Tuesday, September 09, 2008 12:59 PM

Hi Everybody

We are on our way north again.Our present position is at anchor in Double Bay, about 10nm from Airlie Beach.We were headed further up the coast to Gloucester Island, but the wind increased to gusting 30knts & with the tide against it made for a really steep sea, so have decided to stop here for the night. This mainland bay has a beauty of its own with a couple of small beaches,high hills with lots of bush down to the waters edge.No houses.We are anchored in 4mtrs off mangroves.

While we were in Airlie Murray Barlow arranged a Kiwi night out to watch the All Blacks thrash the Aussies,great fun shared with Murray & Elly,Nicola,Don & Lynn (all from Picton) & Bob of Crescendo .The next morning we had a champers barby at the Airlie Lagoon.We then headed up to Woodwark Bay for a few days before heading back to Airlie to pick up Sandy & Greg, friends from Mooloolaba.We then spent a week showing them around the Whitsunday Islands.The high lights were,some great sailing,a day on Whitehaven Beach,fantastic sunsets, a feast of tropical fruits,eaten under a palm tree, put together by our onboard chef,called Donna. The best day was snorkling the coral at Manta Ray Bay where we had a close encounter with the Maori Wrass.This beautiful fish would have to be a meter long & is so tame, he is all these colours of blue & comes right up to you.

We arrived back in Airlie Beach for the start of Airlie Race week, 106 yachts entered.We needed a few days here to restock so decided to enjoy the party atmosphere.The big one was a Jimmy Buffet tribute island night street party.But you would not believe it the night was freezing, a cold wind, sort of ruined it.But we found a seat under a gas heater & with our coats on enjoyed the music.

Saturday 23 August

We are still here in Double Bay waiting for suitable weather to move north. A vigorous south west change was forecast for about midnight.Vigorous change in Aussie weather speak means around 30knts,so we crossed over to the over side of the bay for better shelter.We then went ashore & had a barby lunch with the other 3 Aussie yachts that were anchored in the bay,great fun.They also are waiting here for the weather before heading north.The south west change roared thru about 1230 am,but our anchor was well dug in to the mud.This morning was fine & warm so we went ashore & gathered a heap of oysters which we will have for tea tonight.The wind looked good outside the bay so we upped anchor, pulled up the sails & headed for Gloucester Island. Once again the conditions were not suitable with the wind 25knts & wind against tide making for a really steep sea, so here we are back in Double Bay.The weather is not looking good for the next 3 days with a strong wind warning issued for all of Queensland, so this looks like being our home for a while.

We have finally managed to head north. Left Double Bay early & was around George Point and into sheltered water before the wind really got up,but still needed to reef.What a nice area with lots of beaches & then the pass thru Gloucester Passage.We picked up a mooring off the Eco Resort & headed ashore to explore.This resort is quite different, with self contained units set among the sand & trees,just back from the beach.Reception,the bar & restaurant, is basically open air, with a roof over a big deck which leads to the pool.Quite basic but really laid back.The next day was cool & cloudy with a slop coming into the anchorage,so we decided to up anchor and sail the 12nm to Greys Bay, just out of Bowen.Anchored right at low water thank goodness, in 2.5 mtrs.We have found that anchoring at low water is far easier on the brain,not having to calculate the fall,& the worry while off the boat.Even at this depth we were still along way out in the bay.We dinghyed ashore then walked into town.The sun had come out & the warmth was great, 26c. Bowen is an old town,with lots of new suburds being developed,but not a lot of the dreaded high rises as yet.Sort of reminded me of Kaikoura.

Well we must be getting close to Townsville as we are picking up their radio stations.The next morning we were off at 0630 for the 35nm sail to Cape Upstart.With up to 25knts of South Easterly up our stern it was a great sail.Once around the cape we were surprised to see all of these bachs tucked into the rocks on the small amount of flat ground available,so isolated with only boat access.Another early start, for the 32nm run to Cape Bowling Green.The anchorage there is behind the sand spit & we have heard a lot of bad reports about it.We are going to be there by 1300 as we are really trucking along.I have been having a play with the auto pilot to try and make it more responsive in these following seas & it seems to have worked.1300 hrs & we are working our way along the sand spit, a bit nervous,as the wind is blowing 25knts.This anchorage looks terrible with white caps all thru it & the water is so shallow.Any way I drop the sails then yell to Donna that we do not seem to be going forwards,so give the engine some more revs.Her reply was that she already had the throttle hard down, so back to the cockpit I go & after a quick conference we decided to make sail & head on thru to Townsville.Looking at the chart we had 35nm to go which with the current wind would give us an ETA of around 2000hrs.

