LWH – Week 20 –Cairns – Cape Upstart

Sun – 18 – Cairns
16⁰55.025S / 145⁰47.176E
We passed Cape Tribulation in the morning. It was quite warm already and humid. Very pretty – rainforest mountains to the sea. It was a beautiful day with perfect conditions and we dropped anchor opposite the Cairns marina at 6pm. A really good run down. The anchored boats were all over the place and facing all sorts of different directions with the wind and the current. In the evening they settled and we had a good night.
Miles: 211 TTT: 3,366

Mon 19 Nov – Cairns marina
Berth G 23
We had booked in to get fuel at 9am so upanchored and proceeded to the fuel dock where we took on 311 litres at $1.46 a litre. We then headed to our berth and by this time it was getting quite breezy. The skipper had the boat in reverse as we came into the arm as we were getting blown forward and sideways and he brought her in beautifully. We said hullo to Jasmin who we had last seen rounding the Cape. We managed to do our shopping, laundry and booze run and then went out to dinner. We had noticed that Cairns had lots of tourists and in the evening was buzzing. It was Monday night and we had a half hour wait at the restaurant. Found out later that there had been 15,000 people at the Eclipse party and thats why the town was full. Cairns is a very pretty town with large swimming pools on the shore of the bay and the marina right in the middle of town within walking distance of everything. I was coming back from the shower at 10pm and there was a couple at the security gate to the our dock and it turned out to be Casper – they had left their dinghy on the dock and couldnt get back in as the gates are locked at 6pm. Had a quick catchup and they headed off across the river to their anchorage Also caught up with Suspense earlier in the evening. We last saw them in Miri. They are settled in with their kids all now in school.

Tues 20 Nov – Fitzroy Island
Mooring – 16⁰55.949S / 145⁰59.112E
We packed all our shopping away and left around 9am. Bach & Byte and Mandolin Wind had anchored out at 2am after a marathon 69 hour run down from the Cape. We went by Bach & Byte and said hullo. We had a slow motor sail over to Fitzroy and managed to pick up a mooring quite close to the rocky shore. We spent the afternoon doing chores. Snorkled in the water to clear some molluscs off the bottom of the boat but it was very murky so didn’t stay in long. The water is a very pretty colour and the island very green though its beach is corally rubble – not sand. A comfortable night
Miles: 17 TTT: 3,383

Wed 21 Nov – Dunk Island
19⁰06.776S / 146D51.549E
We dropped the mooring at 5am and motor sailed through the day with lovely weather and calm sea and anchored at 3pm off the sandy spit at Dunk Island. They are rebuilding the jetty there and the resort seemed closed. Its possible they have not recovered from the cyclone of a few years ago. The skipper worked on the loo – pulled it out and put it in again three times – I was surprised it did not go overboard! The language was rather blue. By 9pm it was working better than it ever has so its all good! We were supposed to go for drinks to Mandolin Wind but the loo took precendence!
Miles: 63 TTT: 3,446

Thurs 22 Nov – Horseshoe Bay Magnetic Island
19⁰06.776S / 146⁰51.548E
We upanchored just before 4am in the dark and motor sailed along with Bach & Byte and Mandolin Wind. The seas were not as calm as yesterday but not too bad. We had great wind to start with but as we got closer to the Palm Islands it dropped out a bit. Lots of coral spawn in the water. The wind came up in the afternoon but the seas were calm. A good run doing 7+knots motor sailing. The crew actually put a jumper on this morning! Arrived at Horseshoe Bay at 5pm. Strange coming in with only a couple of boats at anchor. This place is usually packed but everyone has gone south for the summer. Makes us feel we are dragging the chain a bit but we are making good time.
Miles: 84 TTT: 3,530

Fri 23 Nov – Cape Upstart
19⁰42.550S / 147⁰45.122E
Another dark 4am start. By the time we rounded Magnetic Island and went past the five tankers at anchor the sun was rising and reflecting pink off all the clouds – very pretty. Headed east and passed Cape Bowling Green around 9.30am then turned south. Seas are good. Motor sailed doing almost 7 knots but when we turned south we dropped to around 6 knots and less. Good wind filling the sails. Around 1pm the Coastwatch plane came in from behind us low and close – woke the crew from slumber and gave the skipper quite a start. They then called us up by name wanting our details – last port of call, next port etc. We wondered what they were doing on this part of the coast. Also thought what a cushy job that would be! Coming into Cape Upstart its just a glorious day – the sky so blue the sea such a pretty green and Cape Upstart bare and rugged in front of us. Anchored at Cape Upstart off a tiny beach with a few little houses – holiday shacks. A huge healthy looking eagle. Beautiful spot. People come from Ayr and Home Hill. Some locals came out trolling and got a Spanish mackerel each. A spot to come back to.
Miles: 68 TTT: 3,598

Well we are making good headway and tonight we are in the next bay from Airlie Beach in the Whitsundays. The weather is blowing up again on Monday so we may have another enforced rest!

Getting closer! Love to all
Fair Winds and Calm Seas
Dell and Peter