Shaggers Party

A highlight of the trip so far was our Shag Islet Cruising Yacht Club (ie: Shaggers) annual rendezvous at Shag Islet off Monte’s Resort opposite Gloucester Island from 25 to 28^th August.  This is the third annual get together though the first one we’ve attended.

We couldn’t believe that so many boats could fit into such a smallish anchorage – we counted over 80 and have no idea how many were actually there. The action was full on with activities planned over the 4 days of the rendezvous, including a byo lunch party on the sand spit at Shag Islet, best dressed boats competitions (by night and day), a parrot head party (come dressed as a parrot head!) and a pirate lunch at Dingo Beach (which we didn’tattend).

We met so many new yachties as well as caught up on many we’d already met. A thoroughly sociable time was had by all!

Flying the kite behind Outahia

 Dinghies galore!

 Not much room left on the sand spit!

 Greg's parrot head!

Birthday at Airlie Beach

Our daughter, Carolyn (alias Mouse), and granddaughter, Taylor (alias Minnie Mouse!) came down from Townsville for the weekend of 20-21^st August to help me celebrate my birthday – bonus!!

 Who's a spoilt Nana?

My turtle birthday cake

Island hopping north of Mackay

We stayed a tad longer than planned in Mackay due to strong winds, but eventually escaped north to the Newry Islands. There’s reputedly good fishing there, but we obviously weren’t looking in the right spots!!  Did lots of exploratory walking on the islands though!

Outer Newry Island Anchorage 

Then it was across to Goldsmith Island - our first time there as well – another beautiful spot!  After leaving foot prints on the beaches and trying the fishing spots there, we headed north to Thomas Island for yet more exploring and fishing - had a sociable time was had by all when Greg rounded up the boats in the anchorage for a beach bbq.  That is what cruising is all about! 

Thomas Is - dinghies galore

The orchids are in flower all over the islands!

Shaw Is was just around the corner, so we had a leisurely sail across to Burning Point.  Here we parted company with our travelling buddies on Xhale for a week or so as they headed to Shute Harbour and we went to Cid for a few days.

Friendly bat fish at Shaw Island anchorage

Digby Island to Mackay

The weather was coming up and the anchorage in West Bay is very rolly, so we moved across to Digby Island, a much better SE anchorage, for a couple of days.  This is also a new spot for us as we hadn’t been in there before.  The little bay is very rocky with a sandy beach in shore over a rocky reef.  A very pretty spot! 

 Anchorage at Digby Island

We explored there for a few days before heading into Mackay, another first as we hadn’t been here either.  We are now full of fuel, food and water waiting for a break in the weather to wend our way further north

The Percy Islands

The Shoalwater Bay military area was totally closed till the end of July, and rather than wait for another two weeks till it opened, we decided to make a run for the Percy Islands leaving at the ungodly hour of 1.00am.  The moon was out and showed us the way though it was an uncomfortable trip.  With sloppy seas and the wind up our tail, we wallowed and surfed our way for most of the 104nms to South Percy Island.  It was such a relief to finally stop and drop anchor! 

We spent the next week relaxing in Rocky Shelf Bay, enjoying walks on the beach and exploring the bush, fishing and diving.

 South Percy Island Anchorage



One that didn't get away!

While we were there, two kayakers (Eddie and Silvio) arrived seemingly from out of nowhere!  They’d island hopped from Stanage Bay on the seaward side of Broad sound, some 50 odd nautical miles away!  They’re either brave or mad!  Eddie was a keen spearfisherman and he and Greg explored the local reefs and kept us in fish.

 
We then moved across to Middle Percy Island into West Bay, where we revisited the “A Frame”, a yachtie’s sacred site, updating our “sign” in the hut.  We walked up to the homestead and sampled some of Cate and John’s generosity.  They were re-roofing the homestead and were looking for extra helping hands.   Later in the week, they put on a goat stew, cooked to perfection in camp ovens by Ernst, one of the island’s caretakers.  All in all, a very sociable time.

Aframe - Yachties Sacred Site!

Middle Percy Island Homestead

Corio Bay

After we dropped our mate, Ross Cooke, off at Rosslyn Bay, we headed up to Corio Bay just north of Yeppoon.  We hadn’t been there before and it’s an interesting place though rather shallow with lots of sand bars but enough room for a couple of cats.  The flathead were biting and we managed to get a few good feeds.  Also, the crab pots gave us one mud crab.  We explored the beach on the seaward side of the bay and found tons of flotsam and jetsam washed ashore – including all manner of plastics!  We were disappointed that such a beautiful spot could be so heavily polluted.

Flotsam on 9 Mile Beach