Cruising the Whitsundays
Sandy Bay – South Molle Island
After our 5 night stay at Coral Sea Marina, we departed yesterday morning and headed out into the bay where the mainsail and headsail were raised. There was a bit of wind blowing and there was a really great sight of all the racing yachts with their sails up sailing north. We sailed to Pioneer Rock and then headed towards Daydream Island. There was a very strong tide coming through the passage and quite a strong wind blowing so it was tacking down the passage to pick up a mooring at Sandy Bay. The winds did not abate so unfortunately too rough to drop the dinghy and do the walk up the side of the mountain.
Bauer Bay – South Molle Island
After a very windy windy night we departed Sandy Bay this morning and headed through Unsafe Passage and around to Bauer Bay, South Molle Island. It has been many years since we have visited this bay, back when the resort was still open and full of tourists. It is so sad to see the devastation caused to the resort from Cyclone Debbie. We came ashore and walked through what is left of the resort and headed up the mountainside to do the walk to Spion Kop. South Molle Island has some really great walks and the tracks are maintained. The views down the passage to Hamilton Island and then across to Daydream Island are rather worth the effort. The bay was full of yachties enjoying the walks as much as we did.
Hook Passage – Mays Bay
After a very comfortable night in Bauer Bay we departed this morning and headed across Whitsunday Passage and into Hook Passage, dropping anchor just east of Mays Bay. This is one of our favourite spots in the Whitsunday, there is always lots to see with the boats heading up and down the passage and quite an area you can see in most directions. The winds were quite strong as we sailed across Whitsunday Passage ranging between 19-20 knots but we did have a good sail as the swell was not too high. We dropped the dinghy down and headed into the beach before the tide went down. There are quite a number of lovely beaches dotted along Whitsunday Island so always somewhere to go and stretch the legs and explore, especially on a nice sunny day like we have had today. Sadly we did not spot any whales.
Cateran Bay – Border Island
What a beautiful day we woke to today and have made the most of it. We headed down Hook Passage and across to Border Island, picking up a mooring in Cateran Bay. It has been many years since we last visited. We took the dinghy into beach and did the new walk that has been opened up. What a view you get from the peak, looking down over Cateran Bay and north then the beautiful bays on the southern side, so worth the effort.
We were even lucky enough to see 4 Green Turtles feasting on algae on the water, the water was so clear today in the bay. As we were exploring in the dinghy we met up with a lovely old couple in their dinghy. They have been travelling in their boat for many years and are now in their mid-seventies, obviously this boating is great for aging. We dropped our mooring this afternoon and unfurled the screecher for a nice sail to Hook Passage to pick up a mooring at Whitsunday Cairn. We were lucky enough to see some whales having a good time frolicking in the water making a big splash and then a pod of dolphins so a good day.
Whitsunday Cairn – Hook Passage
Another beautiful calm sunny day and clear water, perfect conditions for a paddleboard and snorkel along the reef. Such beautiful coral here in Hook Passage so clear that you can see all the fish and coral clearly from the board. The water was so inviting it was time to drop into water and snorkel. There was some tide flowing through the passage so a good drift to float and view all the coral and fish from the water. A perfect day in the Whitsundays.
