Gladstone to Whitsundays

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="1ccd05a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>DRUMBEAT</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="DRUMBEAT"><B>home</B></A></div> <div> back to  <A HREF="id94.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Voyages"><B>Voyages</B></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="1cdd2123.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="id153.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Launch">Launch</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id165.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="First Trip Out">First Trip Out</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id201.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hervey Bay">Hervey Bay</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id202.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lady Musgrave Isl">Lady Musgrave Isl</A></div> <div> <B>Gladstone to Whitsundays</B></div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <IMG SRC="551a93f0.jpg" border=0 width="425" height="319" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="30" VSPACE="0">After 3 days at Lady Musgrave, a low formed in the Coral Sea and was predicted to turn into a cyclone, so we headed for Gladstone Marina on the mainland.  The seas were calm, with a 10 knot easterly.  An uneventful motor sail, until we passed amonst some 13 ships anchored out from the harbour, waiting their turn to be filled with one of the many natural resources exported from Gladstone.  We were passing about 500m from one, the 'JP Verdure', when they called us up on the VHF radio.  They complemented the boat, and asked us to come a bit closer, which we did, coming within 100m.  Quite impressive.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5533fa90.jpg" border=0 width="319" height="425" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="25" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Damo spotted the lure 'go off' and was therefore entitled to pull in the fish, a nice mackeral.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="557a93f0.jpg" border=0 width="425" height="319" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="25" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Gladstone is a freindly place, with reasonably priced marina facilities, although they are showing signs of aging. We intended to re-fuel and continue up into the 'narrows' to see what the cyclone was going to do, but as we were maneuvering onto the fuel jetty one of the gear linkages broke, leaving us (un-beknown to us) with one engine stuck in forward.  The fuel jetty is quite small, and in a reasonably confined space (when viewed from a 19m  x 8.3m catamaran that only wants to go in circles), and it was only by the grace of God thata we got out of there without hitting something!!</div> <bR> <div> We decided to take a berth instead, and after the second attempt were able to tie up.  It was then we discovered what the problem was.  It took 3 days to get over that one!!  We ordered the necessary parts, and by this time 'Cyclone Larry' was bearing down on Innisfail, so we stayed put.  'Larry' was followed closely by cyclone 'Wati', which come down towards us, but then stayed well out to sea.  </div> <bR> <div> We had the cover for the mainsail sent up from GM Sails, along with a headsail borrowed from 'Another Angel', belonging to our friends Brian & Jan Dodds (from Innisfail).  They were having new sails made by Gordon at GM Sails, so he sent the old heady up with the sail cover.  'Another Angel' is a Chincogan 40' catamaran, so the sail was a bit small - something like a #3, but better than nothing.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5593fa90.jpg" border=0 width="319" height="425" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="25" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> We left Gladstone on Monday 27th March with a few more odd jobs done on Drumbeat, and happy to have the industrial fallout behind us.  We motored through the 'North Passage', and keeping Curtis Island to port headed for Cape Capricorn in a light 10-12 knot SE breeze.  Not enough wind to sail north in, so once again the engines got a work out.</div> <bR> <div> The anchorage at Cape Capricorn was quite rolly, so we went in to 'Yellow Patch', which is a tidal creek with a few areas deep enough to anchor.  When the tide was low, we would go over to the sand hill with the boogie boards and slide down.  Damon was pretty crazy, and went to the top after a couple of test runs lower down.  Haley was a little more reserved, but eventually did some rund from the top.  Brian even gave it a go!  What a blast!!     </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="55b3fa90.jpg" border=0 width="319" height="425" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="55da93f0.jpg" border=0 width="425" height="319" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="25" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Although it was nice and peaceful in the creek, we wern't overly keen on the tide changes, when Drumbeat would swing on anchor.  19m yachts are not the best 'gunk-holers', so we decide to leave for the Keppel Islands about 25 miles north.  </div> <div> <IMG SRC="55f3fa90.jpg" border=0 width="319" height="425" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="25"></div> <bR> <div> An easy run, arriving at the anchorage off the resort at about lunch time.  We only stayed a couple of hours, as the tide was going out and we looked like touching down on the sandy bottom.  We headed for North Keppel, and anchored in Considine Bay.  We no sooner had the anchor set, when Brian downloaded the weather, saw that it was a 10-15 knot easterly and we decided to keep going!  Next stop, Middle Percy Island, a further 95 miles.  We got in at about 1 am, anchoring in 'West Bay'.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="561a93f0.jpg" border=0 width="425" height="319" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="25" VSPACE="25"></div> <div> Next morning, we went ashore to explore the huts, crack a coconut and veg out.  We noted that the hut was cleaner than the last time we were there (1993), but was missing the various goods which were previously available for purchase (honey, jams, goat skins etc).   Quite a unique place with a lot of history.</div> <bR> <div> After lunch we left and headed for Scawfell Island, about 60 miles to the North West.  Once again, light breezes kept one of the motors going, but we arrived before sunset, anchoring in the spectacular 'Refuge Bay'.  </div> <bR> <bR> <div> We were getting close to 'Home' and were keen to get back, so next morning we continued on in similar conditions. through the southern Whitsunday Islands, arriving at Chance Bay on Whitsunday Islands southern side.  Damon was keen to go fishing, so Brian and he took the dingy over to the reef, where they caught quite a good feed of fish.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="58ea93f0.jpg" border=0 width="425" height="319" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </td> </tr></table></body>