After a 6 month lay-up at The Boatworks in Queensland, we have finally returned to our Bossa Nova. Our boat has been well looked after in the storage yard with Neville visiting in March to check up on things as well as getting ahead on some jobs. Friends ask, “what have you got to do,… Read More »
We arrived in Queensland nearly three weeks ago. After 10 days of maintenance at The Boatworks we then spent 3 days sheltering in a marina from cyclonic rains and wind, 1 night on anchor in a calm anchorage and now one week in the Brisbane River at a slipway repairing our “bottom”. Things haven’t exactly gone… Read More »
We have just arrived at Garry’s Anchorage in the Sandy Straits. It’s a beautiful sunny warm Queensland day. After a midnight departure from Mooloolaba and a 9 hour overnight passage, it’s time for a lazy day. We were back on the water after a week of insurance repairs in Brisbane. We made the most of our… Read More »
It has been a while … We picked up Tim and Abbey from the Hervey Bay airport two weeks ago and they have just left us, flying home from Rockhampton. We had a great time – 4wdriving on Fraser Island, a night at Lady Musgrave Island, a few nights in one of our favorite anchorages,… Read More »
After our over-nighter at Lady Musgrave we sailed in to Pancake Creek. We only managed one night at Pancake Creek last year so staying longer was on our ‘must do’ list this year. Pancake Creek is a pretty inlet with sandy flats on one side and a sandy beach on the other. It changes dramatically… Read More »
I find these sand crabs fascinating. The ‘art’ they create is so intricate and so neat, it’s amazing. There’s often a floral pattern in the way the tiny sand balls have been placed. When walking at low tide on the beach near the Keppel Bay marina, I discovered a whole section of the beach just… Read More »
After five days of being in the ‘wilderness’ (no phone reception) we have arrived in the Whitsundays this afternoon. We are collecting friends tomorrow from Airlie Beach and looking forward to having crew on board! We left Keppel Bay marina nearly a week ago after experiencing a very big weather event (yes another one, the… Read More »
It’s a dolphin … no … it’s a dugong … no … it’s a snubfin dolphin! When we first saw these dolphins some time back we were not really sure what they were, maybe not even a dolphin. They have a rounded head which was quite confusing. We are currently anchored in Wardwark Bay, near… Read More »
Last year we spent quite a lot of time here, nearly two months. This year our plan is to spend a few weeks, then head north to Townsville and beyond. We picked up Andree and Steve from Airlie Beach when we arrived and had a great week with them on board. Not the best weather… Read More »
There’s something comforting about visiting familiar places, but there’s such anticipation and even excitement when we visit new places. Our most northern stop last year was the Gloucester Passage, just north of Airlie Beach. This year we planned on sailing further north. And we have, arriving in Townsville yesterday afternoon. We spent a lovely few… Read More »
After a few days reminiscing in Townsville we left for Magnetic Island. We worked out it was 1987 when we first visited … in a 23’ trailer sailer called Southern Comfort. No we didn’t sail it from Melbourne to Townsville! We had three months long service leave, towing our TS up the east coast cruising… Read More »
Hinchinbrook Island is such a majestic island with its misty high peaks. It’s our largest island national park and known for its lush rainforest, long sandy beaches and mangrove filled channel. And for Zoe Bay! We spent a few days with Aqualibrium in Gayundah Creek in the Hichinbrook channel and lucked it with some calm… Read More »
Calm weather for few days! Zoe Bay then Otter Reef. The outer reef is quite a bit closer this far north so after talking to a few boats and getting a calm forecast we decided to head out to Otter Reef. We finally caught up with Chances too! I got to use my underwater Olympus TG4… Read More »
We are all set to leave Dunk Island tomorrow, heading back south. Our most northern destination for this year! We have had five very social days here at Dunk! We have met up with several other yachts, some known, some new. Walks, lunches at the sand spit seafood cafe, sundowners and then finishing off our… Read More »
After our five days of socialising at Dunk it was time to depart. Some boats went north, we went south. We set sail (ha! … lots of motoring) for the Palm Islands with Chances, Arkaydes and Rene. We weren’t quite sure how far north we were going to get this year. Starting at the Gold… Read More »
We have had a wonderful time at Magnetic Island. We anchored in Horseshoe Bay over week ago after a few days of provisioning, washing and cleaning in the Breakwater Marina in Townsville. So many boats at anchor. We regularly counted over 50 yachts alone. We met up with familiar faces including a big night of… Read More »
A great reaching sail in steady northerly winds on flat water Two fish caught … a Spanish Mackerel and a Northern Bluefin Tuna on our new rig Whales including a breaching whale off our port side Sunshine Drinks and a defrag with Chances Spanish Mackerel for dinner!
