23rd Aug Townsville to Cape Upstart 77nm

At first light, we pushed back and exited the Marina. Townsville Marina facilities are good and the people are friendly. We always enjoy staying there and this visit was too brief. There was a weather window to get South and we had to take it. Light winds mostly east and north east meant we could get the long legs done without having to do an overnight back to the Whitsundays.

It was about 7 days early than when I had scheduled but we have to do it or we could get locked out for weeks.

Isabella came with us.

Cape Cleaveland

It was an all-day motor but the wind did finally swing around to the East and then North East which assisted with the sails up but the motor had to be on.

I was determined to catch a big fish that seemed to be alluding me as going past Cape Bowling Green I seem to get busted off or lures taken.

This time I got the wire trace put on and a brand new deep diving lure and it did the trick.

Only trouble was it was on my hand line and not the Alvey Reel which is easy to pull them in and save the hands. I had to put gloves on and it took 20 minutes to pull in my biggest Spanish Mackerel ever.

I now know what had been busting me off. They are big.

Any bigger than this you would let them go as they can contain ciguatera which can make you sick.

My Biggest Spaniard

We managed about 7 kilos of flesh after filleting. 38 pieces. That’s 19 meals for two.

About 7 kgs of beautiful Spanish Mackerel Fillets

I wanted to give Isabella a lot of fish but their freezer could only take 10 pieces. It’s nice to share the catch with others.

If I don’t give fish away I have to stop fishing as I cannot keep any more. My freezer is full too.

We arrived at Cape Upstart and had a swim in Shark Bay and tidied up. It was a big sunset with the cane fields burning.

Isabella in the Sunset

Isabella dropped their tender in the water and collected us for sunset drinks and dinner.

I had already consumed two gin and tonics in celebration of my good fish. So, I got a little merry for the evening.

After another delightful dinner of crumbed mackerel superbly cooked by Judy we were Ubered back to Billabong for a peaceful rest.

22nd Aug Horseshoe to Townsville 16nm

Today is all about reprovisioning. We arrived at the marina by 10.30 and loaded up with fuel and water. Moved into our pen and Tamara did two loads of washing while I washed the yacht and did some repairs. Here I was washing the boat oblivious to the water restrictions. No one said anything but I found out later.

2pm we had the courtesy car booked and we did the shopping

6pm Drinks with our good neighbours Ted and Caroline who gave me all their redundant fishing gear and I provided some nice Mackerel fillets in exchange. Tamara and I walked to the Cbar for dinner with Trevor and Elizabeth and another lovely catch up with my PNG friends.

We all had Prawn or Chicken Laksa as that came highly recommended and we were not disappointed. It was just what we needed after all the fish we have been eating.

A lovely walk back along the Strand to the marina where I topped up with water and we did our last preps before an early morning get away.

21st Aug Hazard to Horseshoe Bay 42nm

An early morning start which is never pleasant but we had to go early. The forecast of wind was strongest in the morning and dying out midday.

Billabong was headed for Horseshoe Bay as we had a dinner reservation with Rob and Donna.

On the way, the wind died and conditions became very calm. I spotted a whale on the horizon and went to investigate. It was on its own just waving its wing in the air as if it wanted to attract some attention.

Waving to us as if to attract our attention

Followed us for 8 miles

We observed for a few minutes and it started to come towards us. I moved away with the engine and it kept following us. It followed us for about 8 miles. Must have been lonely and just wanted company. I was tempted to stop and see what it would do when it caught up to us but did not want to tempt or risk any damage to the yacht. Best we keep our distance.

We arrived at Horseshoe Bay and had a relax and a swim and headed into Horseshoe Bay for a lovely evening with Rob and Donna at Barefoot Restaurant. It was a very enjoyable dinner. Rob and I had the Reef and Beef while the girls had the Duck.

With very contented stomachs we dinghied back to the yacht for a peaceful sleep.

20th Aug Pioneer Bay to Hazard Bay 4nm

Time to move and walk ashore. At 9.30 we upped the anchor and moved to Hazard Bay for a change of scenery.

Tried to snorkel at Yanks jetty but the visibility was poor so we scavenged for coconuts instead.

At low tide, we scavenged for oysters and we were well rewarded for our efforts. At least 5 doz. How can we eat all of them? We did.

Preparing Oysters

Our sunset drinks and dinner were going to be on Yanks Jetty but it was decided last minute for logistical reasons it would be best on Billabong. Again, we had coconut drink and oysters and spicy Korean fish soup.

Fruits of the land and the sea.

