Well folks, the benchmark in violent terrifying rocking in a swell was set at Hummocky Island just after my last missive to you. It was dark, wild weather. Two yachts up anchored and headed for Great Keppel in the middle of the night which we were tempted to do but it was so dark and stormy out there!!!! We left at 6.30 and after very rough (terrifying!) seas we anchored at Great Keppel in a lovely sheltered spot. Next day we set off and headed for the resort (5km each way) having thoughts of sitting on a deck overlooking the lovely white sand and aqua water scoffing a nice glass of wine. Reality was, the resort had closed six weeks earlier and it was all fenced off and starting to look quite derelict. The sand was white and the water beautifully aqua however. Saw a herd of goats (tiny babies, huge Billy goat) on the return trek. Should probably have lingered longer but it was onwards – elected not to go to Rosalind Bay marina as we didn’t really need anything (though running out of wine before reaching Mackay was not very clever).
It was a 6.15 start through rough seas – managed a good sail though – to reach a lovely little spot called Pearl Bay. Entering any of these places and marinas with which you are not familiar always makes you know that you are alive! The entry was through rocks on either side heading for a beach – a bit disconcerting but opened into a lovely little bay once inside. As it is part of the Shoalwater Bay training area any walking was contained to the beach but Peter caught rather a largish golden trevally here which kept him occupied for a little while. We spent a couple of very pleasant days here.
Left Pearl at 6 am wondering if we should just go a few miles up to the next lovely little spot or head for the Percys. We elected to head for the Percy Isles and the morning till 1pm was quite unpleasant (am I having fun yet!) but after that it settled down and we arrived at West Bay on Middle Percy around 3.30. Didnt realise we had reached it till we saw the A frame and coconut palms on the beach. The A frame contains all sorts of paraphanalia that boats have left as a memento of their visits. Collected some coconuts and had three lovely days here – interspersed with violent rocking in the swell but not as bad as the Hummocky (benchmark!). The Young Endeavour came in and anchored near us and the kids kept us well entertained watching them climb up the masts to tie up and let loosedthe sails. Very character building we thought!!!
Anyway strong wind warning was in and our anchorage was untenable so we left around 7.45 to make a run for Curlew Island – about 4 hours away. The wind was roaring, the waves were huge and once again it was terrifying!!! We put on our wet weather jackets but realised soon after that we should have put on full wet weather gear as we were soon soaked. We were lifejacketed and hooked on though. Were anchored in the lee of Curlew Island by 12.30. The wind still howled but we were safe and the boat was steady and it was lovely!!!! So here we sat out the strong winds. Checked the middle bilge and got an awful fright when found it was full of water (shades of sinking!!) but I hadn’t closed the hatch tight enough and we had had a lot of water over and that is where it ended up (that is what bilges are for – apparently!) We also lost the legs off our solar panels – washed away. Peter’s theory is don’t look back or to the sides and you cant see how big the waves are. Mine is just look at the floor and scream every now and then and it will all be alright!
Its lovely to have an island all to yourself but also a little eerie! Walking up the deserted beach and Peter recalls a movie where things come up out of the sand to grab you!!! I recalled it too. Was certainly a lovely time though.
Of course when we left Curlew Island the wind had dropped entirely and there wasn’t a breath so we motored from there to Mackay where we now sit in the marina. As we went past one of the big ships sitting outside Dalrymple Bay we heard our name being called on the radio and one of the chaps was obviously bored and just wanted to know if we were listening.
Have restocked the larder (and wine) and tomorrow hope to head for Brampton Island and this time I think it really will be short day sails.
Love and cheers
Dell and Peter
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