I’ve had a ‘bucket list’ of destinations for this year’s trip north.  One was Yellow Patch and it did not disappoint. Yellow Patch is an anchorage on Curtis Island and it is known for its huge dramatic patch of yellow sand.  A stunning sand hill is the backdrop in this sandy estuary.  It’s a possible… Read More: Yellow Patch »

We only have four more weeks! Time for some reflection … One thing stands out with this year’s northern journey … it’s the people we’ve met and the friendships we’ve formed. We do occasionally travel in company and this year it has been with Gary and Annie on Chances (who we met briefly right at… Read More: Alphabet Soup! »

Most of my blog posts do show the ‘up’ side of our trip north.  The idyllic, relaxing and picturesque lifestyle we lead for six months of the year is what sailing is all about for us. However it’s not always like this … but … we can usually find an ‘up’ side no matter what… Read More: Keswick Island … we now know it better! »

Timothy came up this same week last year and it blew a gale all week.  We rocked and rolled around the Whitsundays. This time we had blue skies, kinder winds and hot sunny days.  Lots of swimming and snorkeling.  We unfortunately didn’t get to the outer reef but we did get to some of the… Read More: Our week with Tim »

Wow!  Hardy Lagoon. It was a tad scary entering the lagoon. We followed Chances (who had been there before) which did give us some comfort, but as we approached Hardy Reef we did seem to be heading straight for the reef?! Hardy Lagoon has an ‘entrance’, but, it is a very narrow break in the… Read More: Reef Adventures … Part Two »

One of our (my) ‘must do’s’ this year was to spend more time at the outer reef.  But it really is all about the weather when it comes to the reef. We left Magnetic Island a week or so back (can’t quite remember, the days do blur in to each other).  And then the weather… Read More: Reef Adventures … Part One »

Seems like a long time ago that I wrote my last post, but not really.  We have been out of phone range since then. After five glorious days at the outer reef we are now anchored at Stonehaven on Hook Island, near Hayman Island and its’ snorkelling mecca Blue Pearl Bay. After arriving at Gloucester… Read More: Snorkelling in the Whitsundays »

A great reaching sail in steady northerly winds on flat water Two fish caught … a Spanish Mackerel and a Northern Bluefin Tuna on our new rig Whales including a breaching whale off our port side Sunshine Drinks and a defrag with Chances Spanish Mackerel for dinner!

We have had a wonderful time at Magnetic Island. We anchored in Horseshoe Bay over week ago after a few days of provisioning, washing and cleaning in the Breakwater Marina in Townsville. So many boats at anchor.  We regularly counted over 50 yachts alone. We met up with familiar faces including a big night of… Read More: Magnetic Island »

After our five days of socialising at Dunk it was time to depart.  Some boats went north, we went south.  We set sail (ha!  … lots of motoring) for the Palm Islands with Chances, Arkaydes and Rene. We weren’t quite sure how far north we were going to get this year.  Starting at the Gold… Read More: Palm Islands »

We are all set to leave Dunk Island tomorrow, heading back south.  Our most northern destination for this year! We have had five very social days here at Dunk!  We have met up with several other yachts, some known, some new. Walks, lunches at the sand spit seafood cafe, sundowners and then finishing off our… Read More: Destination Dunk »

Calm weather for few days!  Zoe Bay then Otter Reef. The outer reef is quite a bit closer this far north so after talking to a few boats and getting a calm forecast we decided to head out to Otter Reef.  We finally caught up with Chances too! I got to use my underwater Olympus TG4… Read More: Otter Reef »

Hinchinbrook Island is such a majestic island with its misty high peaks.  It’s our largest island national park and known for its lush rainforest, long sandy beaches and mangrove filled channel.  And for Zoe Bay! We spent a few days with Aqualibrium in Gayundah Creek in the Hichinbrook channel and lucked it with some calm… Read More: Hinchinbrook Magic »

After a few days reminiscing in Townsville we left for Magnetic Island. We worked out it was 1987 when we first visited … in a 23’ trailer sailer called Southern Comfort.  No we didn’t sail it from Melbourne to Townsville!  We had three months long service leave, towing our TS up the east coast cruising… Read More: Townsville to Dunk »

There’s something comforting about visiting familiar places, but there’s such anticipation and even excitement when we visit new places.  Our most northern stop last year was the Gloucester Passage, just north of Airlie Beach.  This year we planned on sailing further north.  And we have, arriving in Townsville yesterday afternoon. We spent a lovely few… Read More: Fast Tracking To Townsville »

Last year we spent quite a lot of time here, nearly two months.  This year our plan is to spend a few weeks, then head north to Townsville and beyond. We picked up Andree and Steve from Airlie Beach when we arrived and had a great week with them on board.  Not the best weather… Read More: The Whitsundays »

