4th August Nara to Airlie 15nm

Another early morning start and we were headed for Airlie Beach to replenish the supplies. After docking at the Able Point Marina we managed to secure “Shaggy” the courtesy car kindly donated by a couple of members of the Shag Islet Cruising Club. For a donation to prostate cancer research you can use the car for shopping and getting supplies. A quick trip to the supermarket and the chores were done. The Shag Islet Cruising Yacht Club (SICYC) was having a bash on Shingley beach for a BBQ afternoon. Peter and I grabbed a few beers and some meat and headed off. There were over a 100 “Shaggers” in attendance and they had a musician playing music.  A great afternoon it was meeting all the other “Shaggers”. The SICYC was formed 4 years ago and now boasts over 2500 members. They have an annual bash at Gloucester Passage where last year they got 130 yachts and this year they are expecting over 150. That is more yachts than Hamilton Island Race week!!!! Sadly we will miss the bash as we will be North of Gloucester Island when they have it in late August.

 Lots of "Shaggers" here at the SICYC Shingley Beach BBQ Bash

        This is the Shag Islet Cruising Yacht Club Burgee

We met Leon and Nirvana off Nirvana's Kitchen at the Sirocco bar for sundowners. They are leaving their yacht for 6 weeks to return south and will head back to Airlie when the Coral Coast fleet return to the Whitsundays. Another great day in the tropical north.

3rd August Thomas to Whitehaven Beach to Nara Inlet 35nm

The day started early and soon after breakfast we were on our way to Whitehaven Beach. It was a beautiful sunny, warm day with very few clouds in the sky. We really have been blessed with the weather since getting back on the yacht. The fleet had very poor weather for the last month so I am a bit lucky I was able to sit that out in Port Stephens for Tamara’s operation. Speaking of Tamara she is progressing very well and would appear on the outside to being completely recovered but must take it easy and not lift anything until the inside is fully mended.

We arrived at Whitehaven for lunch and a swim. The pure white sand was glaring in the sun and you could hardly see anything when you had to take the sunglasses off to go for swim. The sand was blinding.

 

Here we are at Whitehaven Beach. BTW that is the only coconut tree on the beach.

 Sand so white!!

While at the beach we witnessed all the Oyster yachts arriving at Whitehaven. There are about 30 of them on a world circumnavigation. With each yacht worth a minimum of $2million and the biggest one worth over $10million there is some money floating around the world.

 Oysters at Whitehaven on their World rally

After lunch we headed off to Nara Inlet for the night to be close to Airlie as we needed to go in to get some fresh supplies. We were anchored by 6pm and ready for sundowners although the sun had already gone behind the hill. A fish curry was cooked and consumed with a bottle of red to wash it down and after a short read the lights were off. A very serene and peaceful anchorage is Nara Inlet.

2nd Aug Goldsmith to Thomas Island 9nm

Went for a quick fish before leaving Goldsmith and bagged a couple of good sized sea pike for lunch. It was a little bit overcast in the morning which soon became a full sunny day and we left by 10am.

We motored the 9nm to Thomas Island as the wind was not strong enough to sail. Arrived just in time for a quick lunch of sea pike and salad in a wrap and then settled into a serious afternoon fishing on the northern tip of Young Tom Island which is in the northern anchorage of Thomas Island. I have always had productive fishing at Thomas Island and today was no exception. A couple of hours produced 3 Coral Trout, 3 Spangled Emperor and 2 Red Throat Sweetlip. All were very prized fish. It took over an hour to fillet and process them and I nearly missed sundowners. Not a great sunset but conditions are very good here at Thomas Island.  We cooked the fillets of Coral Trout for dinner and it was absolutely superb eating.  We still have enough fish for another 7 meals on board. The only problem is Peter is mutinying as he is sick of fish for lunch and dinner every day. I said I would give him a treat and we will have curried fish for dinner tonight. His comment was “ok but we are having meat tomorrow night!!”

What a great day it was.

1st Aug Brampton Island to Goldsmith Island 12nm

Another beautiful day!!! Had a leisurely sail to Goldsmith and anchored before lunchtime. Had an afternoon nap after lunch and then went fishing. Nothing to report there. All up it was just another great day in the southern islands of the Whitsundays. Just superb.