We are still waiting at Port Clinton for the wind to ease and to shift to the north and it looks like being a few more days like mid next week before we can head south again. It is a lovely spot to be “trapped” though, and we have phone and internet coverage which makes us feel more in touch (especially with the weather man). It is a complete wilderness area – there is not single sign of human habitation here. We are here with a number of other boats as mentioned before so we are busy doing things to keep us from getting cabin fever. Yesterday was a picnic lunch and boule competition on the beach – what a great day. We were going to catch fish for lunch so we pumped up some yabbies and went fishing – only rubbish. A couple of boats had the sense to bring sausages just in case. Chris trusted me to catch fish – luckily everybody shared so we got some lunch. Today is another picnic and one of the boats managed to catch a 8kg trevally so that might be for lunch. We will see.

We have been tardy again with blog updates – but we have an excuse. It has been howling from the south - not the wind to go south in! However there was a break in the weather for a couple of days and as a result there was a mass exodus from Mackay marina on Saturday and Sunday. It was our original plan to leave Mackay on Sunday early – like 0500 to head to Curlew Island as a staging post to make for Yeppoon and then Gladstone. However in company with two other boats we decided to head off on Saturday into a fairly light SE breeze. We didn’t leave until 0830 and it was a bit bumpy and uncomfortable but we made it to Curlew Island and had a pleasant night there- off again at sparrow fart the next morning bound for the Duke Islands, about 30 NM south. It was a lovely leisurely sail and we stopped at Hunter Island in the Duke Group. Fish jumping everywhere – but could we catch one of the damn things, no way Jose. Hunter was a lovely spot and we enjoyed it there but we need to make some more “southing” as the weather gods were playing up (yes the gods are capricious) and it was due to howl in from the south again in a day or so. They say these are unusual highs at this time of year - thanks! It is supposed to blow 15/20 from the NE most of the time of the year up here. Anyway we left Hunter Island and had a great sail with a 15knot NE breeze and were going along at about 7knots plus for the first four hours when the breeze died and we motored. We were heading for Port Clinton in the military training area as it is open at present and it is a good safe haven in the strong SE that was due to come up. Now, Wednesday morning it is blowing about 24knots from the east and would be unpleasant at sea. There are four boats here who met up at Mackay and we are all very social with “Sundowners” on a boat each evening. Also the guys are all knowledgeable and very helpful. We have a problem with the starboard engine bilge, it is getting water in somehow and we could not track it down. We found the culprit yesterday – a loose skin fitting for the engine exhaust. Thanks to help from Ron and David we have fixed it (well I HOPE we have fixed it). When this weather does break (maybe in few days) we can head south again to Yeppoon and then to Gladstone before another big southerly blow is due. Today has been declared a fishing competition day so we have to go as we have to catch some fish!

Waiting, waiting, waiting. We are stuck in Mackay Marina waiting for a weather window. The wind that is causing the dreadful fires in Rockhampton is keeping us in our pen here in Mackay Marina. There are worse places to be stuck however – it is a good spot. There is a little ghetto of us here waiting for the weather to break – there will be a mass exodus when it does turn (eventually!!) as about 6 boats are heading south. We have spent some time with these people who are also waiting – they all seem to be from Tin Can Bay. Great group of people and it has been fun discussing strategies and plans with them over drinks on various boats or dinners at the Yacht Club or restaurants that line the foreshore of the Marina . Obviously the boat is back in the water. The Shipyard did an OK job and the lass who runs it was pretty efficient. We had some trouble with the “tradies”, but the boss was on to it and now we are ready to go. We had flown Mark, our son in law up to show him a bit of the area as we sailed south but with 30 knots from the south poor Mark was stuck too and he flew back yesterday. On his way to the airport he dropped us off and we wandered about town and even saw a movie in the middle of the day – how decadent. Chris has her hair cut in Mackay (see picture of the new look!).

Well today was a busy day and yesterday was a sad day. Yesterday 13 October was the first anniversary of the death of Chris’ sister Lynne. We had dinner at a nice restaurant last night and toasted her memory. Chris also spoke to each of Lynne’s family members. It was a tough day, from an emotional perspective. As far as sailing is concerned we had a nice night at the Newry Islands, a bit rolly for a while but it settled down about midnight. We got going early about 0700 to head for Mackay. NW wind with NE swell, spells LUMPY. It was not too comfortable but an easy sail really. We got to Mackay in good time about midday and settled in to our marina berth. Gosh Mackay marina is super rolly in a Northerly breeze thank god it settled down after a few hours. We had to help a bloke move his 57 footer to a safer berth at about 5 pm. It was “interesting”. This morning we had a new experience. Phlat Chat was craned out on a travel lift and put on the hard stand. Where we worked like navvies today. The boat was antifouled, sail leg oils replaced, engines serviced and some polishing done, and one million other boat jobs. We have not had time for breakfast or lunch yet and it is now 6pm. Time for a shower, a beer (or two) and some dinner.