We were so full of oysters we could not eat any more oysters.

Another enjoyable night in the calm of Hazzard Bay.

19th Aug Pioneer Bay

We had a very lazy day at Pioneer Bay. Decided to stay on anchor all day and catch up with chores and gaining communication with friends.

The tide was high early in the morning so we decided to do another snorkel over the clams and get a few more pictures.

Giant Clam in Pioneer Bay Orpheus Island

The rest of the day was spent reading and catching up on emails.

You need one of these days every now and then.

Sunset drinks were on Billabong followed by dinner of Tuna sashimi and pan fried medium rare spiced Tuna.

Another lovely evening with our cruising friends Judy and Martin

Japanese Dinner

18th Aug Dunk Island to Pioneer Bay via Zoe Bay Waterfall (Hinchinbrook Island) 48nm

Isabella and Billabong departed together for Zoe Bay at 6am.

I never like early mornings but this was bearable as there was a slight westerly wind and very calm seas. The forecast indicated we would have to motor all the way and it was correct.

It was a picturesque day with beautiful scenery along Hinchinbrook Island and the fishing was quite good too.

Picturesque Scenery

A Relaxing Sail

First Hook up was a tuna but let go as in got to the back of the yacht.

2^nd hookup was a really good Spanish mackerel just as we entered Zoe Bay. Had to fillet it straight away as we would be away from the yacht for 3 hours on the walk to the waterfall. Got 11 meals off this one.

11 Dinners in this Spanish Mackerel

We then headed off in the dinghy to the start of the walk which took about 20 mins to reach the pool at the base of the waterfall. It was another 20 mins to the top and we had a great time in the freshwater pool up the top.

 We were walking across the river and spotted two crocs in there

 Spa Bath for Two

 Swimming was refreshing

Lots of Jungle Perch

Back down to the pool at the base of the waterfall and we had a really nice swim with the jungle perch who were eager to get fed.

Girls having fun

Back to the yachts at 3pm and headed off towards Pioneer Bay and as we were passing Hillock Point the fishing line went off with a substantial force. I knew this was a big one and as it turned out it was a Big Eye Tuna. Similar to a Yellow Fin Tuna.

A Big Eye Tuna

It bled very well on the deck leaving the yacht like a murder scene.

Arrived at Pioneer Bay about 5.30pm and after filleting the tuna we were invited for dinner and drinks to Isabella.

Judy cooked crumbed Mackerel and we had Sashimi Tuna accompanied by a lovely coleslaw with wasabi mayonnaise dressing.

We were all very tired after a long day and we retired early to a peaceful sleep. The fish we caught today have supplied enough protein for at least 2 weeks in the freezer.

13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th Aug - Dunk Island.

Sun 13^th

After a good sleep without the annoyance of midges and mosquitoes, we had breakfast and met the fleet at the café for coffee. They really do have good coffee at the sunset café.

The team assembled for a 12km walking trail up to Mt Kootaloo and around the island to Coconut beach and back to the café.

Assembled for coffee before the big walk

Artists are still alive on Dunk

Fantastic walk and a great time was had by all. Lunch and a few beers at the café and we returned to the yachts for a rest.

On our way to Mt Kootaloo

At the lookout

Jetty in Brammo Bay

The Team

Girls on the walk

Farewell drinks and eats on the beach for Leon and Nirvana

At 4.30pm we all assembled at the now closed café for the official Dunk Island rendezvous where we had drinks and each yacht contributed salad and cold dishes while I cooked Mackerel with spices.

This was to be Leon and Nirvanas last night with the fleet.

They are departing south to get back to the Whitsunday Islands.

Only Novae and Isabella and Billabong left in the fleet.

Mon 14^th

Today was a day of rest and getting things done. Tamara did loads of washing and washed and dyed her hair while I made many trips to shore and filled the water tanks with a 20 litre container.

We had a salad lunch ashore and then drinks on Isabella for the sunset.

The resort which about to reopen after Cyclone Yassi in 2011

Tue 15^th

More of the island life. Picnic lunch on PurtaBoi Island which is a cute Island in Brammo Bay where we anchor in the bay off Dunk.

Purtaboi Island

After our Picnic

It was Billabong’s turn to host 5 o’clock drinks at sunset

Wed 16^th

Woke to another beautiful day with very little wind and a sunny sky.

My friends from Perth Graham and Judith arrived at 10.15am on the ferry from the mainland. They are staying at Mission Beach for a few days.

They were very kind and bought us some fresh produce.

We had a great lunch of mackerel and salad with a bottle of white wine.