It’s a dolphin … no … it’s a dugong … no … it’s a snubfin dolphin! When we first saw these dolphins some time back we were not really sure what they were, maybe not even a dolphin.  They have a rounded head which was quite confusing. We are currently anchored in Wardwark Bay, near… Read More: It’s a snubfin dolphin! »

After five days of being in the ‘wilderness’ (no phone reception) we have arrived in the Whitsundays this afternoon.  We are collecting friends tomorrow from Airlie Beach and looking forward to having crew on board! We left Keppel Bay marina nearly a week ago after experiencing a very big weather event (yes another one, the… Read More: Weather … the good, the bad and the ugly »

I find these sand crabs fascinating. The ‘art’ they create is so intricate and so neat, it’s amazing.  There’s often a floral pattern in the way the tiny sand balls have been placed. When walking at low tide on the beach near the Keppel Bay marina, I discovered a whole section of the beach just… Read More: My crabs! »

After our over-nighter at Lady Musgrave we sailed in to Pancake Creek.  We only managed one night at Pancake Creek last year so staying longer was on our ‘must do’ list this year. Pancake Creek is a pretty inlet with sandy flats on one side and a sandy beach on the other.  It changes dramatically… Read More: Pancake Creek to Great Keppel Island »

It has been a while … We picked up Tim and Abbey from the Hervey Bay airport two weeks ago and they have just left us, flying home from Rockhampton. We had a great time – 4wdriving on Fraser Island, a night at Lady Musgrave Island, a few nights in one of our favorite anchorages,… Read More: Crew have arrived! »

We have just arrived at Garry’s Anchorage in the Sandy Straits. It’s a beautiful sunny warm Queensland day. After a midnight departure from Mooloolaba and a 9 hour overnight passage, it’s time for a lazy day. We were back on the water after a week of insurance repairs in Brisbane. We made the most of our… Read More: Brisbane to Fraser Island »

We arrived in Queensland nearly three weeks ago.  After 10 days of maintenance at The Boatworks we then spent 3 days sheltering in a marina from cyclonic rains and wind, 1 night on anchor in a calm anchorage and now one week in the Brisbane River at a slipway repairing our “bottom”. Things haven’t exactly gone… Read More: A False Start »

After a 6 month lay-up at The Boatworks in Queensland, we have finally returned to our Bossa Nova. Our boat has been well looked after in the storage yard with Neville visiting in March to check up on things as well as getting ahead on some jobs. Friends ask, “what have you got to do,… Read More: We’re back! »

We have arrived at our final destination, the Gold Coast. We will be leaving Bossa Nova here until we return next May, 2016. We have had the most amazing trip. The places we have been, the people we have met and the adventures we have had, have all made this 6 month journey such a… Read More: All good things must come to an end … but… »

When Leanne suggested we (Neville and I) have a turn at collecting the crab pots … and getting the crabs out of the pots … and getting the crabs in to the bucket … Neville and I looked at each other … and went eeeek!!! We can do this! Here’s my first try at a… Read More: Our turn! Eeeek … »

We are anchored in the Great Sandy Straits near Fraser Island sitting out another few days of unsettled weather.  Big thunderstorms here last night with lightning illuminating our boats well in to the early hours of the morning.  But we are snug and in the company of several other boats. With bad weather boredom can… Read More: All a bit crabby here »

We knew it would be difficult to top our Lady Musgrave visit but we have found that each new destination, anchorage and even marina, all have something to offer. We left Lady Musgrave for Bundaberg thinking we would keep moving south. However, the strong southerly weather meant we stayed a week in the Bundaberg marina.… Read More: Waiting for the weather »

The long passages up the coast can be quite monotonous and a tad boring at times. Neville can read which keeps him entertained (his speed reading has hammered our Kindle account though), along with his card playing on his iPad. However, I like many people get motion sickness. So what do I do on these long… Read More: Hooked on fishing! »

Lady Musgrave … where do I start? We left GKI with Easy Tiger at daybreak in order to make the high tide at the shallow crossing in The Narrows – Gladstone (you can’t get through without the high tide). With an ambitious thought overriding the sensible one which was staying the night at Gladstone, we… Read More: Lady Musgrave Island … wow! »

We arrived at Great Keppel Island a week ago and we have been fortunate enough to enjoy calm winds and sunny days here, even though the constant northerlies have somewhat restricted our choice of anchorage each night. Did someone flick the switch?! GKI is part of the Keppel Island Group. The aboriginal people called Great… Read More: Great Keppel Island »

We have left The Whitsundays. We are officially heading south … home! After dropping Tim at Hamilton Island for his flight home, we were eagerly waiting for that ‘N’ to appear in the wind forecast.  Eventually it came. A week of northerly and easterly winds.  Time to head south. We provisioned in Airlie Beach (the… Read More: Southbound! »

The sunsets all the way up the coast and now in The Whitsunday’s have been beautiful. Here’s a few of my favourites … (Don’t forget you can ‘touch’ each photo to get the full size version.)