After our lunch we went ashore for a walk around both Outer Newry and Newry Island – a good walk of a few kilometres we also tried fishing of the boat with our usual luck. Chris made a few phone calls to catch up with cruising friends and land based ones. One of whom is in Mackay tonight and leaves tomorrow first thing – so will miss seeing Tom and Nancy in Mackay – hopefully we will catch up with them later. We have just had another top dinner from the Galley Whiz and are listening to “Classic Anchor” – the ABC call it Classic Drive but they don’t have a clue.

OK, so we did stay overnight at Chalkies and had a great time – met the crew of two cruising catamarans and had drinkies with them ashore at Chalkies. So ended Saturday. On Sunday we were up early and had a leisurely short sail down to Shaw Island – we chose to anchor at Burning Point and went ashore to have a look around. Talk about wildlife central – we saw more turtles than anywhere so far and many of them right up on the shore line were we were walking – we also saw heaps of fish and stingrays and a little shark was cruising the shallows too. Then a very large sea eagle made his presence felt. It was neat. Monday morning we were underway by 0715 (real time not this daylight saving you southerners have !!!) to go to the Newry Islands on the way to Mackay. So we have really started heading south now. We will be in Mackay tomorrow and the boat comes out of the water on Wednesday for servicing. Right now we are in a lovely little bay sheltered from the sea breeze watching the dolphins round up some fish for their lunch. Also a sea eagle is circling looking for a free feed. We plan to go for a bush walk on the island this afternoon and early to bed for our trip to Mackay tomorrow.

Been out of contact for a couple of days but here’s the scoop. We had a pleasant sail up to Gloucester Island (and Cape Gloucester) on Wednesday – while the place was nice we think people had oversold it to us and I t frankly did not live up to the hype. There are a two “Eco Resorts” there which is a euphemism for beach shacks. As far as a few beach shacks go with a bar they are OK but “resorts” they are not. We had a snack at one and a beer and on Thursday after a walk along the southern end of Gloucester Island we left for Butterfly Bay at the northern end Hook Island. Now that is a pretty spot. Bit of excitement on the way as the sail bag stitching had rotted and as we dropped the main it kept dropping right on to the deck. We were lucky I t was blowing 7 knots as we could do a temporary fix pretty easily. A job for the canvas guy in Mackay! We are now at Whitehaven and had a long walk along the beach in the evening and met a lass and her daughter – the daughter goes the same school our girls did and mother teaches there – small world. Today it blowing 20 knots form the SE so we will go over to Chalkies to see what that is like and if it is too windy we will go back up around the top of the island to Cid Harbour. For tomorrow, Sunday we start the treck south!

We left Laguna Quays about 1000 after docking at the fuel wharf to top up the tanks. It was a bit tricky getting out but we did it with no “unscheduled stops” this time. It was a bit lumpy and we needed an engine to help us along. However once we rounded Cape Conway we had a great sail 15 knots and a beam reach doing 6-8 knots all the way to Cid Harbour. BUT we were trying a couple of new lures, we brought in Sydney – we carefully took the hooks off them for the flight and replaced them from gear we had on board once we arrived. After about 30 minutes into our lovely sail, bang off goes one of the lines and once we got to it having slowed the boat down it was all over red rover. The bloody fish was so big it bent the swivel holding on the lure – straightened it and off it got Bugger! Brand new lure gone and no fish for tea. Off to Gloucester Island tomorrow and a lovely night in Cid Harbour tonight.

We arrived back on Phlat Chat to be greeted with the boat in good shape but with a thick coat of red dust. So this morning was a cleaning morning but we rewarded ourselves with an afternoon beside the pool. We had to throw out a fair bit of meat as our new freezer is not much chop. We will talk to Lightwave about that – not good enough. We managed to have IGA supermarket down the road deliver to us this evening – what a great service so we have tucker and plan to leave Laguna tomorrow to head north towards Gloucester Island. We hope to overnight in Cid Harbour tomorrow.