Seems like a long time ago that I wrote my last post, but not really. We have been out of phone range since then. After five glorious days at the outer reef we are now anchored at Stonehaven on Hook Island, near Hayman Island and its’ snorkelling mecca Blue Pearl Bay. After arriving at Gloucester… Read More »
One of our (my) ‘must do’s’ this year was to spend more time at the outer reef. But it really is all about the weather when it comes to the reef. We left Magnetic Island a week or so back (can’t quite remember, the days do blur in to each other). And then the weather… Read More »
Wow! Hardy Lagoon. It was a tad scary entering the lagoon. We followed Chances (who had been there before) which did give us some comfort, but as we approached Hardy Reef we did seem to be heading straight for the reef?! Hardy Lagoon has an ‘entrance’, but, it is a very narrow break in the… Read More »
Timothy came up this same week last year and it blew a gale all week. We rocked and rolled around the Whitsundays. This time we had blue skies, kinder winds and hot sunny days. Lots of swimming and snorkeling. We unfortunately didn’t get to the outer reef but we did get to some of the… Read More »
Most of my blog posts do show the ‘up’ side of our trip north. The idyllic, relaxing and picturesque lifestyle we lead for six months of the year is what sailing is all about for us. However it’s not always like this … but … we can usually find an ‘up’ side no matter what… Read More »
We only have four more weeks! Time for some reflection … One thing stands out with this year’s northern journey … it’s the people we’ve met and the friendships we’ve formed. We do occasionally travel in company and this year it has been with Gary and Annie on Chances (who we met briefly right at… Read More »
I’ve had a ‘bucket list’ of destinations for this year’s trip north. One was Yellow Patch and it did not disappoint. Yellow Patch is an anchorage on Curtis Island and it is known for its huge dramatic patch of yellow sand. A stunning sand hill is the backdrop in this sandy estuary. It’s a possible… Read More »
When we visited Lady Musgrave last year we knew we’d be back. Lady Musgrave is a coral cay. It has a tiny sand island at the end of its big blue lagoon with a coral reef surrounding the lagoon. We have just enjoyed such a memorable three days there … again. We arrived at Pancake… Read More »
On our last night at Lady Musgrave, we joined Gary and Annie from Chances and went ashore for our sundowners. We set up our own turtle watching station, out of the wind, on the western side of the island. There was 14 knots of wind blowing so we knew we were going to get wet… Read More »
We reluctantly departed our favourite Lady Musgrave for Bundaberg, once again at daybreak . We are getting very used to waking at first light but these Queenslanders don’t know what they’re missing with no daylight saving. The weather does dictate our passages …BUT we also had a 60th birthday to attend! Last year on our… Read More »
Today was our last sail! Mooloolaba to Moreton Bay with Chances (Port Stephens) and Pas de Chat (Port Macquarie). We have really enjoyed cruising with our new friends – Gary and Annie, and Jim and Jan. I’m sure we will see them again! 66 nautical miles. Top speed 12.6k (Neville says the instruments don’t lie!). Departure 4.15… Read More »
Our 2016 northern journey is coming to an end. Like last year, we’ve had the most fantastic time and also like last year, we are actually ready to return to our lovely home, family and friends. Here’s a few favourite memories … We have met so many great people this year. It has been very… Read More »
We have hauled out Bossa Nova at Boatworks. The packup has started. It’s very comfortable and welcoming here at Boatworks. A few friends are around too so the socialising continues. We have also caught up with our friends from last year, Leanne and Steve on Easy Tiger, who are visiting for a few days and… Read More »