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!