1st to 31st August 2005

For the 2011 season go to mazziewhite.blogspot.com

Monday 1st August 2005 - Day 159 - Horseshoe Bay

Windy-ish overnight. Dull, overcast day with the promise of rain. Strong wind warning for today and tomorrow with winds 25—30 knots. We will see what it is like tomorrow and if it is too rough we may delay our departure for Townsville by a day or two. Geoff revamped our business cards and I updated our finances and this journal. Rained most of the day so we didn’t go to Arcadia to pick up the washing. Invited David and Annette over from ‘Top Gear’ for sundowners. An uneventful day. A tie in Scrabble until Geoff had one tile left with a score of 1 that he had to subtract from his score.

Tuesday 2nd August 2005 - Day 160 - Horseshoe Bay

Still a strong wind warning so we will go to Townsville tomorrow instead. We were going to pick up the washing today but Sue said they were going for a walk and then would be over and would bring the washing with them. Geoff has to drain the tender of rain water this morning as it was half full—what a waste of good water!  Sue and Arno arrived in the afternoon and we  played 500 and I partnered Sue. Both teams won a hand each so the decider will be played at Townsville.  Off to Horseshoe Bay for tea at Maggies. Afterwards, when Geoff and I launched the tender in the breaking surf, a large wave hit the boat and came over the both of us so we got soaked. Ah, well, that’s boating for you. I must have had a premonition that something like that was going to happen as I deliberately left my phone on 2AB (a thing I hardly ever do). Of course, Michelle rang so I missed her call—bumma. She’s of to Bali for 2 weeks so will catch up with her on her return.

Wednesday 3rd August 2005 - Day 161 - Horseshoe Bay to Townsville

Grey day but no rain so far. Note: We have use 10 litres of genny fuel since Hamilton 23 days ago. This works out at 50 cents a day at the most. Sue and Arno arrive about 1030 and we up anchored and set off for Townsville. It was a dull, overcast, drizzly and misty day for most of the passage. Winds gusted to about 22 knots with the seas about 1 metre>. Sue had taken a Sturgeron and was fine for the 2.5 hours it took us and even had lunch. We had a side berth that was reasonably difficult to get into as there was a boat either side of us but Geoff did it fine and another yachtie caught our lines so everything slotted in perfectly. Sue and Arno were quite impressed with the way Geoff manoeuvred the boat into the berth. I think they enjoyed the whole trip. Sue and Arno are here for 4 days now and we are here for a week. Geoff has, somehow, picked up a wireless network for the internet but it’s not marinanet so someone has an open network around here. A bit dangerous for them but good for us. Free internet! David, Sarah and Boatswain on “Baybird’ are docked on the end of our finger. Also caught up with ‘Sea Dancer’ on C finger when Sue, Arno and myself walked around all the fingers looking at all the boats. Wandered back to their unit picking up Singapore Noodles en route and played 500. The girls lost. Walked back to 2AB, a 15 minute walk. Very late to bed—after 12 o’clock!    S 19° 15.105 E146° 49.396

Thursday 4th August 2005 - Day 162 - Townsville

Quite an eventful day so far. Geoff has taken the davit bracket in to be welded. I’ve had a good haircut for $15 by a really nice lady barber. We have bought a SMEV oven with a 3 burner cooktop and decent grill and Geoff has been busy installing it.  He didn’t have all the fittings he needed but was able to scrounge all he needed from David on Baybird. It is in, it works and looks great. Although, the grill plate to hold the oven door open a little and to protect the knobs whilst grilling, is missing so the chandlery is chasing it up at the moment. I have made a ‘For Sale’ poster with photos to try and sell the old stove, the cobb cooker and a little 12/240 volt fridge we don’t use. We will see if they sell. Now all we have to do is chase up the freezer unit. Sue and Arno pooped by and we are meeting them at 1900 to go to ‘Tim’s Surf and Turf’ for dinner (the meals there are huge) and then on to the movies. It is actually a little humid today and we have had the fan going.  Geoff changed a section of pipe on the toilet system taking it down from 38mm to 25mm for the upward run to the anti syphon valve. Sue and Arno arrived and we walked into town to ‘Tim's Surf and Turf’ and each couple bought the seafood platter for one that easily feed two. Then on to the ‘War of the Worlds’. Geoff and I thought it was really brilliant but Arno thought it was just ordinary. Geoff and I will buy the DVD when it comes out.

  Friday 5th August 2005 - Day 163 - Townsville

Nice day so far, but it may rain, apparently. Picked up the newly welded davit bracket $35.75. Geoff also managed to get some wire from a marine electrician who was working on a boat nearby so was able to wire in the electronic ignition for the new oven. All we need now is the grilling plate. Arno and Sue popped by and we made arrangements to meet them later. We rang Waeco in Brisbane and got advice on what unit we want to make our ice box (old fridge area) into a freezer. We have now ordered it from a local dealer and it should, hopefully, be here Monday afternoon or Tuesday. We then headed off on our trusty steeds to the chandlery. I took Geoff the wrong way so we went way out of our way but did find another chandlery as well as Bias, our original destination. Did some general shopping and then back to 2AB for a quick spruce up and then, once again, headed off on our

trusty steeds up The Strand to the monthly market and met up with Sue and Arno. It was a very big market but mostly craft. David from Baybird said it was the sort of market he likes, where the money never leaves your pocket. Ate at one of the food stall there—Thai. Back to Sue and Arno’s unit to play 500. AND the ‘girls’ trounced the ‘boys’. It didn’t rain.

