fresh prawns and other yummy things on the menu for tomorrow. Thought I may buy a crab net and see what wonders I can catch!!!
Pam’s fishing notes: Crab net purchased then found we had one on board so two now….look out crabs
This is one of the nicest Marina’s with good facilities and little seafood cafe. Very friendly people in boats around us waiting to take off north, so it will be a flotilla that leaves here when the weather permits. We’re just mooching and taking time out to do jobs around the boat and generally clean up. Today the Marina is putting on a free lunch time BBQ so when we get back from town will saunter up and join in.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
18th August Garry’s Gutter between Fraser Island and Stewart Island
Saturday- Lovely peaceful anchorage, lots of turtles surfacing around, hawkes soaring above and diving for fish.
Motored through narrow channels for about 3hours from the Gutter to South White Cliffs.
The guy on the next boat had his whole fishing tackle taken and it was 60lb strain so we decided not to take a dip.
Fishing Notes:At anchorage got one on the line up to the side of the boat and it took one look and flipped off. Dinner gone… open a tin of tuna!
“He told me he had the sea in his blood, and believe me you could see where it gets in” Spike Milligan.
Friday 17th August Inskip Point to Garry’s Anchorage (Fraser Island West (scurvy crew))
Great night, smooth as silk after the washing machine the night before, until the Fraser Car Ferry motored past at 4am, which sounded like a jet flying through your bedroom and then the wash hit and Oh!!... my sleep in was destroyed. Just settling again and 4.15 the next ferry charged past, then it was one every fifteen minutes until all four were happily ensconced at their pick up sites to take the early morning 4 wheel drivers to the other side to join the mass beach drive north on Fraser Island.
Since we were here last all the leads have been changed to lateral markers so it was a little disconcerting to try and sort out all the new navigational systems. But my trusty Capt Bligh was at his best, and navigating by Rays GPS took us safely up through all the channels and with me using the wonderful new binoculars we were a team again and I felt happy…….. We decided to go into an anchorage which looked quite interesting, not a lot of water but Nick said that it would be okay so we steamed in and it was lovely. Anchored in about 2.9 meters and with what Nick had read up about the tides we should be okay. Went ashore to explore and then back to the boat for a zzzzzzzzzzz. Woke up around 5pm, at this point I turned Ray on to check the depth and to my astonishment was in 1.2 meters……slight panic, but I was assured we were nearly at the bottom of the tide and we would float off soon. When it got to 0.9 even Capt. Bligh was looking a little concerned and when a tinny went past and the wheel jaggled about I thought this is not good. The captain suggested very calmly that we might move, if in fact we still could.
He’s now cabin boy and I am promoted to Captain. Slight miscalculation in tide range……..it happens……mistakes……..but who’s counting!!! Scurvy Crew promoted…..YES!!!!!!!!!!.........
Thursday 16th August
Spent a particularly unpleasant night at Double Island Point. Thought the breeze would drop and go back to the S.E. Instead it strengthened and blew all night from the North. Bad misjudgement but no damage done apart from a little sleep deprivation. Have accepted criticism from the crew.
Then across the Wide Bay Bar and into the Sandy Strait on the inside of Fraser Island.
On the subject of Schadenfreude the water pump made a grinding noise and ceased functioning which occupied the morning. Whole thing had started to vibrate itself back into its component parts. However the fuse had done its job and after reassembly it seems fine.
Scurvy Crew…….Unpleasant NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!! Was like being in a washing machine and riding a bucking bronco at the same time and not sleeping as you were imagining you were dragging your anchor so you felt like a Meerkat all night bobbing up through the hatch in the washing machine seeing if you were about to hit the shore and die!!..
There are now four car ferries operating the channel to Fraser Island, 26yrs ago there was one dilapidated car ferry. Coming along the mainland to Double Island Point was like seeing the main highway with so many four wheel drives roaring along the beach and it was only Thursday and not a public holiday, weekends must be a nightmare, will need traffic lights on the beach soon. Looked like the wreck of the Cherry Venture was gone as we couldn’t see it as we passed, a lot appears and disappears in 26yrs………(and sags)
On the matter to do with the pump. I used the water and it made the most horrendous noise, Nick was on deck and I thought mmmm that doesn’t sound right. It was not until I used the water again and it didn’t work. We spent probably half an hour going through all the consequences of what may have happened and what a joy when Nick found another fuse within the pump as we had already checked the fuse behind the board and it was OK. One crisis averted…bring on the rum and coke
Pam’s Fishing Notes: no line out, no fish, dolphins welcomed us on arrival to Inskip Point.
