Back in the Whitsundays

Blue Pearl Bay

What a special morning we had today, two humpback whales came to visit and were close enough to Rhapsody to almost step on their backs.  They cruised around the bay for about 10 minutes before heading to deeper waters.

We pulled up the anchor this morning and hoisted the mainsail and unfurled the headsail and headed east towards Blue Pearl Bay, Hayman Island.  The winds quickly picked up to a constant 15-20 knots so we were sailing between 7-8 knots for most of the 11 nautical mile journey across, it was a great sail today.  We were lucky enough to pick up a mooring and settle in for the day.  We caught up with our cruising buddies from Evelyn and were able to share some of our tuna catch.

Stonehaven

After a very comfortable night at Blue Pearl Bay we dropped the mooring and headed to Langford Island and picked up another mooring.  We took the dinghy to shore and did the new walk that has been opened up, so worth the effort such a great view and such an easy walk.  After lunch we motored across to Stonehaven and picked up a mooring to settle in for the night.  Timing was good we were almost on low tide and the reef was teeming with backpackers snorkelling, so off we went for a snorkel so good to be in the water, It was also an opportunity to give the boats bum and sail drives a bit of a check and clean.

Mays Bay

We spent a really comfortable night on a mooring in Stonehaven with the lights of Hayman Island Resort in sight and all the anchor lights of the other boats in the anchorage.  We awoke to a very calm day and sunshine so dropped our mooring and headed out to Whitsunday Passage to sail south.  The winds picked up and the sails went up to make the most of the breeze and small sea swell.  We had a good sail down to Mays Bay dropping the anchor just before lunch.  This is a great anchorage here quite protected with a good view of everything happening in Hook Passage.  Sadly no whale sightings today.

Hamilton Island

After a very comfortable night at Mays Bay we pulled up the anchor and headed to Hamilton Island for 2 nights.  The winds had increased in the early hours of the morning and was already a constant 20-21 knots.  It was an easy motor through Cid Harbour and down to Hamilton Island, topping up with fuel before berthing.  It has been many years since we have spent a night in the marina to enjoy the island and what it has to offer.  There have been some pleasant changes and the island was buzzing with the usual tourists cruising around in their golf buggies.  We tried one of the pizzas at the pizzeria on Front Street and must say it was a good pizza.  Of course Steve had to try out the selection of gelato on offer.  The IGA supermarket certainly makes a difference to topping up the pantry so you don’t need to make the journey to Airlie Beach whilst out and about around the islands.

Happy Bay – Long Island

After two very comfortable nights in Hamilton Island we departed yesterday morning and headed out into the very strong winds and swells.  Luckily we were not travelling far and with the swells.  All that was needed was a headsail as winds were between 19-29 knots, I felt sorry for the poor people on the ferry heading to Hamilton Island who would not have been enjoying their trip and the Hayman Island Ferry looked like it was fairing even worse.

We travelled across to Happy Bay, at Long Island which we have not visited for many years and dropped anchor to wait out the rest of the weather.  It is a very comfortable anchorage and we were settled in with quite a few other boats doing exactly the same thing.  It has been far too windy to even leave the boat so have been very comfortable with internet and television, what a lazy life but someone has to do it.

Airlie Beach – Coral Seas Marina 

After two comfortable nights at Happy Bay sitting out the strong winds we pulled up the anchor on Monday Morning and headed to Airlie Beach.  The winds were still quite strong and still quite a swell on the sea so all that was needed was the headsail.  It was quite a comfortable journey with the sight of a mother whale and calf frolicking in the water at Pioneer Rocks.  The calf was having a great time flipping his tail, such a great sight to see.

It was like coming home as we came in sight of the town and marina having last seen that sight at the beginning of June.  We spent two great nights in the marina catching up with the Abell Point Yacht Club’s monthly meet and emptying the overflowing mail box.

As you arrive back in the Whitsundays you realise why you live here.

Caves Cove – Hook Island

We departed Coral Sea Marina Resort this morning and headed across to Hook Island.  The winds were finally abating and seas had flattened out.  It was calm enough at first to unfurl the Mainsail and Screecher, but as we poked our nose out into the Whitsunday Passage the winds increased significantly so it was back to the headsail.  It was a really nice sail across the passage today, picking up a mooring at Caves Cove, a place we used to visit often.  Unfortunately we did not spot any whales today, hopefully tomorrow will be better.