Returning to Brisbane (again – damn Covid)

by | Jan 17, 2021 | Australia, Coral Sea, Covid, Fraser Island, Queensland Coast | 0 comments

Wow! I can’t believe my last blog was Oct 13 at Bluewater Marina – Noel is so much better at this than me but for good order sake as we use our blog like a log book I will complete this years sailing route:

Oct 16th we left Bluewater marina, yes I can say I have been in a cyclone rated marina in the middle of mangroves and shallow water, we headed to Low Isles to anchor over night before hitting a high tide into the marina at Port Douglas the next day.  Port Douglas was on the furthest north list due to the late sailing start, being stuck on the wrong side of the border. Yeah! We made it, but holy it is a lot warmer than I remembered.

Dave and I hit the hot spots, walked some tracks and beelined out to Vlasoff Reef on October 21st. We anchored at the small sand mound with a few other boats and hopped ashore on Maddie for a tiny and I mean tiny walk around. At first I thought someone had pitched a beach shade on the sand but turned out to be a small power boat with awning on the other side. I mention this because when we went ashore the power boat occupants were a little slow robing themselves, so what I remember about Vlasoff reef is that some dude flashed me his willy!

I wont bore you too much but the route from there went like this:

Oct 21–  Vlasoff reef to Mourinlyn Harbour

Oct 22 – Mourinlyn Harbour to Cape Richards. Saw a family of dugongs and a fly by helicopter looping us to see if we were fishing in a non fishing zone (of course we were not, but they can issue a $3,000 fine and would therefore, pay for the flight for the day so can’t blame them for trying).

Oct 23 – Cape Richards to Orpheus

Oct 24 – Orpheus to Horseshoe Bay/Nelly Bay – blowing north and sporting a new spotty mackerel catch we ventured into Horseshoe Bay because a few other boats had. (AIS stalking) it turned pie shaped by the afternoon and with a quick call to the marina in Nelly Bay headed there in the afternoon.

Oct 25 – Nelly Bay overnight to Airlie Beach – caught a marlin on route (escaped at the last minute thank goodness, and chased down the coast by a towing barge forcing me over to the shore more than I would have liked).

Oct 26 – arrived at Grassy Island 0500 hrs few hours sleep and off to the Coral Coast Marina to have the windlass looked at and meet up with our scheduled rendezvous with Wizard of the Wind.

Oct 30 – New windlass installed – engine oil change 3260hrs we left Airlie Beach to Turtle Bay great northerly anchorage. Met up with Suzie from Sophia for a catch up.

Nov 1 – Turtle Bay to Thomas Island south side

Nov 2 – Thomas Island to Newrys to hide out from some weather – Dave and Jon went ashore for a walk and were swamped on the way back in the dingy poor Dave’s camera lost function after that.

Nov 4 – Newrys to St Bees – all mooring buoys taken anchored in a small patch of 7 m for the night.

Nov 5  – Ste Bees to Middle Percy – Whites bay.  Trip ashore for a walk and internet connection up the hill hung out for a couple of nights.

Nov 8 – Middle Percy to Island Head Creek for another 3 day hide out from some strong winds along with a few other yachties, Lady Annabelle, Gradiva, Tregoning, Sophia.  Wizard of the wind and MAD hung out right down the inlet end and had fun games days to entertain ourselves.  Tucked into the mangroves brought on a cicada invasion yuck.

Nov 11 – Island Head Creek to Pearl Bay – bit rolly anchorage

Nov 12 – Pearl Bay to Great Keppel – Kia Ora caught up with us here

Nov 13 – Great Keppel overnight to Bundaberg.

Nov 24 – Bundaberg to Woody Isle – fire burning on Fraser Island

Nov 25 – Woody Isle to Kingfisher Bay – hired a 4 x 4 and went island exploring it was a blast

Nov 26 – Kingfisher to Garrys Anchorage – so calm stayed an extra night.

Nov 28 – Garrys Anchorage to Tin Can Bay caught up with Serenity VI (Steve) now travelling with Wiz, Kia Ora, Serenity and MAD

Nov 29 – moved to Pelican point in preparation for a morning exit across the wide bar bay.

Nov 30 – Crossed the bar and headed to Mooloolaba stayed in a great little spot for a few nights – Wharf Marina caught up with Mike and Helen.

Dec 5 – Final leg Mooloolaba to Bribie Island

Dec 6 – Bribie into Raby Bay where I booked into for a month to be close to Mom and Dads.

This sailing trip was an absolute blast, good crew (thanks Dave), good friends Jon and Linny, Frannie and John and all the others met along the way I will always remember this shit year fondly escaping on MAD and enjoying the east coast of Australia.

Some pictures to remind me when I revisit this trip ?

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