Saturday 6th August 2005 - Day 164 - Townsville

Geoff was up early as he couldn’t sleep. Nice day again. Geoff cycled up to the hardware store and when he went to pay for his purchases he couldn’t find his visa card so he rang me. As if I would know where it was! Anyway, I thought he had last used it at Bias so I gave them a ring and yes, it was there. So he will go in on Monday and pick it up. I then sorted out all the cupboards to try to make room for all the stuff I normally keep in the ice box area ready for when the unit arrives. I then gave it a thorough clean out. By this time Geoff had arrived back so he decided to give it a paint so it’s nice and fresh when the plate is installed. We won't know ourselves with a 100 litre freezer. It can be a fridge/freezer, fridge only or freezer only depending on what setting you put it on. I don’t really want to do the provisioning until it is in as it needs to be working properly if I am going to stock up on Sue and Arno popped by. They had just been to the Maritime Museum. Our berth is right next to the slipway for the boat yard and it has been very interesting watching the  boats being put in and taken out of the water over the last 4 days. I am amazed that everything seems to go according to plan. No mishaps so far. Another clean up day today.  We took up the carpet from the back deck area and washed and hosed it off. It was a bit pongy from the fish we have caught over the last few weeks. We then scrubbed the back deck and the seats and hosed them off. Once the carpet was drier we put it back down. Sue and Arno then arrived for sundowners (interesting note—Sue had never had a G&T before we gave her one this holiday). We then strolled along the promenade and bought fish and chips and headed back to their unit to play 500. AND the girls TROUNCED them again. ♫ We are the Champions ♫ Ra Ra Ra

Sunday 7th August 2005 - Day 165 - Townsville

Nice lay in today as the travel lift on the slipway is not working as it is Sunday (they normally start at 0700). Cooked bacon and eggs on my new stove top. It’s great. As I was doing the washing up Geoff said he could smell smoke and, apparently, it was a boat on fire on the Ross River just past the marina. We had heard the fire engines go past. We will probably walk up and have a sticky beak a bit later. Sue and Arno leave today and are probably sitting on the plane en route back to Bright as I type this. I then waterproofed our small rain catching canvas and Geoff has put in 2 spigots and hose attachments.  Now all we have to do is try it out when it next rains. Geoff also checked the old eutectic fridge wiring and it is all still there, working and ready to go. You can have a win occasionally—great! We decided to go to Jupiter's Casino to see one of the local yachties, Johnny, perform as a singer and to get the cheap $5.00 Roast of the Day. Geoff put his member card in the validation machine and won $10 so that paid for dinner. Mind you, we spent $22 on drinks and $5 in the machines. On the way back to 2AB I rang my dad and my sisters in the UK and had a good natter. Tried to ring Geoff’s dad but we think he may have dropped the phone as we couldn’t get through.

Monday 8th August 2005 - Day 166 - Townsville

We cycled into Bias today to pick up Geoff’s visa card then continued on to Mitre 10.  Bought Geoff a Bosch cordless screwdriver for his birthday. Found a Coles on the way back and asked if they deliver to the marina. Said yes, so spent $380 and left it with them. This was at 1330 and it is now 3 hours later and we are still waiting. Have since looked on the docket and found they charged a delivery fee of $3.85 a box which comes to over $26.00. We could have got a taxi for that price! You live and learn, don’t you! I have just rung Coles and it was not put on the delivery van and they said they would try to get it to us tomorrow. I said that wasn’t good enough and that I needed it today. Good job the only perishables I bought were cheese and bacon. It eventually arrived about 1800 hours and then I had the mammoth task of putting it away. During this time I decided to wash the Cobb Cooker as I had discovered it had been put away dirty. I asked Geoff to throw the small amount of ash away that was in the bottom but the steel plate in the bottom went over the side as well. Geoff tried to fish it out but we were in 5 metres of water and we were told it was thick mud on the bottom. So we didn’t find it so now we can’t sell the Cobb cooker unless someone wants to buy a new steel plate for it. So it will probably go for $50 now. Used my new oven for the first time and cooked baked potato,

baked beans, bacon and cheese which we haven’t had for over 6 months now. It was YUM.

New Freezer and

Vegie RacTuesday, 9th August 2005 - Day 167 - Townsville

It’s Geoff’s birthday today and I forgot to wish him happy birthday first thing—tch tch!  Did a huge load of washing and drying which took about 2 hours. Rang Battery World and our Waeco freezer unit has arrived in Townsville and is on the delivery van and they are waiting for it to arrive. At least we know it is in Townsville which is good. I then cycled to BiLo along The Strand and bought some meat. If we get the freezer in and working I will cycle in and get some more plus some frozen veggies. When I got back to 2AB we vac packed it all. One of the rolls of bags that Sue brought me up are faulty and will not seal so I will have to send them back to Retravision in Albury for replacement. The freezer unit arrived about 1600 and Geoff started working on it straight away. It was pretty straightforward, as boat work goes, and he had it installed by 2000 hours. Unfortunately, the 240 volt adaptor seems to be faulty so we will see if they have another in stock tomorrow. The grill plate for the oven hasn’t arrived yet, which is a bit of a worry.  Still, I have booked another day in the marina anyway but we want to be off by Thursday, weather willing. After Geoff had finished on the freezer we cycled off to Jupiter's for their extra special meal deal of $3 per person. We also splashed out on dessert too! So we spent $7.80 each and received a main meal, dessert, soft drink and cappuccino.  THEN— Geoff put $1 in the gaming machines so we were a dead loss to them. I wonder how many other people just come in eat and leave. Back to 2AB and the freezer is still working but not cold enough yet so Geoff has turned the thermostat temperature down.