We are so excited about arriving in Townsville,especially Donna who lived there for 3 years in the 1980s.So while Kidnapper happily sailed herself along,we hunted out the large scale chart of Townsville harbour & studied up the entrance lights.We decided to anchor for the night in the pond which is behind a break water out side the marina.The only problem was that the chart only showed a depth of 2mtrs.During the day we had discovered that the toilet was blocked,so now that the seas had abated,it was time for me to pull it apart YUK!! 3 hours later it was all fixed with a new piece of hose,thank god we carry spare.Plus I pulled all the fittings off,right back to the thru hull valve & removed the build up of calcium,which had caused it to block in the first place.

1800hrs & we are rounding Cape Cleveland,not far now,we can see the lights of Townsville.2000hrs & we have the anchor down,but it is real shallow,so have moved to a maybe better spot.Will we be on the bottom at 0500hrs?it will be close but it is mud so who cares.A rum some tea & sleep is more important.0800 the next morning & yes we just stayed afloat,we are off up Ross Creek to a spot that we can anchor in right in the city centre.What a great place we have the anchor down in a corner of the creek,with the old Townsville marina just a short dinghy hop away.There are 2 high rises being built on the banks right behind us.Murray & Elly have phoned to say they are in Townsville & are only a few minutes away,so it's a rush to get the dinghy over so I can pick them up.So great to catch up with them & here all there experiences from their bus trip to Cairns.What a great thing having wheels,they have driven us everywhere.Boy are we back in the tropics the days are so hot with the night time temperatures only dropping to 19 to 20c.Murray & Elly have headed off for a few days to check out some storage for their bus while they are back in NZ,so we are going to explore the city & do some boat chores.Donna has found the old pub that she used to work at,also the block of flats just down the street were still there.So a great trip down memory lane for her.The main shopping centre is quite run down,which is a shame as there is still a lot of the old buildings from the 1950s era still standing.

The Townsville Yacht & Motorboat Club are very friendly,allowing us to use all their marina facilities,for no charge, even tho we are anchored off.The whole place is really run down,but all the jetty fingers are about to renewed.

Well a week has flown by& we have done heaps of exploring.A great find was had at Break Water Marina chanderley.They are selling new generation LED bulbs to replace quartz halogen ones for $24 & were claiming that they give out the same light intensity.Well they were correct, so we have replaced most of our quartz ones & now use only a fraction of the power.

Murray & Elly have arrived back,so we have offered to take them over to Magnetic Island for a few days.

Mon the 8th Sept. We have been anchored in Horseshoe Bay for 4 days & are in no hurry to leave.We love this island it is relatively undeveloped with lots of national park.All the locals are so friendly.There are a lot of walks to the various bays.We hopped on the bus with Murray & Elly for the 15min ride back to Nelly Bay,where they were catching the ferry back to the mainland.Sad to see them go.We then set of to walk the streets of this little township. Just about all the houses are set amongst tropical bush ie palms,bananas & pawpaw.Some are well up of the ground,in amongst the trees & barely visible from the street.There is 4 villages on the island Nelly,Arcadia,Picnic & Horsehoe,all with golden sand beaches.

It is raining today tho the temp is still 25c.Donna is doing some hand washing in the cockpit,while I finish this news letter.Some switched on person has put in an internet ariel here for boaties & there is about 30 of us anchored in the bay,so will be able to send.We will be stopping here for another couple of weeks,enjoying the walks,beaches & cafes.

Our news letters are also on the Waikawa Boating Club web site,click on members news.Thanks to Katy.We are also famous with an article on Kidnapper in the Coastal Passage.This free boaties mag is widely read in Queensland & also has a web site.Well enough bragging,time for a Tanna coffee.

Terry & Amanda,how is the work on Clarky going?

Hope you are all well & you guys in Kiwi land are surviving the winter

Cheers

Donna and David

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Hi all

We are at anchor in Cid Harbour,Whitsunday Island.For the nautical minded 20.15 S 148.56 E We had a busy 2 days in Keppel Bay marina,barrowing 50litrs of diesel from the garage.The reason for this is if we go to the fuel jetty we have to pay an extra 8 cents per liter,because we are not a Queensland registered vessel.We also did a load of washing & topped up our water tanks.The next morning we hopped on the bus & went into Yeppoon.The developers have still to reach this neat little seaside town,with lots of old shops & Queenslander houses.

The run up to Port Clinton was approx 50nm,but we needed to be away by 0430 to have the tide running with us.Another early start yuk.Once outside the marina there was a lumpy sea running,but we had wind 12 to 14 knts from the SE.Managed to sail most of the 50nm,tho every time the wind went under 12 knts there was lots of slatting & banging.Finally ended up running wing & wing with preventers & down hauls everywhere.Port Clinton is part of the shoal Water Bay military training area,also includes Pearl Bay & Island Head Creek,all boaties havens.Unfortuantely only the Southern end of Port Clinton was open as an exercise was in process.Port Clinton was a busy place that night with us sharing the anchorage with about 8 other boats, that were also heading north.These estuary anchorages have a beauty of their own,but man does the tide run fast in & out of them.A weird feeling being anchored but the log registering 1.5 knts.

