GLOUCESTER ISLAND TO SHAG ISLET

Woke up to a very different sunrise with a sea fog surrounding Gloucester Island

We had to go though the Gloucester Passage at high tide as there are low patches in the passage. The passage is quite wide but you have to carefully navigate past the beacons marking the channel. It is a short distance across from where we anchored for the previous night so we had a leisurely motor across the bay.

 

 

 

We were able to pick up a mooring at Cape Gloucester Resort as the forecast for the next few days was for strong south easterly winds (20-25 knots) with a 2 metre swell. Being tucked in Edgecumbe Bay the conditions were much better but still windy with gentle rocking.

  

We were moored next to Shag Islet which is a small rocky outcrop, but amongst the cruising fraternity it is very famous as the home of the Shag Islet Cruising Yacht Club. For a one off joining fee anyone can become a lifetime Vice Commodore of the club. The club was founded

with the following objective:-

 

The concept is to create and maintain a Network for Cruising Yachties and individuals who enjoy boating. Each "Vice Commodore" representing an individual Nautical Location ie an Island, Islet, River, Bay, about which they have some knowledge so as to be able to provide advice or assistance to other "Vice Commodores" However, in SICYC, your social commitments could be your most demanding responsibility.

 

There are currently 6772 Vice Commodores including David and Sonia Williams.

The club also actively raises funds to support the Prostrate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

If you want to learn more





 You can see Shag Islet in the foreground.

 

Shag Islet is situated in the Gloucester Passage in the Whitsunday Region in North Queensland Australia (20 03.8 S ... 148 26.5 E). It is a small rocky islet with a beach which is exposed on the southern end on a falling tide.
There is nothing on the islet except at the annual SICYC Rendezvous when hundreds of "Vice Commodores' gather on the last week end in August each year.

 

 

The Cape Gloucester Resort does not charge any mooring fees, all they ask in return is for you to avail yourselves of their restaurant and bar which we certainly did as well as enjoying the beach

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOOK ISLAND TO GLOUCESTER PASSAGE

Finally time to leave the Whitsunday Islands and head for Townsville. First stop was just south of Gloucester Island. Could not have asked for a more perfect day - SE winds around 15 knots and almost no swell. Even had whales off in the distance.

A beautiful sunrise to start the day

Captain Sonia taking us out of the bay

A great mornings sail

 

Anchored at Little Jonah Bay

 

 

Realised that in all the posts had not shared with you any photos of inside Galadriel.

The master cabin

The Galley

 The Saloon

The Third cabin ("The Storage Room")

HOOK ISLAND

Spent the day “bay hopping” to explore the lovely bays on the northern side of Hook Island

First stop Maureen’s Cove for a walk on the beach to see how much coral damage was done by Cyclone Debbie. The beach is actually coral not sand.

 

 

Next stop was Manta Ray Bay where the fish are so tame they swim right up to your boat for food. Not sure if you can tell from the photo, the Marine Park Authority provides mooring buoys near the reef for you to tie up to so that your anchors do not damage the coral. Only problem is that the ropes are so thick they require a super-human effort to lift them up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our peaceful stay at Manta Ray Bay was interrupted by a rib from Airlie Beach that comes out so everyone can jump in the water and spend 10 minutes with the fish.

 

W also had another visitor, he was tame enough to land on the our whilst we were in the dinghy.

 

 

After lunch a motor back to Butterfly Bay out of the wind and some more snorkelling.

AIRLIE BEACH TO HOOK ISLAND

Departed Airlie Beach for a great sail across to Hook Island. With a 10-15 knot SE wind had the opportunity to unfurl the main sail and the “big sail” (the furling reacher). Spent the whole crossing with speeds of more than 8 knots.

 

 

 

 

Headed around the top of Hook Island past Hayman Island to anchor at Butterfly Bay. There are moorings in the bay which have a two hour time limit until 5pm. Luckily no-one arrived after us to we could stretch the friendship and stay over-night on the mooring.

 

 

 

Went snorkelling and saw the damage from Cyclone Debbie in 2017. Luckily there are signs that the coral is starting to recover.

AIRLIE BEACH

After cruising around the Whitsunday Islands and celebrating my birthday at Hamilton Island our plan was to spend a week at Airlie Beach at the Coral Seas Beach Marina.

 

The marina has great facilities including an “Ocean Club” which is a floating club house with showers, laundry and a BBQ area on the top deck.

 

 

 

 

 

It is a nice walk into town via a boardwalk and we got plenty of exercise to offset eating out every night.

 

 

• Night 1 (Sunday) – Shaggers pre-dinner drinks and snacks at the Hogs Breach Café followed by Pizza at “The Pub” which is the Airlie Beach Hotel
• Night 2 (Monday) – Italian food at Sorrento Restaurant at the Marina
• Night 3 (Tuesday) – BBQ at the Ocean Club
• Night 4 (Wednesday) – Dinner at the Pub
• Night 5 (Thursday) – BBQ dinner at the Ocean Club as part of the cruise rendezvous
• Night 6 (Friday) – Seafood dinner at Fish Devine and Rum Bar (you can work out what we had for pre-dinner drinks)

Proof of my exercise

 

HOOK ISLAND TO AIRLIE BEACH

Our plan was to head from Hook Island across to Airlie Beach. As you cannot "check in" to the marina until 12 o'clock we took the opportunity to sail from Marcona Inlet to Nara Inlet before sailing across to Airlie.

A southerly wind at 15-20 knots meant we had a great sail across to the mainland, doing around 7 knots with only the head sail out.

We are staying at the Coral Seas Marina (until this month it was the Airlie Beach Marina). They have spent a lot of money creating a really good marina with good facilities and lots of space. The only problem then is how far you have to walk.

Safely tied up at the marina in a 20m berth (which means heaps of spare space)

MARCONA INLET

Originally our plan was to leave Marcona and explore Nara Inlet which is a long bay almost like a fjord with an aboriginal cave but the windy conditions convinced us to stay in our cosy spot in Marcona. When the wind was not blowing conditions were almost perfect. Almost warm enough for T-shirts.

Hard to see but in the afternoon we were entertained by 4 dolphins swimming lazily around the bay and jumping out of the water. Of course they never jump when you have the camera ready.

Also caught up with some emails and work, cannot complain about this "home office"

HAMILTON ISLAND TO MARCONA INLET

Unfortunately our stay at Hamilton Island came to an end so we sailed up past Whitsunday Island to Macona Inlet on Hook Island. This was the same piece of water wjhere we had experienced the nasty conditions a few days ago, however with a following wind we had a pleasant sail all the way from Hamilton Island past Whitsunday Island to Marcona Inlet on Hook Island. Perfect sunnay day to say farewell to Hamilton Island. I am sure we will be back.

In Marcona Inlet we were able to tuck in close to the reef which made for a nice sheltered anchorage