Wednesday 10th August 2005 - Day 168 - Townsville

Up at 0730 for some strange reason. Geoff feeling a bit down.dont’know why!  Temperature in the freezer is down to –18° which is just right. Geoff rang Battery World about the adaptor and they have one in stock so will deliver it to us. Can’t complain about the service. Also, the grill plate has arrived but in galv not stainless steel but we will have to take it as we are off tomorrow. Anyway, we have now used the grill—toast for brekkie. I then cycled to the shops and picked up more meat, frozen veggies AND Ice Cream! I must say the backpack was very heavy on my back as I cycled home. Geoff then cycled to the Bottle Shop to replenish those supplies (once again the backpack was heavy) and then he went to the hardware store to pick up a few last minute items. I had asked him to buy me a paper towel/gladwrap and foil dispenser that he had seen on a previous visit and also a veggie rack. The veggie rack has now been installed and the veggies and fruit now stored on it. You have to keep all the fruit and veggies open to the air (except carrots which you have to wrap in newspaper) and my spuds were kept in a hanging bag above the starboard engine bay which meant Geoff hit his head on them every time he had to get to the engines. He then said he wanted to dump all the water in the midship water tanks as we hadn’t used them for a while and the water was getting stale. It is a good job he did as he found the salt water pump had cracked and leaked a lot of salt water into the bilge and probably/maybe contaminated our fresh water. So after mopping it all up he was off to the chandlery to buy a new one at $85. By this time the afternoon was wearing away and we had invited David and Sarah from Baybird over for sundowners. Geoff had just finished fixing the leak when they arrived. After the had gone we didn’t feel like eating tea as we had eaten too many nibbles and drunk too much alcohol. After a bit of a doze (alcohol makes you tired) Geoff fitted the 240 volt adaptor to the freezer. So I’m happy and he’s happy. He says he will now build a shelf unit over the freezer compressor unit as I have a bit more food stuff in containers without a home still. But we are getting there. It was actually quite a tiring day so off to bed we went at 2230 hours.

Thursday 11th August 2005 - Day 169 - Townsville to Magnetic Island

Sad new this morning even though we have kind of been expecting it for a while. Geoff managed to download our emails this morning and we had received a quick message from my sister Kay who said that my dad had been trying to contact us because Geoff’s dad was dying.  Apparently he had sent a text message and an email and I didn’t receive either. We were very lucky we had managed to get the email as we were just about to head off north again and, who knows when next we would have read them. We rang my dad, even though it was midnight in the UK and found that Geoff’s dad had  already died on the Tuesday—on Geoff’s birthday of all days! Geoff’s dad had everything prepaid for and pre planned so we don’t have to do anything. My dad is going to organise the wreath for us so we will ring him again tonight. It’s funny, Geoff has been a bit down the last few days and yesterday he wrote and posted off a letter to his dad. Now we realise he was already dead when he wrote  the letter. Anyway, we have decided to head for Magnetic Island for the next few days so we can get mobile reception and have a pay phone close by, just in case. We managed to get out of our tight little berth without too much drama, filled up with diesel, genny and outboard fuel and headed off and should arrive in Horseshoe Bay about 1330.. There’s a light swell but the seas are almost flat and the sun is shining. We have anchored and the wind is very light from the NE which means we, along with many others, are on a lee shore but it is so light that it should not be a problem. Geoff has written an eulogy for his dad and we are hoping my sister Kay will read it at the funeral. We are about to go ashore and fax it to her.  Back to 2AB where I used my lovely oven again. Chicken enchiladas, Mexican rice and salad. YUM. Game of Scrabble AND HE BEAT ME!     S19° 06.901 E146 51.687

Friday 12th August 2005 - Day 170 - Magnetic Island

It rained overnight. Well, it justs shows you how you could possibly get caught out.  Forecast for today is strong wind warnings of 25—30 knots with no mention of it on the weather forecast yesterday. Thank goodness we are anchored here at Magnetic. I wonder if the VP60 ariel display will go ahead tomorrow. Maybe we wll be able to test our back water catching system if it keeps raining. Eight days in the marina with perfect sailing weather, leave the marina and it all goes to pot. Has “Murphy”caught up with us? So—it’s raining and blowing which adds up to a boring day. Played Scrabble and it was a tie so I will definitely have to rethink my Scrabble strategy. AND it’s cold! Track pants, windcheater, socks and shoes! Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. But now, at 1500 hours, there’s no wind at all. Of some interest—there is a small coastal freighter (big to us but small for a freighter) called Lissa anchored in this bay. She’s been here for a couple of months, apparently. We have just found out it is owned by Chris Packer who was the guy who was arrested in Bali for having guns on board and not declaring them. This was just after Shapelle Corby was arrested. Anyway, this freighter also has a small barge which they use to take a small car (Suzuki or similar) to shore for the duration of their stay, whenever they can. Gives you an idea of how big their boat is. We have just watched them using a crane aboard the freighter to lift the barge with the car in situ on board. Must be on hell of a crane. Unfortunately it is too far away to show on a photo as we were looking through the binoculars. He must have a few dollars, I think. Sarah and David from Baybird told us all this as they popped by and came for afternoon tea. They arrived this morning as were watching a small drama unfold. A large motor cruiser (1/3 of the size of Lissa) was dragging their anchor and the owners were ashore so the crew of Lissa and another boat went on board to let some more anchor chain out. Yachties/Boaters are good that way, they always come to assist.irdIt takes the worry out of going ashore a bit. Geoff has fixed up my towel, wrap/foil holder and it’s good. Another turtle—probably the same one that lives in this bay. Made up a swag of fish cakes and have frozen some. Looks like the genny may be playing up as it keeps switching off. Hope it’s just a fuel problem.

Saturday 13th August 2005 - Day 171 - Magnetic to Townsville (The Duck Pond)

Very still overnight but the wind has picked up a little bit now and the waves on the horizon look a little large. Geoff looked at the generator to see if he can fix the problem. The oil light has come on. It is hard to notice because as soon as the genny switches off, the oil light also goes off. Geoff had checked the oil and thought there was plenty but the sensor says not so he has filled her up and it’s fixed the problem. We went ashore and had brekkie and a shower at Maggies. Checked my emails and there’s one from Sally and Polly. Replied to Sally but my time ran out just as I was sending a reply to Polly. Back to 2AB and Geoff has decided to go back to Townsville and anchor in what they call “The Duck Pond”, just outside the marina but still protected by a sea wall (a future marina development, I think). He thought it would be good to take this opportunity to enjoy the “Victory in the Pacific” celebrations. I am, as usual, a little concerned as there is a strong wind warning from

