Days 53-54, Middle Percy to Mackay

An overnight stop was made on Middle Percy before heading off to Digby island and then Mackay. The anchor winch has suddenly packed it in and it is way too hard to keep doing by hand.
Middle Percy was fairly rolling through the night, but worth a stop to check out the "A frame" hut and old tree house. Dave and Jo stopped off here 20 odd years ago and remember the place a bit different. Back then it was hard to get a spot to anchor due to the number of boats. Every night there was a feast from the spit or the option to have a "dine in experience" in the tree house with a german couple running the joint.
As it is these days, we have progressed, so the island is vacant and the family of the previous owner are fighting for their rights in the courts.

We made and left our sign behind with hundreds of others. Boats passing by have been doing it for decades.

A good game of beech cricket was played whilst the sun set. Maria won outright, hitting several 4's and a few 6's. Refreshments of red wine and beer followed.

Another effort by the hunter gatherer! This is a Red emporer. Best fish ever eaten! Just like a snapper, only better.

Days 50-52, Pearl Bay to South Percy island

Roughly a 60 mile sail out to the Percy islands was a another great one. Breeze of upto 20kts SE made for good progress.

The Percys have a huge reputation for most sailors travelling past stopping off there before Mackay or the Whitsunday islands and meeting up. It could be quite easy to not travel any further past this point. South Percy is a pristene place. The crowds of the Whitsundays are not here and the water quality is fantastic. I couldn't take a bad photo of the place, or include all the good ones in the blog as there isn't enough room. For those lucky ones that have been here before, they will understand. For the others.......get a boat

Day 49, Port Clinton to Pearl bay

It was a leisurely 9 miles to Pearl bay with no wind. So unfortunatley we had to burn deisel in order to get there. The water was like a lake and we stopped off half way to have morning tea with Russell and Maria. We had earnt it! This is a cruising lifestyle finally.

Pearl bay had the wrap of being one of the best anchorages and prettiest places on the east coast of Qld. With Port Clinton tied in as well, i think it is a fair comment so far. The water will be lucky to be this clear anywhere on the reef.


Little scuba Steve had a great snorkle taking his first few shots of coral.

Unfortunately we can only stay the over night as the area closes tomorrow for the military.

Days 47-48, Roslyn Bay to Port clinton

Early departure with good winds and a behaved sea made for fantastic sailing. Those pesky cats got a bit too close, so it was up with the main to keep them abay. Now try and catch us! We had a "smoken run" with speeds averaging around 8 kts over 54miles. It was a shame to stop the sailing but Port Clinton was worthy.




The place is isolated from everywhere else as it forms a huge part of the military training area. It is as beautiful as it gets! What a place! We are a little limited by time as the area closes for exercises in a few days time. We could have easily stayed a few weeks and explored all around. It is quite a large bay with the river running in several directions for several miles.

Turles pop up on a regular basis all around us. Sightings of up to 3 at a time surfacing was experienced. Dolphins pass by to break up the regular turtle sightings. The water quality is unbelievable! Lets hope we can top this.

Happy 21st Miss Amy

Happy 21st birthday miss Amy. xxx

Captain Dave organised a fantastic party at the Kepple Bay yacht club. (excellent work Dave giving Jo a rest.......hehehe)

But seriously..... a good night was had by all.

Also, I hope Luke's speech gets a mention on the Fuller's blog highlights. Well done Luke.

Off air for a while

We are leaving Roslyn Bay (Yeppoon) early wednesday morning, heading for the Whitsundays. This will be a big out of range area as we head out to the Percy Islands and then island hope until the Whitsundays. It could take upto 2 weeks depending on the weather. So until then, post comments on the blog and i will get back to you when we are in Hammo. Hopefully plenty of pics!

Days 43-45, Great Kepple Island

GKI is a beautiful place. The only letdown was that the resort has shut down. Rumers of a rebuild are floating around, however it seems that they just can't make a buck and the expense of running generators was around $40k a month. It was weird walking aound the facilities with no people there. We had grand plans of reopening to a new market and at the top of our ideas list was a gay resort. Jim was really keen to be involved at a senior level.