Saturday- Lovely peaceful anchorage, lots of turtles surfacing around, hawkes soaring above and diving for fish.
Motored through narrow channels for about 3hours from the Gutter to South White Cliffs.
The guy on the next boat had his whole fishing tackle taken and it was 60lb strain so we decided not to take a dip.
Fishing Notes:At anchorage got one on the line up to the side of the boat and it took one look and flipped off. Dinner gone… open a tin of tuna!
“He told me he had the sea in his blood, and believe me you could see where it gets in” Spike Milligan.
Friday 17th August Inskip Point to Garry’s Anchorage (Fraser Island West (scurvy crew))
Great night, smooth as silk after the washing machine the night before, until the Fraser Car Ferry motored past at 4am, which sounded like a jet flying through your bedroom and then the wash hit and Oh!!... my sleep in was destroyed. Just settling again and 4.15 the next ferry charged past, then it was one every fifteen minutes until all four were happily ensconced at their pick up sites to take the early morning 4 wheel drivers to the other side to join the mass beach drive north on Fraser Island.
Since we were here last all the leads have been changed to lateral markers so it was a little disconcerting to try and sort out all the new navigational systems. But my trusty Capt Bligh was at his best, and navigating by Rays GPS took us safely up through all the channels and with me using the wonderful new binoculars we were a team again and I felt happy…….. We decided to go into an anchorage which looked quite interesting, not a lot of water but Nick said that it would be okay so we steamed in and it was lovely. Anchored in about 2.9 meters and with what Nick had read up about the tides we should be okay. Went ashore to explore and then back to the boat for a zzzzzzzzzzz. Woke up around 5pm, at this point I turned Ray on to check the depth and to my astonishment was in 1.2 meters……slight panic, but I was assured we were nearly at the bottom of the tide and we would float off soon. When it got to 0.9 even Capt. Bligh was looking a little concerned and when a tinny went past and the wheel jaggled about I thought this is not good. The captain suggested very calmly that we might move, if in fact we still could.
He’s now cabin boy and I am promoted to Captain. Slight miscalculation in tide range……..it happens……mistakes……..but who’s counting!!! Scurvy Crew promoted…..YES!!!!!!!!!!.........
Thursday 16th August
Spent a particularly unpleasant night at Double Island Point. Thought the breeze would drop and go back to the S.E. Instead it strengthened and blew all night from the North. Bad misjudgement but no damage done apart from a little sleep deprivation. Have accepted criticism from the crew.
Then across the Wide Bay Bar and into the Sandy Strait on the inside of Fraser Island.
On the subject of Schadenfreude the water pump made a grinding noise and ceased functioning which occupied the morning. Whole thing had started to vibrate itself back into its component parts. However the fuse had done its job and after reassembly it seems fine.
Scurvy Crew…….Unpleasant NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!! Was like being in a washing machine and riding a bucking bronco at the same time and not sleeping as you were imagining you were dragging your anchor so you felt like a Meerkat all night bobbing up through the hatch in the washing machine seeing if you were about to hit the shore and die!!..
There are now four car ferries operating the channel to Fraser Island, 26yrs ago there was one dilapidated car ferry. Coming along the mainland to Double Island Point was like seeing the main highway with so many four wheel drives roaring along the beach and it was only Thursday and not a public holiday, weekends must be a nightmare, will need traffic lights on the beach soon. Looked like the wreck of the Cherry Venture was gone as we couldn’t see it as we passed, a lot appears and disappears in 26yrs………(and sags)
On the matter to do with the pump. I used the water and it made the most horrendous noise, Nick was on deck and I thought mmmm that doesn’t sound right. It was not until I used the water again and it didn’t work. We spent probably half an hour going through all the consequences of what may have happened and what a joy when Nick found another fuse within the pump as we had already checked the fuse behind the board and it was OK. One crisis averted…bring on the rum and coke
Pam’s Fishing Notes: no line out, no fish, dolphins welcomed us on arrival to Inskip Point.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
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