A very enjoyable afternoon but they had to go back to the mainland on the 3.30pm ferry.

The team including Tilly

Sundown drinks were on the beach and the RPAYC cruisers made a contribution to the café in the form of a piece of memorabilia with all the yacht names on it.

Memorabilia  left at the Dunk Island Café

Thur 17^th 

Graham came back to the Island on a 9.15 ferry and we had coffee and raisin toast before we headed off for another walk circumnavigating the island and a walk up to Mt Kootooloo.

Back from the walk on the beach at about 1.30pm in time for BBQ sausages and ginger beer to quench the thirst.

Graham departed on the 3.30pm ferry and I must admit I was very tired from the walk.

5.30pm we went to Novae for sunset drinks and a farewell dinner. Novae supplied chilli/garlic prawns, Isabella did coconut rice and we supplied a green curry with mackerel in it.

Novae are heading to Lizard Island and Isabella and Billabong are turning south for the long haul back but at a leisurely pace.

It was a fun night but sad to lose Debbie and Peter on Novae as travelling companions.

Lotsa Laughs but sad to split up the yachts

Lots of good memories.

12th August Gayandah Creek via Cardwell to Dunk Island 33nm

The morning came and we had been eaten and bitten.

The yacht was crawling with little black things.

Had breakfast and as soon as we could retrieve the crab traps we were out of there. Another lack of crabs too after the crab pots got monstered. Very angry crabs I think but the pots I have are too small and were no good. No bait was left in the pots.

We set sail for Cardwell to get fresh supplies.

High tide was at 12.30 so we made it just before 12. We have to anchor out about 1.5 nm and take the dinghy ashore because it is so shallow.

It was a quick trip into the IGA store and to visit the hardware shop to fill the gas bottle.

We were back on the yachts by 1.30 and set sail for Dunk after I untangled the fishing line from the propeller. I forgot to wind it in when we anchored. Idiot!!!

We arrived at Dunk Island in time for a quick walk and a beer on the beach.

11th August Haycock Island to Gayandah Creek Hinchinbrook Channel 8nm

In the morning, I was having my usual morning cuppa and I was looking out the back of the yacht and saw what I thought was a log. But it was moving reasonably fast. It appeared to come out of the creek that I set my traps in. Sure enough looking through the binoculars it was a rather large crocodile. At least 4 meters. Peter from Novae picked up Leon and I for a closer look. We managed to get close enough for a long-distance photo before the croc went under. That was enough for us we got away at high speed.

After breakfast, we collected the crab traps which had nothing in them and we set off for Gayandah Creek.

Anchored in the creek we quickly set the crab traps on a falling tide.

At 2 pm I took the dinghies on a croc tour. Unfortunately, as soon as I got around the corner of the tributary creek the big salty that I know lives there slipped into the water and no one else saw him.

We set off to do some trawling in the creek and Peter and Leon went together while I took Judy.

Judy caught a nice Trevally but unfortunately it broke the line just as we were getting it towards the net.

We went past where Peter and Leon were fishing and they said there was a 3 meter croc down at the entrance. I dropped Judy off and I went down to the entrance of the creek and took a photo.

Sunset drinks were on Novae who baked magnificent sausage rolls for snacks, but as we were leaving the midges came out and attacked us all. Back on Billabong we seemed to be quite snug with the mozzie coils and the fly screens up.

After dinner, we went to bed feeling safe. At midnight, we both woke with little black midges crawling and biting us all over. They were so small they crawled through the fly screens.

It was a very lousy night.

Note to self : Never anchor up this creek again. It is pretty but only for a midday visit.

10th August Pioneer Bay to Haycock Island - Hinchinbrook Channel 21nm

Time to move on and we lifted anchors at 8.30am and headed off towards Lucinda to enter the Hinchinbrook Channel.

Out went the fishing lines and bingo we had 3 mackerel in no time.

The freezer got well and truly stocked and we had fish frames for the mud crabs.

It was a very uneventful sail through the entry channel and we had a minimum of .9 meters under the keel. The long sugar loader jetty still fascinates me.  It is 5.6 km's long. Must be the world's longest conveyor belt.
Hate to have to fix/replace the rubber on that one.

We arrived at Haycock Island just after lunch and quickly got the crab traps baited and set in the mangroves.

I took Leon for a quick fish around the island and only caught a small trevally which I think is a Permit. Fly fisherman come all over the world to catch these fish. Not sure what the attraction is. Supposed to be good eating.

Sunset drinks were on Ngak Ngak with the fleet anchored in the channel