EGsail2016: Kirby's second week

We went to Stonehaven on the Western side of Hook Island next day. Here we picked up a buoy and spent the morning snorkelling round the fringing reef. We spent the night there and it blew hard all night. Next stop was Blue Pearl Bay on the western side of Hayman Island. This is reputed to be one of the best snorkelling and diving spots in the Whitsundays and there was certainly some excellent coral and lots of fish. After lunch we went on round the top of Hayman, mainly because we have not done that before. We then beat down to the top of Hook. There are several bays here where we have often stopped for lunch and a snorkel but have never stayed the night as it is said to be swelly. We chose Luncheon Bay and picked up a buoy. We needed to stay here as the plan was to make a very early start next day for the outer reef. We had a horrendous night with swell, very little wind and the buoy banging against the hull all night! We had chosen Thursday for the reef trip as there had been too much wind on all the other days and Thursday's forecast looked OK. However, it meant that we would not be able to stay overnight at the reef as we have to be back in Airlie on Friday, hence the early start. We were all relieved to get started at 4am. By the time we had got organised and dropped the buoy it was just beginning to get light and there was a lovely sunrise. It's 17 nm to the reef and it took about 3.5 hours on a broad reach. It was quite an amazing sight to come across the reef in the middle of the deep blue ocean. We wove our way in through the coral bommies and picked up a buoy at Bait Reef. It was quite hair raising - thank goodness for chart plotters! However, they only give a rough outline where the bommies are so one has to keep a very careful look out. We spent the morning snorkelling in the clear blue waters and the coral and fish were superb. In spite of the water being 28 degrees, one gets quite cold after only 30-40 minutes. Dropping the buoy was also a little anxiety provoking as well as there was very little room to drop back having dropped the buoy rope. However, all was well and we set off back towards Hook in about 15 kn, again on a broad reach though we were gradually headed as the afternoon progressed. We were safely anchored in the still, sheltered waters of Macona Inlet by captain's hour after an adventurous and wonderful day. It was our last night before returning to Airlie for a final dinner with Kirby. We were able to hoist the spinnaker making the sail back fast and very enjoyable. Once back in the marina we borrowed a car for a couple of hours and rushed round the shops to restock for the return journey.

Sunset at Stonehaven.