Cooktown to Coolangatta but, listening to other boats in the Townsville area, it seems to be more like 15 knots here. Geoff says we will pop our nose out and see how it is. It’s only 11 nm to Townsville so should be okay. I’m such a wimp, I think! An hour has gone past and it was a little bouncy to start with as we were heading straight into wind and 2AB is at her worst in those conditions but we have since turned and now have the headsail out and it is much calmer. I have looked at the wind speed indicator and the True wind is about 10 knots and nowhere near the 30 knots forecast. But, you never know with the weather and we still have over 1.5 hours to go. Anyway, it’s a little bouncy and we are pushing into wind and 2AB is at her worst then, but we should turn shortly and it should be smoother. I’m still trying to get my bowlines correct. I get them right one day and think I have mastered it and then the next day I stuff up. I think I must have a mental block when it comes to knots. Will I ever remember? Have just heard on the radio that the strong wind warning has been cancelled. We are now anchored in 3 metres off Townsville beach, a temporary anchorage just to watch the air display and, maybe, the fireworks. There are quite a few yachts anchored here with us. We’ve brought out the folding chairs and have our stern to shore which will give us a birds eye. Well, the airshow is now over and it was quite a disappointment.  The Iroquois winched someone up from the sea (you should have seen the spray it kicked up) and the Chinook had parachutists which was ok but the rest was quite boring.  One plane would fly by for about 10 minutes then 15 minutes later another plane would fly around for another 10 minutes. A shame as it could have been a lot better. I have just looked behind us and it’s like  Burke Street.  . I hadn’t realised how many boats had anchored after we had come in. The police boat has just come by and is moving everyone in the front back because, apparently, we are all in the exclusion zone for the fireworks. We had seen the yellow buoys when we came in and thought we had kept well back but they have decided that we are too close. So, as we have to move, we have decided to move to the Duck Pond as we think the view will be as good there and we won’t have to worry about finding a spot in the dark. And I feel safer there in case the wind picks up. Well, well, well—the fireworks have just finished after a 45 minute display. It was advertised as the biggest display ever in North Qld and we have just been amazed. Townsville, we now forgive you for the pathetic air display. I haven’t seen a fireworks display like that for a very long time. The delayed as they travelled from the display around to us had to be heard to be believed. The hills acted like an amphitheatre. Geoff took lots of stills and movie clips and they look like they will be good. To finish off, a F1-11 (we think) did an overpass with its after burners on. Really spectacular but so quick that we didn’t get any on film. Probably wouldn’t have come out anyway. But what a buzz! As I said before—brilliant. To finish off the night I had a call from Christine on Pure Magic as I had, apparently, rang them earlier. Must have knocked the phone button but it was good to catch up.

Sunday 14th August 2005 - Day 172 - Townsville to Herald Island

The Duck Pond is not so crowded this morning as a lot left after the fireworks. Geoff popped into the chandlery to get a tap fitting then plot a course for our departure to Herald Island about 18 nm north. The wind is very light (the forecast was for 15—20 knots) and we are lucky if it gets to 10 knots currently, more like 5—8 knots. We’ve put the Spinnaker up (it’s really an MPS—Multi Purpose sail as it is not symmetrical whereas Spinnakers are).  Putting it up was not without it’s dramas but it’s up. You have to work the helm all the time the Spinnaker is up so the auto helm is off and I’m at the helm. It’s very finicky and you have to keep the wind on it correctly. No wonder it’s called the ‘Divorce Sail’ but it sure is pretty. Eventually we had to take it down as the wind was so light it wasn’t doing much. It’s now 1400 hours and we’re motoring which is ok as the batteries needed topping up anyway.  Anchored off Herald island at 1450 at nearly high tide. Had to watch the bottom from the bow ( thank goodness for polaroids) as we came in as the bottom shelves quite quickly and is strewn with rocks and coral and suddenly you are on it. It’s like a mill pond here at the moment and we are the only ones here. We then went ashore and explored. There were a lot of small dead fish on the tide line and floating in the water. Have no idea what caused it. Trawlers work out of this area all the time so can only assume they dump the small fish that are of no interest to them. Also, Herald Island is smack bang (no pun intended) in the middle of the Halifax bombing area and the Island certainly shows the scars. There have not been any exercises in the past week otherwise I would have thought that this may have caused the fish deaths. A whale was found dead off here a couple of weeks ago and, we suspect, that the military exercises then may have had something to do with it’s death but it could have died of natural causes as well. Just a bit of a coincidence that it happened during bombing? Shame they have to have these bombings but I suppose it is a necessary evil.  You are not allowed inland only along the shoreline. Geoff then went off to some nearby rocks to do some fishing but, once again, he fed the fish. Geoff beat me at scrabble but only because I got left with a Q and I lost points and he gained them!       S19° 01.821     E146°  37.659

Monday 15th August 2005 - Day 173 - Herald Island to Orpheus Island

Up early as the wave action, although not bad, kept me awake once I had surfaced from a deep sleep. Grey at present but it’s only 0730 so it may burn off. Note: - Hey, we may yell at each other  sometimes (like yesterday—but a flash in the pan and over in seconds) but sometimes we make a cohesive team. Geoff noticed the Genoa furling sheet (it’s a bl*#*y rope) had got twisted off which would have caused havoc if we needed to get the sail in quickly. It was very lucky he noticed it and, between us, we sorted it like a well oiled machine.  These are the times we feel good. Got into Little Pioneer Bay, Orpheus Island around 1430 and, low and behold, there are 3 Marine Park buoys which take up to an 18 metre multihull and 20 metre monohull. The bible “Cruising the Coral Coast”  makes no mention of these so they must have been put in since 2003. There are white Marine Park

markers here prohibiting any anchoring inside the markers. I would guess to protect the fringing reef. That is probably why they have had to install buoys here as where we are is much too deep for a normal cruiser to anchor and it is one of the safer anchorages as you head north. We had to motor sail all day as the winds were so light. It’s a good job 2AB is economical in the fuel area. Forecast was for 13—18 knot winds but the average we got was 5—7 knots. All 3 buoys are now taken in this bay so I’m glad we got here early. We went ashore to explore. It’s a National Park and there are the remains of an old stone cottage where someone, many years ago, tried to make a go of an oyster lease. He had to give it away because of infected cuts. We saw 2 Stingrays in the shallows (you could almost stroke them) and on the way back looked at the reef through the bathiscope. You can see why they are now protected by the markers as a lot of it still show the scars from the numerous anchoring that has happened over the years. This is also where the Giant Clam was brought back from near extinction as they had been over harvested. They did so well that the Giant Clams were re-established in other areas. Good news! There are quite a lot of Mangroves here as well so we will have to watch out for the Mozi’s. The 2 trawlers that have been anchored here during the day headed off around 1800. I might get Geoff to pop over in the tender tomorrow to see if they have anything to bargain for. Nice little anchorage but a bit swelly at tide turn. The water us quite warm here but not  conducive for swimming as it is very weedy. Herald Island water was freezing. Did some fishing and got a few small ones that went back. We’ve also just arranged for some paragliding friends, Tony and