Well I am back again.I have been busy,pulled half the sails out of the fore peak to fix an annoying leak,water coming down the outside of the chain pipe from the anchor winch.Donna is busy making a loaf of bread,also making some muffins for lunch ,yum.This is what us cruisers do on wet & windy days.

Back to our trek north.Another early start from Port Clinton,another day of no wind ,dam!!.We were going to take the inside route this time,to see some new islands.But with little wind forecast for the next 3 days & being a full moon the tides are huge.So have decided to take the same route as last year,less tide.The last 2 hours into Hexam Island we had 2knts against us, so was pleased to get the anchor down.Last year when we were anchored here we rolled something terrible,but the sea was so flat,that we hardly moved all night.Another day and a long haul to Digby Island,still very little wind but managing to motorsail,so speed over the ground is a good 6.3 knts.The day time temperatures have really risen as we get closer to the tropics & the duvet has gone from the bunk yeah!!Whales at last,but only at a distance.Lots of breaching.

Had a wonderful evening at Digby,sun set fantastic,no rolling.But by midnight the rolling had started,even tho the ocean was so flat.could not sleep.So at first light we were underway to Keswick St Bees Island.Whales up close at last,passed one just laying on top of the water.Then further on one was breaching.What an amazing sight to see these huge creatures just launch them selves out of the water.We felt so privileged to witness this from so close.Things are happening on the weather front.A big fat high,anticyclone is on its way across the Australian Bight.This BFH will kick start the Trade Winds again.But the worry is that a tropical low may be going to develop in the north Coral Sea,so watch this space.

Dave & Lynn of Vittoria had told us about some moorings in the channel between St Bees & Keswick Islands.Well we are now tied to one after another 42nm of some sailing but mostly motor sailing.Tomorrow we will only have a 26nm run to Port Newry which is a couple of islands just of the coast 23nm north of Mckay.We intend to spend a week here as the whole area sounds great.1545hrs,have just listened to the forecast,sounds like a low is going to develop to the north of us,causing a squash zone.We are very weary of these as all sorts of weather nasties can happen.So out with the cruising guide for the Port Newry area.We are not to sure what the shelter will be like their.So it's a unanimous decision to head to Cid Harbour,where we no there is good shelter.With 52nm to run to Cid we decided that we could make Brampton Island before dark,which would reduce tomorrows run by 12nm.The next morning at Brampton we awoke to misty rain with poor visibility.We were about start the engine,when these weird noises started emanating from under the boat.We both looked at each other WHALES,ran on deck to see a mum & her calf just mucking around in the bay.We upped the anchor & as they were on our course headed over,then switched off the engine & drifted past them.Once again no wind as well as 2knts of tide against us for the 1st 4 hrs.The tide changed as we closed Hamilton Island,yeah the GPS is showing 7.2knts.Arrived Cid at about 1430 & yes managed to get right into the Southern corner.Boats coming from everywhere now that they are forecasting 30 to 40knts for the next 2 days.Last night the storm reached its peak with winds gusting up to 30knts & torrential rain.About 10pm a few charter boats started dragging their anchors in Nara Inlet, a couple of miles from us.We felt so sorry for them as it was black pitch & they just didn't have a clue about what to do.We have had that much rain that we have filled our water tanks Donna has used all the water in the dinghy to do the washing,so there is clothes hanging all over the boat at the moment.

28th July.What fantastic weather we are having.Have spent the last 4 days beaching & walking some of the tracks.Spent a night at Tongue Bay,walked to Hill Inlet.A huge area of white sand & turquoise water.Hill Inlet is just west of WhiteHaven Beach,but with out the crowds of charter boats,helicopters,float planes & gin palaces.Tongue Bay is home to heaps of large turtles,that were surfacing right beside us.You here them taking a large breath,then under they go again.I have been trying to get the ultimate photo,but the one enclosed is the best so far.Well we are going to have to head over to Airlie Beach on Wednesday as we are low on diesel & fresh food.Also I noticed that the anchor winch is leaking oil out of its gear box.The owners manual had the Australian dealers number in it.So by standing up on the cabin top could just get enough phone reception to ring them in Brisbane.They have an agent here in Airlie Beach,who will replace the faulty seal,so yours truly will have to dismantle it & get it ashore.When you live on your anchor it is so important to have a functioning winch,that we will not head further north till it is fixed.

