Cruising the Whitsundays

We’ve spent the last six weeks playing here in the Whitsundays, a very attractive cruising area.  The only disadvantage is that it’s full of other boats and it’s a rare occasion that you have an anchorage to yourself!  Makes for a sociable time, however!

 Nara Inlet - boats everywhere

Outahia & Xhale off Grassy Island

Though they’re few and far between, we did manage to catch the odd fish and crab in places we didn’t expect to find them!  We also explored other places we hadn’t been before, in company with Xhale.  The crabbing was disappointing and the fish not very plentiful, but Greg did find a painted crayfish in one secret spot!

 

Mouse, Brendan and Taylor came down from Townsville to spend a week with us mid month. The weather wasn’t all that kind throwing SE 15-20 at us that week, but we sat over in our favourite spot in Cid Harbour and were very comfortable. 

 Our favorate spot at Cid Harbour

We found Pirate Pete’s treasure buried under a coconut palm in a little cove after Taylor found the treasure map in a rum bottle in a cave on the beach!  Much excitement!  We also spent a night at Nara Inlet before we had to head back to Airlie to drop them off.  Our sail back to Airlie was a tad vigorous - even hit 11 knots at one stage!   Taylor’s comment: “It’s a bit wobbly, Nana!” So love having them onboard!

 

 Greg and Mouse with their catch

 Taylor found Pirate Pete's treasure!

Fun on the beach at Cid Harbour

It’s the last week of September now and the northerlies have kicked in.  The temptation is too much, so we’ll reprovision, top up fuel and water, and start making our way south again within the next couple of days.