Carol, who live in Cairns to train down to Ingham and get a taxi to Lucinda and they are going to sail back with us. But—Carol is a vegetarian but eats fish. Bumma—as we put back the one decent fish we caught as it was only big enough for one. Should have kept it anyway as we now have a freezer. We will explore the Hinchinbrook area with them and then make our way back up to Cairns. I’m looking forward to their company. It’s now 2115 hours and Geoff has called me outside a he could hear whales blowing very close to 2AB. I heard them too but, even with a strong floodlight, we couldn’t see them—Bumma! As we are in quite deep water here, the thought crosses your mind that they may surface under the boat.     S18° 35.709   E146° 29.218

Tuesday 16th august 2005 - Day 174 - Orpheus to Haycok Isl, Hinchinbrook Channel

Received a text from Kay Adams this morning saying that Reno died last Sunday. It is always so sad when you lose a beloved pet. You only understand the sorrow if you have owned and loved a pet yourself. No sign of the trawlers as at 1000 hours so no goodies today and we need to head off.  Forgot to even think about snorkelling. A quick deck shower on the back of the boat. Thank goodness the only yacht left in this anchorage cannot see this terrible naked body. Not a pretty sight. It started off sunny but there is now a rain squall with visibility down to 1 nm but we are nearly through it. We are just coming up to the Lucinda Jetty which is a conveyor belt type structure projecting three miles into the sea. Ships load bulk sugar at the end of this jetty. This jetty shows up well on the radar.  Geoff read somewhere about the jetty and the curvature of the earth but I can’t find it anywhere so will have to get him to find it. It was very shallow coming past the jetty but it is low tide and we are fine with our shallow draft. BUT THE WEATHER!!! It has been drizzling all the time and the winds are very light. We had furled the Genoa but just as we were at the shallowest the

winds whipped up from 5 knots to 22 knots in the space of a few minutes. This meant we had to keep going until we got into deeper water with the room to do a quick turndown and into wind, get the main down and continue on our course. It takes us about 60 seconds, normally, to do this which we are quite pleased about. A cat following us executed the same manoeuvre exactly where we did it but it took him a lot more time but, as I said to Geoff, he may have been a single hander. The scenery, as we head up the channel with the mainland on our port side and Hinchinbrook Island on our starboard side, was really beautiful. The mainland is flat here, mangroves and sand and Hinchinbrook rises from the deep with striking hills covered with trees and rock with gullies of rain forest. There are crocs here and I’ve been looking for them through the bino’s but haven’t seen any yet. Anchored at Haycock Island around 1400 hours. The sun is trying to come out. We gave the boat a good clean up, not that it was really dirty, but guest always get you really cleaning up. It’s good as you often need a boost to do these mundane jobs. At present the anchorage is like a millpond, let’s hope it stays that way. At present Geoff is trying to catch some fish for Carol’s tea, but no go so far. Well—it is now 2000 hours and we had fun and games for the last hour. Just on dusk we thought we had dragged and it has taken us a good hour to move and find another spot that will hold. We’ve reversed the engines quite hard a few times to ensure the anchor is dug well in and it now feels secure. We were lucky the moon was out close to full as it gave us some light to see by plus we had a really good torch.

S18° 28.180 E 146° 13.160

Wednesday 17th August 2005 - Day 175 - Haycock—Lucinda—Haycock Island

Rained overnight so I had to close all the hatches so it was a little warm. We are still in the same spot this morning so the anchor held. My dad has sent a text saying that Geoff’s dad’s funeral is on the 26th and there has been some problems so we will have to see when we can contact them to see what is happening. Our small rain collecting canvas collected about 8 litres of water overnight which is better than nothing. Maybe we will get some more. AND now the brass work is all shining again—yep—it’s good to have visitors. We had a little difficulty getting the anchor up as the tide was against us and we had definitely ‘dug the pick in’ last night after dragging. It’s now 1130 and we are nearing Lucinda Wharf where we will anchor (well) and await our guests. We are motoring, of course, as the wind is on our nose but we have the tide with us and it will also be with us on our return as the tide will turn whilst we are there and it ebbs to the north. The 19th August is a King Tide and the 20th August is a Spring (not to be confused with the season) High Water Tide. A Spring Tide is when the moon is full or new and the tides are at their highest and a Neap Tide is when the moon is at it’s quarters and is the lowest of the tides. A King Tide happens twice a year, once in winter and once in summer, and the tide is at it’s very highest. “So here Endeth the First Lesson”. We’re now anchored and Geoff has gone ashore to pick up water in containers, just to top up. I'm staying on board to check we don’t drag but the anchor is well dug in. Geoff tried to take the tender to the boat ramp but it was too slippery as it was low tide. For every step he took forward he slid 2 back plus he was trying  to pull the tender with him. It looked so funny from where I was sitting. I am now watching him scramble over rock rubble that is part the sea wall.  Must be difficult with the 20 litre water containers full! I have also just watched a stingray jump out of the water twice. Didn’t know they did that. Playing or being chased, I wonder? Carol and Tony arrived around 1400 hours after a little detour to Dungeness and a tour of the cemetery. A little old lady had offered them a lift from Ingham as she lived in Lucinda and gave them the tourist tour. Scramble down the rocks with the big red case, on board, had a quick cuppa and then we are off back to Haycock Island.

