26th Sep Saba Bay to Hooks Passage to Nara Inlet 9nm

It was a peaceful night sleep until about 7am. The wind roared in the rigging and built to 25 knots. I was quickly on deck to remove towels from the rails and secure items. The yacht was tugging violently on the anchor chain and it was time to get out of here. We removed the sun shade and were getting ready to pull the anchor up and the wind suddenly died down to about 5 knots. Not sure what that was all about. We waited to see if the wind returned but it was ok. We stayed for a couple of hours and I went fishing as it was low tide. Best time to catch a coral trout so I think. No luck only 2 stripey perch for dinner. That will do. One measuring 35cm which is the biggest I have caught.

We left at 11am to join Echo Beach at Hooks Passage for the day.

We had a lovely swim on the beach before adjourning to the yachts for lunch.

Little Beach in Hooks Passage

Tamara and Billabong

 Knee deep in the water discussing "Is yours bigger than mine?"

Graham had caught a Spanish Mackerel here the day before so we both decided to have a quick fish before departing to Nara Inlet for the night.

We were both well rewarded. Graham caught another spanish mackerel. I caught a Spaniard, a stripey perch and 2 coral trout. Yes the trout are prized fish to an angler so much celebration.

 Not bad for an hours work. Who says you cannot catch fish in the Whitsundays!!!

We motored around to Nara and had drinks on Billabong with Graham and Leanne and Brenda before cooking another fish dinner.

2 stripey perch BBQ’d with chilli lime and coriander.

Another lovely day. Tomorrow we are back in Airlie for provisioning.

25th Sep Stonehaven to Saba Bay 9nm

We did not sleep well although the anchorage was quite smooth all night and no wind. We had breakfast and motored out to Langford Island and stayed on a mooring for several hours while I updated the Blog on a very weak Telstra internet signal. Cannot believe they would not provide better coverage with all the traffic around the islands. There was not enough signal to upload photos so will do that at a later date. The northwest wind started to increase so we slipped the mooring and headed to Saba Bay.

 White water heading to Saba. The tide can be up to 3 knots going around this point.,

 The hoop pine trees are amazing how they can grow on the rocks

We arrived in time for lunch and had a relaxing afternoon. The wind died about 4pm and I decided we would stay the night. About 14 other yachts agreed the same decision. I went fishing for an hour to try and catch that elusive coral trout, but returned with 5 stripey perch.

24th Sep Esk Island To Manta Ray Bay to Stonehaven 18nm

I woke early and decided to go for a fish in the dinghy. The area around this island is protected so I went to a nearby reef and trolled a lure along the edge of the reef. Again the fish were responsive and must have been their feeding time. In no time at all I bagged 6 stripey perch. I was back at Billabong by 8am. I gave 3 fish to Echo Beach.

 The beach at Esk Island

We slipped the anchor and headed to Manta Ray Bay having breakfast as we traveled. We arrived at Manta Ray Bay but the conditions were sloppy with the wind blowing from the north. There was a mooring vacant and we stayed just long enough for me to get into the dinghy and go swim with the fish. The fish here are regularly fed by the myriads who visit this bay during the day. Lucky I was there when someone was throwing bread in the water and I managed to get right in the thick of the fish. Again the Maori Wrasse were friendly and would let you touch them. It is a great experience to be able to do this. It was school holidays with boat loads of children and those children who were in the water snorkeling amongst the fish will never forget that experience.

We left the bay as quickly as we arrived as the conditions were terrible. We headed around to Stonehaven where we were hoping to find a mooring and stay the night. On the way around we came into mobile reception. We had not had any mobile reception on the eastern side of Hook Island. A few messages came through. I listened to the first one from my friend Eric Knowles. He informed me Steve passed away that morning. I told Tamara and we were both devastated at the news. We found the mooring and sat back in disbelief. We were cruising with him only 2 months ago. He had only just got Boomeroo back to Mooloolaba and was going back to work. I phoned Maureen to offer our deepest sympathy. She was with him at the time I called and said he is now peaceful. It was a shock to her as he appeared to be responding to the treatment.

Tamara and I both shed a tear and spent the rest of the day disbelieving.

We had 5 0’clock drinks with just the two of us. We did not feel like socialising. As the sun went down we raised our glasses to Steve our “master mariner” friend. We hope you will be “knee deep in the water somewhere”. Good bye mate.

Steve and Maureen with Steve's favorite bottle at the Bundy Rum factory in June.

I played the song we used to play at 5 o’clock drinks when we were cruising together - “Knee deep in the water”. I also played “The last Farewell” and we said our goodbyes. It was a sad evening and we wish Maureen and the family the very best for the future. We will visit Maureen on our way down the coast and have a wake for Steve and provide any support needed.

We had our dinner in silence not wanting to talk too much about it.

It was tough to go to sleep even though the water was calm with no wind. You cannot help but think how precious life is and you must pursue your dreams while you can.

I am so glad Steve and Maureen managed to get 3 months of cruising in. We were together with them in October 2011 in Mooloolaba on the last leg of our 2011 cruise and the plan was hatched then that we would cruise together up the coast in 2013. Steve got 3 months off work and it happened. It was all Steve spoke about to the nurses and staff at the hospital before he passed away.

I will never forget this sunset of Boomeroo in Island Head Creek.

23rd Sept Blue Pearl Bay to Esk Island 18nm

The morning was beautiful with flat water and crystal clear visibility. We stayed on the mooring until late morning and headed off to find Echo Beach. We had bought some fresh herbs at the market for Leanne as they had been reprovisioning at Hamilton Island and you simply cannot get them there. The water was flat and we headed around the north eastern point of Hook Island known as the Pinnacles. There is spectacular scenery and there are amazing rock formations. This one is known as the "woodpile". It looks like the wood has been neatly stacked.

 The "woodpile" North East of Hook Island.

Tamara prepared and cooked lunch on the way. We were craving scrambled eggs so we had them on toast with smoked salmon. It was calm and we went out around Border Island on the way.

 Eastern side of Border island.

We arrived early afternoon at Esk Island where Echo Beach was moored. Just as we arrived another yacht on one of the two moorings left. That was fortuitous as you cannot anchor there. The north east wind did not come in at any strength as forecast and we decided to stay the night. That meant we could have drinks with Echo Beach at 5 o’clock. Leanne’s Mum Brenda was on board and we had a very pleasant drink with lots of chatter and laughs.

The night was calm and we were only woken once with the mooring bouy banging into the hull on the change of tide. I thought it was a good island to visit although some midgies came into the cabin at night.

22nd Sep Airle Beach to Blue Pearl Bay 18nm

Today we head back to the islands for 6 days before coming back into Airlie for reprovisioning before starting the long journey south. We also get to watch the AFL Grand Final next Saturday.

We departed the pen and went to the fuel dock before heading to Blue Pearl Bay on Hayman Island. We had a peaceful afternoon before being invaded by the backpacker boats and their ridiculously loud music. Not sure where the myriads that are on the yacht sleep in such confinement but they certainly know how to party. We would have moved to another anchorage but they arrived too late and we had been invited to dinner on Nirvana’s Kitchen.

We had a great dinner with Leon and Nirvana and the dinner lived up to the expectations of eating on Nirvana’s Kitchen. We had a fantastic marinated steak that Nirvana prepared and Leon cooked. Another great dinner on the water!!

We arrived back at the yacht with the backpacker parties in full swing. We managed to get to sleep only to be woken with the mooring bouy banging into the hull on the change of tide. I prefer to be on anchor at night but it is very deep to anchor here so much safer on a mooring.