We have been away now for 20 weeks, reaching The Whitsunday’s 10 weeks ago.  While we haven’t planned every stopover and how long we were going to stay at each, we have surprised ourselves that we have stayed here for this long.  But, this is truly a beautiful part of Australia and sharing it with… Read More: F F & O »

Or, go directly to the Track Us page and you will find the same “Comment” section at the bottom of the page.  I haven’t written much about our snorkeling here. With friends and family on board we have been keen to show them the good snorkeling spots. We have just spent a day in Blue… Read More: Snorkeling in the Whitsunday’s »

When we met Easy Tiger way back in March in Paynesville we had no idea they would become our sailing buddies during our trip north. We were heavily in to preparing our boat for our trip in between finishing our new house back in Somers. We unfortunately didn’t have much time to give them in… Read More: Sailing with Easy Tiger »

We were lucky enough to pick up a mooring in Stonehaven on Hook Island yesterday lunchtime before the school holiday ‘crowds’ swamped the anchorage. Gentle breeze, clear water and an approaching low tide meant we were feeling pretty good.  (The sun we have found is always shining so no need to mention this yet again.)… Read More: A visitor … many times! »

I’ve mentioned many times “it’s all about the weather”, but the temperature really hasn’t changed for weeks, usually around 25-28 degrees (sorry you Melbournians), so it’s really all about the wind. When we visited the Whitsunday’s the first time way back in ’87 we had little help and little knowledge.  We were in our twenties… Read More: Anchor Watch! »

We have reached our northern most destination for our 2015 trip north – Gloucester Passage. So another four days at Gloucester Passage, the home of the SICYC – Shag Islet Cruising Yacht Club.  As mentioned in an earlier post we enjoyed this year’s SICYC Rendezvous, particularly it’s location, so we always thought we’d return. We… Read More: Travelling North – Gloucester Passage »

When we “arrived” at The Whitsunday’s with Lynn and Greg on board some 5/6 weeks ago we revisited old places that we four had visited in 1987 on our first trailer sailer. The last week or so, we have done the same with daughter Abbey and sister Joanne. Both have been here before on our… Read More: THE best beach view ever! »

Has been a while since I visited this space. Been too busy! We returned home for 12 days. A few commitments and an opportunity to catch up with family and friends. We left our boat in Mackay.  Great service with a lift to the airport included. Thank you Cameron. Even our ‘Wilson’ survived our absence… Read More: Been too busy! »

Just anchored off Thomas Island on our temporary journey south. (We are heading home for a short period). Lovely sandy beach.  3 metres of depth. Neville loves the shallow anchorages, less anchor chain to put out. This is a short post … wanted to add these pics of the whales that came close to 50… Read More: Whales! »

Well, back to time on our own! We have been cruising around the islands with our friends Lynn and Greg for the last week … visiting the usual Whitsunday haunts.  After 14 days of fun, laughter, card playing, fishing, swimming and conversation … and sailing … we dropped them at Airlie to reluctantly return to… Read More: How Time Flies! »

We are now feeling a sense of ‘achievement’! We are tied up at Hamilton Island, the Whitsunday’s.  We made it! 1,704 Nautical miles. Lakes Entrance to Hamilton Island.  Departed May 23rd July.  Arrived 27th July. 3 years building our Bossa Nova (not to mention the many years of convincing me to take on the building… Read More: We made it! »

We have our son Tim on board for a week! Selfie photos, Go Pros, iPad tweeks and dinghy bursts! One of the things we have really enjoyed about this trip are the passages.  Creeping our way up the coast has been very different to the sailing we have done in the past. While we have… Read More: Family matters »

What a great day! Time to reflect on a busy few days in the Sandy Straits and Fraser Island. We motored up the (very muddy) Mary River with the tide to Maryborough early in the week. A very old town that was once thought likely to be the Queensland capitol. A busy port once upon… Read More: Sandy Straits »

We did manage to leave the Manly marina okay. We have noted that we need to clarify a few points when we book a marina berth. It’s not just fitting in to a berth, it’s also about whether we can get in and then get out. Fortunately or unfortunately, the trimaran opposite our berth at… Read More: Timing the bar crossings »

We woke the usual time this morning.  Looked through the hatch, yes blue sky. It’s always a great start to the day on a boat seeing sunshine. “It’s Sunday”, announces Neville.  This means eggs for brekky.  Neville has mastered the art of poaching eggs. So at anchor in a calm Lazarette Gutter we enjoy our… Read More: The mayhem of the day! »

How lucky we have been. We have just said a sad goodbye to our ‘new’ friends on Easy Tiger. Easy Tiger has been hauled out for two weeks of maintenance.  Rather than give them a hand (it was suggested … but we declined) we are continuing to head north. Last night at our ‘goodbye’ dinner… Read More: Goodbye … »