Thurs 18th August 2005 - Day 176 - Haycock Island to Port Hinchinbrook

Took ages to get to sleep because of worrying about the tide against the wind. Got up a fewtimes to check and eventually got off to sleep. We’re off the Port Hinchinbrook today. We need to get there no earlier than  1645 hours for the tide as the entrance is quite shallow.  We have been sailing and have just stuffed up a tack and gone into irons so on goes one engine— cheating really, but who cares? Sailed, motor sailed, sailed, motor sailed—finicky winds. Anchored at Scraggy Point to wait for the correct time to enter the harbour. It was an uncomfortable anchorage and the tide was very strong. There are Aboriginal Fish Traps here but we didn’t get to see them as it needed to be low tide. Got into Port Hinchinbrook at around 1700 hours. It is very new, very clean and very nice and is $35 a night. Found out a trimaran had run aground coming into the harbour earlier as he came in the wrong time. Tony shouted us to the marina fees and dinner that night. Carol was far from impressed with her ‘Seared Tuna Steaks, my fettuccine was just ok but Geoff said his curry was yum.  S19° 16.711   E146° 02.685

Friday 19th August 2005 - Day 177 - Port Hinchinbrook to Dunk Island

Got up early to get the washing done, shower and shampoo. Leave the harbour at 0930 to be on the high tide to get out and also get to Dunk at low tide to be able to see the reef. It was very blowy and very rough on the way over. Carol took a sturgeron so she was fine. We anchored   at Dunk Island and then everybody was so tired, but not me, and they went for a 5 minute nap which ended up as a 3 hour nap. I then cooked tea and we watched the movie Mrs Collicott’s Cabbage War” which was a light English comedy.   S18° 16.711   E146° 02.680

Saturday 20th August 2005 - Day 178 - Dunk Island

Got up at 0600 to go to the loo and noticed we were extremely close to the motor cruiser we had anchored near. Woke Geoff and he decided we had dragged or, maybe, had too much chain out. Anyway, we decided to move and a good job too as we would have both touched.  As we started our engines the guy on the motor cruiser awoke and fended us off to my "I’m very sorry”. One of the problems at this anchorage is that no matter what type of boat that is anchored, they are all over the place. Some are facing the shore, some facing the sea, some facing right and the others facing left. After re-anchoring, I tried to get back to sleep but to no avail so got up. Once everyone was up the guys tried, once again to catch Carol’s tea and they caught a big Parrotfish and a large Slatey Bream. They continued fishing as the book said the Slatey Bream was only fair eating. Geoff caught a very large suckerfish, which went back. We then went ashore to explore Dunk Island and Tony treated us to lunch and then we walked into the resort (which day guests are not supposed to do) to have a sticky beak. Afterwards, Tony and Carol decided to swim back to 2AB which was quite a way out at well over 750 metres. Bugga that! They did it well and, remembering that they are in their early 60’s, I was very impressed Carol said it took her 350 strokes which was only half of what she normally does on a daily basis at Trinity Beach. The sun came out and it was nice and warm for a change. BBQ tea and played 500— boys one, girls one with the decider tomorrow night. A large Captain Cook cruise liner is anchored way out and it is lit up like a Christmas Tree.

Sunday 21st August 2005 - Day 179 - Dunk Island—Mourilyan Harbour

Left Dunk Island at 1000 hours. Winds very light so we hoisted the Spinnaker. It was a bit fluky to start with but it settled down when it got a tad stronger and we sailed under Spinnaker for the whole trip. Sunny day, calm seas, light winds in the right direction, great company and a great sail. Got to Mourilyan Harbour at 1600 hours and anchored in the Moresby River. Tony caught Carol a couple of Bream for her tea so she was set. This anchorage is very still but Mozi’s and sandflies abound so it’s up with the Mozi nets and early to bed as we have to cover 40nm tomorrow.
S17° 36.506 E146° 07.448

Monday 22nd August 2005 - Day 180 - Mourilyan Harbour—Fitzroy Island

Up at 705 and leave Mourilyan Harbour which was like a mill pond all night. Nice sunny day. An hour out and we’ve caught a 90cm Spotted Mackerel on the trolling line. A good 10 serves on him, probably. Yum. I don’t mind Mackerel as there are hardly any bones. 1100 hours and the Spinnaker (MPS) is up as the wind has shifted from WSW to SE at last. We are still motor sailing at present but, hopefully, we will be able to cut the motors soon.  Which we have and we are now sailing under Spinnaker and a poled out Genoa. Wade rang for a natter. The specialist rang to say they had a cancellation for Wednesday but they were a day too early for us. Let’s hope they have another cancellation in the not too far future. Nice day, lovely sailing with the Spinnaker only (Genoa is now in) at a rate of 5> knots. WELL, we have just spent the last 15 minutes yelling and screaming at a whale to put on a show for us. Sue and Arno said that when they went on a commercial whale spotting tour the operator got everyone to yell and scream to call the whales over to give a show. Sue and Arno thought their legs were being pulled to start with but the youngsters on the boat had no such inhibitions and as it seemed to be working Sue and Arno were soon yelling and screaming along with a the best of them. Well, it also seemed to work for us. Although he didn’t come any closer he certainly put on a brilliant display. He was quite close but, once again, too far away for the camera. You can see his tail in the short movie clip I took but you have to be looking. We then sailed through a large slick of the orange plankton that we saw a while ago. Great stuff for us all but especially for Carol and Tony. We managed to pick up a Marine Park buoy at Fitzroy Island but were a bit concerned that we were close to a large rock. A trawler was on the buoy next to us and could see us looking and the skipper said that we were fine and were further away than we looked. When we went ashore and looked back this proved to be correct. Perception is a strange thing sometimes. We went for a swim and did some cleaning of 2AB’s hulls at the waterline. The starboard inside hull needs a scraper on it so next time we go in the water (away from the mainland—country) we will give it another go. Had some of the Mackerel for tea in a mixture of plain and Japanese breadcrumbs and chips. YUM.