The anchor winch has been a major,after 4 hours of banging,levering & cursing I could not budge the gearbox.The agent told me that the Maxwell freedom series have a major problem of salt water ingression into the alloy casing which is splined & that they have smashed many a gearbox trying to part them from the main shaft.How could it be so corroded after only 2 years?They said that they should be assembled from new with copious amounts of anti corrosive grease.Then completely disassembled & regreased yearly.Well one of the guys came down & between the 2 of us we managed to free it.The top plate on the gearbox was nearly corroded away around the shaft seal,so more money.Hopefully up & running tomorrow.

Have met up with Murray Barlow over at Cid Harbour.So good to have a yak with a Picton ite.Also had a phone call from Murray & Elle.They are going to be in Airlie Beach on Saturday,so we will be going out to watch the All Blacks thrash the Aussies!!!

We have been hearing about all the major weather events in NZ at the moment,hope you are all okay.

That is all for now as I want to send this while we are still in internet range.

Cheers D&D

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Gidday from Queensland
Our last few days in Mooloolaba were full on attending to all the last minute jobs that needed to be done.Left the marina at 0430 Thursday the 10th July.We had hunted out all our winter woollies as the temperature had dropped to 3c,it was freezing,with the local radio stations saying that it was the coldest morning in 3 years.This was just what we needed to hurry us along to the tropics.The 60nm run to Wide Bay Bar at the bottom of Fraser Island was an uneventful trip with flat seas & little wind. Dropped the pick at Pelican Bay at 1600 hrs.Sat on deck & had a couple of rums to celebrate being cruising again after 7months in the marina.
The next morning we were off at 0900 to take the incoming tide up to Sheridan Flats,with 12knts of cold Westerly blowing we had a great sail with 3knts of tide under us. Half way thru the Sandy Straits the tides change directions, so we had a knot against us for the last 6 miles.We just love the scenery in this area, it is so different, with lots of Pelicans & Turtles. Stopped the night at Mckenzie Jetty.0530, we hate these early starts, but have 50nm to run to Bundaberg & need an out going tide from the Sandy Straits. Well after a few minutes of motoring we noticed a change in the exhaust note, on inspection there was very little water coming out, so we turned around & re anchored. The problem turned out to be a large lump of grass stuck between the thru hull valve & the filter. This only delayed us an hour & we were off again. Arrived at Bundy after once again very light winds. But did mange to have the motor off for a couple of hours. The high light of the trip was having dolphins playing around the bow, no whales.The next morning we were on our way by 0330. The deck wash hose that I was determined to fit after our last anchoring experience in Bundaberg worked a treat, blasting the copious amount of mud off in no time. Yes we have wind!!! Once out of the river & clear of the shallows, we pulled up the no1 poled it out & ran wing & wing for Pancake creek 60nm to the north at 5 to 6 knts South Easterlys at last. Unfortuantly by 1300 we had to start the motor. Arrived at Pancake creek at 1530, a long day. Lots of other yachts anchored in this great place about 20nm east of Gladstone.We are really part of a large migration heading north for the winter.Yeah a sleep in, left Pancake Creek at 0800 for Hummocky Island which is just north of the Tropic of Capricorn only 47nm away. The radio announcer at Gladstone was saying that at 0800 the temp was 20c & the high for the day was 26c, time to remove the Duvet from the bed & get back into the shorts. What a beautiful sunset heading into Hummocky Island. Had our rums on deck as we motored in. Still no wind today so we had to motor the 20nm to Keppel Bay marina. Our current position is 23.09 s 150.47e. We are stopping here for 2 days & then will head north again. Tomorrow we will catch the bus into Yepoon and have a look around.The trip has been a lot easier than last year, now that we have local knowledge. Well it is time to join Donna in the cockpit for a sundowner. The photos are under sail, the big rock behind Keppel Bay marina & Donna cleaning our clears.
Cheers
D&D

m

Tuesday, July 01, 2008 12:44 PM

Hi everybody
Well as you have probably all heard by now,we have decided to spend another year here in Queensland.We are both excited about heading north next week, it will be great to be back in the tropics again. Tho we are having a fantastic winter so far here in Mooloolaba, 20c already & it is only 10am. Kidnapper is looking real good with lots of tlc been done over the summer months. Donna has also been varnishing downstairs, a terrible job having to strip all the old stuff off. Right now she is cleaning & doing a full inventory of all the lockers, what a great girl!!
Our trip plan if the weather is good is to basically head straight to the Whitsundays where we will spend a couple of weeks.Then head to Magnetic Island & Townsville.After a few weeks in this area we will island hop to Cairns,then on to Lizard Island,which is about 900nm north of here.We have heard lots of good things about Lizard,so are keen to check it out.The only down side is that the Trade Winds blow very strong at the top end of Aussie,making it a hard bash to windward to get South again.
Well I had better be off & tick off some more jobs that need to done.
Cheers
D&D