Queensland Australia Coastal trip Pt 3

Great Anchorage at Digby Island.

For those who are behind the times, a quick
update. We have left our Looper boat , Movin On in Mobile for the American Winter (and to comply with our Visa) and have returned to Australia for a very hot summer. This blog is a continuation of a trip in our "fast" boat up to the Whitsunday Islands and return to the Goldcoast inside the Great Barrier Reef, off the Queensland Coast. A short 7 week cruise.

Steaming South on a great day, Percy Islands astern.

Saw several whales, however the zoom on my camera
decided that it  had had enough sea air and quit.

Coming into Port Clinton spotted our friends aboard Max's Pocket
A converted 55ft fishing trawler, Max is a brilliant fisherman
so the invite over for dinner was accepted quickly, the fish
meal was great.

Another well restored Grand Banks 42

If you look through the sun rays, you can see a cattle crossing,
this short cut, known as the narrows, can dry  low springtide, with
tides as high of 8ft you need to travel on the incoming tide.
Yes cattle cross at low tide. 

This is how close you run near the mangroves, so
stay in the channel.

4ft 3 inches showing, we draw 3 ft 3 inches, have a
whole12 inches to play with, although it had shown
only 3ft 6 inches a moment before I took the photo.

Makes great practise for The Great Loop.

We made it through without any problem, anchored up
for this great sunset.

And woke up to a lovely sunrise


Next week we make it out to a coral atoll on the
Great Barrier Reef

A day in New York July 2015

At the Great Kills Station, thanks to the harbour host , John
Calasciabetta for getting us there. He also took us to the Supermarket
and played a great host at the Great Kills Yacht Club

Going back a bit, but thanks to Bill and
Joyce, Gold Loopers on Carried Away, who we met at Cape May, and Buddy Boated with
for 3 weeks. Bill took these photos of us in New York, giving us a USB which I have just down loaded into my main computer. So some photos mainly of just us, felt like a celebrity, walking round New York being photographed, Bill is an excellent photographer, thanks for the memories.  We had a wonderful time here.

Train to the Staten Island Ferry

On our way

Fair bit of Bull about

The 911 Memorial area and gardens were just
wonderful, a must visit, we didn't go into the Museum as the
Queue  went around the block

Ice Cream, yummy.

Just being Tourists outside
Radio City

A buggy ride around Central Park with Bill and Joyce.
We hope to catch up in Florida in March.

For all you Chocoholics, a must visit, 3 floors
of M & Ms.

Backing out of our Slip at Great Kills Yacht Club

The Great Bridge over the Hudson river, heading up
to New York.

Going 9 Knots against a 3 knot current, tough at first, but when
tide changed an hour later we sure flew up the Hudson.

This was one of our trip Highlights, to go with boating
through downtown Chicago and passing the St Louis Arch. 

She says it all, I pray that this great country can recover
from all the problems it faces.

The Whitsundays Part 2 Australia.

This is a follow on from part one. We are back in Australia and will return to continue the Loop in February, This blog follows a trip up the Queensland coast, inside the Great Barrier Reef to the Whitsunday Islands and back to the Gold Coast ( 40 miles South of Brisbane )
Leaving Mackay Marina, the weather
Gods were still smiling

The Admiral, Doing what she does best.

Newry Island Anchorage, sat out a 50 knot Gale here
on another trip, great safe spot.

View back to our boat from Island

Dawn beachcombing, with new friend.

Our Das Boot again

Interesting reading.

Just Perfect

A Queensland sunset

This guy arrived and demanded a biscuit, ate one and
flew back with another



Dawn returning after snorkel, unfortunately
most of our dive photos are on the
computer back on Movin On, which of course is in Mobile Alabama. We are looking forward to our trip to the Bahamas, so should have some good stories and photos in May.

Hamilton Island, Home to Maxi Yacht WILD OATS.

Looks a bit like Canada, but is in the Whitsunday Islands

Offshore Island on our way South.

Back in Mackay Marina, after 11 days cruising around
the Whitsundays, We carried enough Fuel and water
so we anchored out every night, until our return here.

Remember a click on photo to enlarge.

To Whitsunday Islands Queensland Australia Part 1

As our boat is sitting on the hard in Mobile, awaiting our return in February to continue our loop, here is a little on one of our trips up the coast of Queensland Australia.

This was our Second trip North in our 36ft Fairways Fly bridge Cruiser Blue Mist. Powered by a
 single 240Hp Perkins Diesel, it was an economical engine using 11 litres Per hour (3 gallons) at 9 knots but capable of 16 Knots if needed. She would make a perfect Great Loop boat as it had good fuel and water capacity and only a draft of 3ft 3inchs. We started from our Marina at Hope Island on the Gold Coast, took the inland waterway to North Stradbroke Island to spend the night and wait for the weather to clear. We had been waiting 10 days for a break in the weather, as it is about 100 Nautical mile open water trip to Double Island point where we anchored overnight for an early morning trip over the notorious Wide Bay Bar at Inskip point. Enough chatting will let the photos tell most of the story.

After waiting out 20+ knots of wind
this is what we awoke to

Glassy sea , no wind.

Put the hammer down and on our way

Not great for sailboats

Anchorage for the night

Through the Mangroves of the Great Sandy Strait

Sunset Rosslyn Bay Marina

Maiden voyage of a self built cruiser, elderly owner
spent 7 years building this.

This is one special Grand Banks,38ft, one of 5 built to order
by the CIA, as spy boats in south America, the present owner
found it in New Zealand, restored it and motored across the Tasman
Sea to Australia, Her apt name, Shadow Trader.

Perfect Ocean cruising

Met the self built
boat at one of the outer
islands at a dive spot.

Our first dive here, beautiful clear water.

Ran into a coral spawn slick on way to Percy Islands

Then a sea fog descended, visibility down to 30 ft, great to
have Radar and Chart Plotter

As fog lifted slightly could see what the Radar showed,
over 40 huge bulk carriers anchored offshore.

Ships as far as the eye could see

Made it to MacKay Marina, how about 6 metre (20ft) tides.


I will continue next week.