S°16 55.916 E145° 59.133

Tuesday 23rd August 2005 - Day 181 - Fitzroy Island

Up late and a good nights sleep. Geoff cooked bacon and eggs for brekky then we took the tender to shore. Went snorkelling on the headland and everyone, bar me, saw a school of Maori Wrasse (about 15). I saw some interesting coral but not as good as Cataran Bay. We then headed to the resort for a shower and lunch and we also picked up our emails from the internet kiosk. There was an email from Martin, Gill, Sue and Geoff’s dad’s solicitor. We then separated from Carol and Tony who walked to the Lighthouse whilst we did the Secret Garden which was a rain forest walk. What a delight it was. I started imitating one of the rain forest birds which actually flew to a tree next to us. Maybe I was pretty convincing.  We also saw Scrub Hens. Back to 2AB for a rest then back to shore to ring the solicitor to tie ends up. We don’t expect anything! Light tea of cheese on toast followed by cake and custard. A real healthy meal — I don’t think! Still, I didn’t feel like cooking. Geoff suggested one last game of 500 with the incentive of “Winner takes All’ and the Girls Won!

Wednesday 24th August 2005—Day 181 - Fitzroy Island to Yorkeys Knob

Nice day. Forecast is for 20—25 knot winds today and after that the next three days are forecast for 25—30 knots but we’ve booked into the marina at Yorkeys Knob for a few days. The crossing was pretty rough until we got past the headland when it calmed down a bit. We have had gusts of wind from the SE at 25> knots and have been choofing along at 6—7 knots. Now the forecast has been amended to a Strong Wind Warning for tonight and the next three days. Tony has been at the helm for the last hour or so and is doing well. He has to go back to work tomorrow (Skarden—100kms from Weipa), poor thing. A FIRST FOR US, Geoff has just backed 2AB into her pen. Good job Tony was here as an added bonus as I would probably have freaked out. But it was a good docking so I really shouldn't have worried. Once again, Tony and Carol treated us to lunch and then they caught the courtesy bus to their apartment at Trinity Beach, not far from Yorkeys. It’s quite windy now so it’s nice to be snug and secure. Just heard that a boat turned over in the Hinchinbrook Channel and two people were drowned. Geoff had already seen it on the news when we were at Fitzroy but didn’t tell me as he didn’t want to worry me. Apparently it was a small trailer sailer with seven people on board. They did say it wasn’t overloaded and had been caught by a severe bullet. And here was me thinking the Hinchinbrook Channel was a calm waterway. Geoff made up two certificates for Carol and Tony and printed them off and we caught the courtesy bus to their apartment. Tony cooked up Prawn Masala and rice for dinner—delicious. Carol then drove us back to the marina and will meet us tomorrow.

S16° 48.138 E145° 43.021

Thursday 25th August 2005 - Day 183 - Yorkeys Knob

Geoff has borrowed some CD’s from Tony and he’s now copying them.  We are slowly getting our collection back up after misplacing them when we hit the road for Queensland. We were woken this morning to the roar of jet engines. Seems this marina is on the flight path to Cairns airport. Half Moon Bay marina has wireless internet connection so we have paid for some internet time and will be able to get things up to date at last. Now he’s cursing and swearing as he tries to download the last Garmin update he has just paid big bucks for. He says Garmin are the worst company as far as getting updates. They assume everyone is connected to the web. So he tried ringing them to no avail so he has asked for a disc to be sent. This also causes big problems as we have to stay in an available area for mail collection for mail to reach us from Bright. Carol turned up just after 10am and off we went to find an upholster who would be able to recover our saloon cushions within three days. Big ask, I know. The first one we found said it would be a six week wait but put us on to someone else (an ex employee) who had just started up in business, Yes, he could do it but it would take seven days for him to get the material unless we supplied the fabric. He showed us what we would be looking for and off we went to Spotlight and found what we wanted and dropped it back. Then off to Cairns Plywoods to get two pieces of suitable outdoor marine ply, cut to size, for the back panels on the outer back deck area. The original ones were a real shoddy job and looked very amateurish. Then on to Whitworths to buy a few things including a back up GPS and a swivel for the helm seat. Drop off Carol and on to Woollies to reprovision , back to 2AB and stow it all away. Absolutely shattered so to bed.

Friday 26th August 2005 - Day 184 - Yorkeys Knob

Got onto the internet this morning and was able to send off my journal. I will try to update the current one before I leave this marina. Took the other set of cushions to the upholsterer and then we took all Geoff’s previous blood tests to the specialist. The specialist wasn’t there but his receptionist and assistant took one look at Geoff’s fingers and the photo’s he supplied and decided they would talk to the specialist on the Monday to see if they could get him in earlier than the September appointment he currently has. We then had to go to a normal GP to get a referral letter made out to Dr Bossington as the original referral was made out to Dr Pyle (sorry PROFFESSR PYLE. as we were told in no uncertain terms when we rang!) in Townsville. Without a proper referral we would only get $17 back from Medicare out of $190 but with a proper referral we would get $108 back. More shopping, but mostly window shopping and back to 2AB where Geoff started preparing the new TV antenna ready for installing WHEN/IF the rain stops. The trick, we’ve been told, is to take it apart, apply silicon to seal it, put it back together and then put it up the mast. Did my washing which had been soaking in Napisan and did the bank reconciliations and emails. Played Scrabble and I got beaten. Geoff bought two scratchies and we both won $6 each, although we were really hoping for the $200,000. We are staying at the marina until at least Monday when the saloon seats will be ready and to see if Geoff can get an early appointment with the specialist. Went to Centrelink to enquire about a health card but we have to wait another 6 weeks as I have received a lump payment from work during the last coupe of weeks.

