Get lost with Russ and Margy

Whitsundays Day 5

Day 5 and we motored to Cid Harbour and did our first anchor successfully!! After an early lunch we took the dingy over to Sawmill Beach and chatted to a few people then started the walk to the top of Whitsunday Peak, the highest point in the Whitsundays. It was a good energetic walk uphill with of course, magnificent views for about 300 degrees. After a nut bar and some water and loads of photos we descended which was much easier than the ascent. We got back to the boat at about 230 and had a cooling swim off the back of the boat and I settled into reading my Adele Parks book on the deck, trying to stay out of the sun. Had another swim, then a shower and our last dinner!! So sad that this has come to an end.

Sawmill Beach in Cid Harbour

On our walk up to Whitsunday Peak

At the top

Sawmill Beach from the peak

Our last evening

Whitsundays Day 4

Day 4 and we snorkelled off the beach on the west of Butterfly Bay and the coral was the best we’ve seen so far. Our destination for the day was going to be either Blue Pearl Bay or Stonehaven, depending on the snorkelling and the weather. We headed up north of Hayman Island and Blue Pearl Bay was so beautiful. Apparently the diving was excellent but the snorkelling was good too, but it’s a no fishing zone so we moved on to Stonehaven for the night. It was a bit nerve wracking because we couldn’t see any moorings then at last we found one on the northern side of the bay. We thought that maybe it had been left because it would be more exposed to the wind but it was fine.

From the dinghy we checked out the reef but didn’t think it was going to be great. We met a couple who’d been snorkelling and they confirmed our thoughts. We got chatting and invited them over for dinner – Annie and Michael from UK. We had a fabulous evening of pringles, prawns with bacon (Russ’s speciality) and battered fish and found out this was their first trip to Australia and they’d done a lot of great things here in addition to sailing. They had sailed a lot previously in 12 foot yachts and were finding Australian conditions quite different to the Med and loving the Whitsundays. We really enjoyed their company and gave them our contact details. They had both worked in the arts in London – Michael as CEO of the charity that managed the Tower of London and numerous other castles and Annie as a consultant.

In Blue Pearl Bay, lots of large Batfish gathered around our boat. They were delightful. Russ actually lifted one out of the water and it just looked at him until he put it in the water again.

Stonehaven

Our lovely evening with Annie and Michael

Whitsundays Days 3

Day 3

A magnificent morning with the sun hitting some yachts beautifully. We left early to go through Solway Passage, looking towards the stunning red tinted cliffs of Lindeman Island (we think). Then we saw 3 whales – 2 adults and a baby, being very active. Our GPS stopped working and Russ thought it was probably due to a cable coming loose – they’d had trouble with that happening when we did our briefing. Sam said that it could take quite a while for it to reset but after half an hour we were concerned, so we rang Charter Yachts Australia. Fortunately it came back after we’d spoken to them which was a big relief. Then we headed up to Border Island to stay at Cateran Bay for the night. Russ had the lures out and while we were worrying about the GPS, a fish must had hooked on and run all his line out and busted if off the reel – Russ was very upset about losing the line and lure. By this time it was 15-20 knots and quite a lot of swell. We were doing about 6 knots. Unfortunately Cateran Bay was quite windy so we moved on towards Butterfly Bay, being as the prediction was that the wind would continue around 15-20 knots for the rest of the day. We were lucky to get to Butterfly Bay in good time because within about 15 minutes some other cats and yachts turned up but all the moorings were taken and anchoring isn’t allowed so they had to find somewhere else that was protected from the SE wind. The snorkelling was great on the west of the bay and we took a quick tour of the western side of the bay, even though we were both freezing.

When Russ got a bucket of sea water, this tiny fish was init. He thought it might be a baby swordfish

Breakfast

Not sure if this is Lindeman Island, or Pentecost or another island, but it was stunning with its red tinged rock faces, as we motored through the Solway Passage

Winds got up to 25 knots and there was a fairly big swell too. The Cat was very smooth inspite of these conditions

Whitsundays Day 2

Next morning we were up early and out snorkelling at low tide. As Sam advised we aimed to walk up the little track to the lookout on Tongue Point to see Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet with its shifting sands at about 9am and it didn’t disappoint.

We detached the dinghy and got it over to the beach, ready for our walk to the lookout

Halfway up the walk to the lookout

Perfect timing to see the Hill Inlet at mid tide

Back down on the beach of Tongue Bay

We then motored around to Whitehaven Beach and admired it as we motored along parallel to it. We’d heard other people talking about Chalkies Beach on the scheds (twice daily radio contact by someone on the mainland with all the bareboats to ensure they’re all behaving themselves) that morning and after checking the fishing regs, the Magical 100 miles book about the Whitsundays and the various other lists we have to check, we decided to go there. Once we got there and realised we might have some nice snorkelling, we decided to stay the night there. Luckily we got a mooring and settled in and had lunch. Our second snorkel at lower tide was better and we were so pleased to see so much healthy coral on some of the bommies. My duck diving has improved no end, thanks to some great coaching by Max and Maddie!!