EGsail2016: The final leg - Yeppoon to Airlie Beach

We finally left Yeppoon as the sun came up on Monday. It was a day of varying wind strengths with periods of good sailing interspersed with periods of motoring. As usual, we had anything from 1 - 2.5 knots of tide against us. It's a real puzzle not mention frustration that it's always against us. However it is an amazingly beautiful coastline, the sun was shining and the sea getting warmer. We were all still rugged up as the air temperature plus wind chill, when there was any wind, made it a bit chilly. The early morning was particularly cold. We saw some distant dolphins en route. We arrived at our destination, Pearl Bay at about 4.30 pm in time for Captain's hour as the sun went down. We were welcomed by a turtle swimming around. It's a very pretty anchorage quite well sheltered but the pilot did warn of possible swells. It was good to be at anchor again and not in a marina. Around midnight as the tide changed, the swell rolled in and it became rather too rolly for complete comfort but it gradually settled down again and half the crew slept through it and did not feel a thing. We were off once again as the sun came up. We had a cup of tea as we hauled up the anchor then breakfast under way. It started out with a decent 8-10knt breeze but gradually it deserted us and eventually we motored from mid afternoon until arrival at Mackay at about 6am just as the sun came up. We had decided to sail through the night to cover as much distance as possible giving us more time to enjoy the islands. It was a mild, clear star filled night. Jonathan saw his best ever shooting star which lasted a few seconds and left a trail behind. We put into Mackay to refuel. Off Mackay there is a huge parking lot for bulk carriers waiting to load coal at the Hay Point facility. It's quite interesting making ones way through and around these massive things. It's probably easier to do it in the dark as they are so well lit. None of them was moving which also makes it easier. Just on dawn, 24 hours after leaving Pearl Bay, we arrived in Mackay. This was only a fuel stop but we had to wait until 8.30 for the fuel pumps to open. We filled up with water, had our first internet connection since leaving Yeppoon, bought a coffee and fuel and then we were on our way again by 9.30. Once again the wind was on again, off again and we did a fair bit of motoring. We had decided to do quite a short hop to Keswick Island, about 30 nm. We motored up between Keswick and St Bees Islands - what a pretty little passage. Wonderful turquoise waters, steep wooded hillsides, a picture perfect sight. There were turtles around as we anchored and then, after dark there were masses of gar fish charging around, breaking the surface so that it sounded almost as if it were raining. When we shone a torch it only encouraged the activity. It was a peaceful night and we all slept well. Then up bright and early and a much enjoyed swim in 27 degrees, a quick cup of tea and off with breakfast under way. There was no wind and there was none all day. We think that it is the first time that we have motored all day with no sailing at all. It's a pity but it was a very lovely journey to Lindeman Island where we anchored for the night. We went close to a number of islands, Carlisle, Tinsmith, between Goldsmith and Linne, a look at Thomas and Young Tom's Islands, a look at, with a view to a night's anchorage, at Bill Bob Bay on the South side of Shaw Island before deciding to go on to Plantation Bay on the south of Lindeman Island where we dropped the anchor. There was absolutely no wind at all and we had a flat peaceful night. Again we had a pre breakfast swim then set off for the final leg to Airlie Beach and Abell Point marina where we have a berth booked until the end of October. We motored all day, close to the islands. We unfurled the jib for about 10 minutes just off the marina, then the wind deserted us again. We went to our favourite restaurant, Mr Bones, for dinner. Saturday we went to the markets (nothing very original or exciting), walked around the shops, did a couple of loads of washing and some of the many boat jobs that seem to be never ending, then enjoyed our last Captain's hour with Jonathan and Wendy. We had dinner at another favourite restaurant, La Tabella. And so, this morning we said a very sad farewell to Wendy and Jonathan. They are really good friends, fantastic sailing mates and we shall miss them enormously.