Saturday 27th August 2005 - Day 185 - Yorkeys Knob

Raining again! Had a call from Marlene and had a really long chat and then had a call from Alli and Ned (dog) has hurt his hip/back but we also had a good natter. Winched Geoff up the mast to install the new TV antenna in between rain showers. I then rang my Great Aunty Evelyn in Atherton to say we would pop up and see her. It rained all the way up there and was very cold up on the Tablelands. Michelle rang while we were there and another good natter was had. Must be the day for phone calls. Aunty is well for her age and still has a very sharp mind. We raided her avocado tree before we left. Back to 2AB for dinner and watch the movie ‘Kangaroo Jack’.

Sunday 28th August 2005 - Day 186 - Yorkeys Knob

Rained quite a bit during the night and we got up late. Bacon and eggs of course as its Sunday. Big clean up today. Geoff changed the oil on the engines, changed the oil filters, water pump and impellers and checked the anodes. I cleaned the galley, oven and head area, We then managed to download the Volva Penta 2001 Engine User Manual and Workshop Manual from the web. We had been trying to find this information on the web for some time. I then did some web surfing to get my fix before we head off again. Caught up on all the emails as well. Received one from Sal and Martin and Sue and Arno. Sent an email to Barry and Helen, the previous owners of 2AB, to let them know how we and the boat were progressing. The boat is rocking at its berth so it must be quite gnarly outside. We then headed off to the yacht club for dinner but decided it was too expensive so went up the road and bought great fish’n chips. $10.80 for the 2 of us.

Monday 29th August 2005 - Day 187 - Yorkeys Knob

Woke up to some mumblings and grumblings from Geoff as our new Toshiba Quosmio Laptop is putting slashes in when he hits the space key. Geoff can’t fix it so it will probably have to go back to Toshiba which sn’t easy when you are on a boat. It does have an extended warranty, however, for three years. So now I’m waiting on the phone for the Toshiba help line to answer and all I’m getting is a recording saying how wonderful their products are — waiting, waiting, waiting = 4 mins and 10 seconds —I suppose that’s not bad as big companies go! It’s an 1800 number so I hope they’re free with mobiles., The tech has been quite helpful and has given Geoff a few things to try but it may have to go in for servicing and the closest service centre that handles Quosmio’s is Brisbane, of course. They do send a courier to pick it up and deliver it back and it takes about a week. We need it, of course, so we will have to try to live with it until we return to Brisbane. We will buy a cheap keyboard for the interim. Sun is trying to come out as we head off into town. We have to buy replacement oil filters and impellers (just what a girl needs). If course, the one place didn’t have all we needed so it was a touch of ‘ go here, go there’. The one thing about Cairns is that all the industrial stuff is all together in the same area so you are not travelling too far. Then on to Tricky Dicky to buy a cheap keyboard, fill up the gas cylinder (too expensive at the fuel dock),pick up the saloon cushions (they look good), buy some bolsters, go to  Spotlight to buy more material to make up the bolsters and then head back to 2AB. On route back we got stuck in a traffic jam. A garbage truck had overturned on the Yorkeys Knob roundabout. There were film crews there filming it all for the news but we never got to see the local news. Hope no one was hurt! We are going to Carol’s for pre dinner drinks and then out for dinner—No we’re not—the specialist has a cancelled appointment that Geoff can have tomorrow. Rippa! So we will stay here for one more day at least and take Carol out to dinner tomorrow. We spent the evening making up patterns for the bolsters, putting them together and sewing one (by hand) up. Looks good and we will finish the other one tomorrow. Also, the keyboard seems to be behaving itself at the moment so we will take the keyboard back tomorrow. (Thank goodness we have the loan of Tone’s car). Very late to bed—2345.  Painful indigestion from fast food Chinese I had for lunch.

Tuesday 30th August 2005 - Day 188 - Yorkeys Knob

Woke up very late and its sunny. The space bar is still playing up and the new keyboard doesn’t have a USB connection so it has to go back anyway. Geoff is now doing a thorough virus and pest check. It’s also Geoff’s dad’s funeral today so we will be thinking of them as we go to bed. We then headed off to the specialist and went in on time! He was very nice (not up himself) and thorough. Seems like Geoff may have Scleroderma but has to have more blood tests to make sure it is that, what type it is and what the treatment should be. It’s treatable but not curable and usually is more common in young women. He’s also given him a spray to try out that you spray under your tongue. It’s really for Angina but a side effect is that it makes the end of your fingers warm and pink. Went off to get our $108 back from Medicare and had lunch. I had Chinese again (different one from yesterday) but got the same pain below my ribs as yesterday. Indigestion? Reflux? Gall stones? Back to 2AB to change and then on to Carol’s for pre dinner drinks and then on to ‘Mother India’for dinner. Couldn’t eat it all but it was nice — the pain was still there. I will eat carefully for the next few days. Back to 2AB for a cuppa and hugs for Carol in case we don’t see her for a while.

Wednesday 31st August 2005 - Day 189 - Yorkeys

Bad night and felt a bit nauseous this morning and so did Geoff but it passed. Geoff cycled into Smithfield to get his blood tests done but there was one that they couldn’t do as it had to be kept at body temperature. So we are staying another day. Headed off to catch the bus but Geoff, being Geoff, conned a couple into giving us a lift into Cairns and then it was just a short walk to the pathology and straight in. Went to catch the bus back but I had inadvertently cut off the route so we were not sure where to catch it and we missed it. Taxi back at $26.50 — Wow! Carol rang to say the new Bug Zapper had arrived which was very quick as I had only rung them in Monday. Back to 2AB and take the opportunity of the extra day to get all the bed linen and towels washed and dried. Geoff is now preparing the back panels. Carol arrived with the new bug zapper and it is working hard at the moment. Mind you, since I have been taking B1 I don’t seem to get hassled by them. Made the bed and cleaned off the mildew from the bedroom. Mildew is a big problem on boats. We are now planning our route for tomorrow. We are going to Double Island for a couple of days to sit out a blow and then, hopefully, we may be able to get out to the reef as the weather is supposed to calm down for the weekend, even calmer on Monday/Tuesday which will be ideal for anchoring at the reef overnight. Must stay close for the doctors appointment next Wed.