Lots of swimming, walking and sleeping took up our time.

Day 42, Pancake to Kepple

Strong winds and rising seas are forecast for Saturday and a few days following, so we either stay in Pancake or make the run to Yellowpatch. We decide to make the run and if anchorage isn't suitable at Yellowpatch continue on to Kepple island.
Offshore from Gladestone there are 1 million ships. Our theory whilst we are flying the kite, is that ships are 90% air. That is, we should be able to weave our way between them. Sounds good to me.

Yellow Patch (cape capricorn) shown below.
Its official.........WE ARE IN THE TROPICS. We crossed the tropic of capricorn at Lat 23.30.00 Long 151.04.360 at 15:04 on friday 13th June. I feel the warmth already!
Another beautiful spot, however best suited for cats and shallow draft. We are unable to get all the way in and the outer anchorage was very "rock and roll, crazy mono action" so we decide to pull up the pick and head for the Kepples. Approx 30 miles to travel but the conditions are for perfect sailing.

Sunset off Humrocky island. Again, pictures dont do it justice. It was an easy approach to Kepple, taking the seaward side and dropping the pick off Leeke's beach at approx 9pm. Everything was tied off before going to bed as winds are going to hit 25-30 kts sometime in the early morning.

Day 41, Pancake creek

It's R+R day at Pancake creeek. There were 13 boats when we arrived last night, but they have mostly left. It is just us and one other boat. A couple on a new Hanse with plans to circumnavigate the world in 4 years. So far they have made it from Brisbane to here. They still have a bit in front of them.
This place is very contrasting with the low and high tide. It transfroms to lots of sand at low tide making shore walking quite easy. We had a little walk in the morning (5hrs) and took in most of the sights. It is a very pretty place and well worth a stop over.

A few boys and their fishing tinny were camping here for a week. They were catch coral trout and sweet lip on one of the outer rocks.

Tania and Hayden had a swim for a while at this little beach below, whilst i continued the walk to the top of the headland. I do need more exercise than them! It was well worth the walk being able to see back to 1770 to the south and up past Gladstone to the north.

Dave and Rus arrive later in the day as well as a few others. Sunset drinks was had on Vic's cat with everyone staying at Pancake creek turning up for the event. It was a good occassion, with some interesting people present.

Day 40, Burnett heads to Pancake creek

Musgrave isn't happening. Hopefully we can catch it on the way back. We could sit here for another week and still might not get a window with the way the forecast is.
It's time to leave Bunderberg!
A fair sail is in front of us with approx 62miles to do before the sun goes down. So, its off at 6:30am and fingers crossed we get there in time.

The wind is still 15-20 kts SE, so its up with the kite. Europa takes off! We are doing an average of 8.5 kts easily and hitting 10's. Tania keeps an eye out the back for those "big" waves as we leave everyone in our path. Seas are a little rough still, around the 2m mark and following, so "Gilligan Hayden" decides to be mr spewy again. There isn't much more room for a further demotion, except for the ranking of parrot. (even thou they dont get sick)

A pleasant sight for the eyes reaching the entrance with still some light. No sign of Dave and Rus.

It turns out they gave up on getting here and have headed into 1770.

Days 36-39 Burnett Heads

Not too much to report here. We are sitting tight whilst the weather has gone crap again. Hopefully we can get a window to head out to Lady Musgrave reef. It is approx 54 miles NE. It is 34 miles east of the coast at 1770. Not a place to be in crap weather.





Jim's birthday was celebrated on Tuesday with Jim, Amy and myself heading off to the Bundy rum factory for a tour. Dinner was at "Baltimores" cafe at the marina. (a great little place open to late each night and the social hub for the yachties at the marina)
Happy birthday Jim.

Day 35, Moon pt to Burnett heads

Time to head for a marina. We haven't been into one in 2 weeks. Stocks are next to nil and Hayden's school stuff needs picing up. Its time for the boy to learn again. It was smooth sailing all the way. Hervey bay is spectacular on a good day. No whale sightings, it is a bit too early. However, they have seen whales today off Mooloolaba. they are getting closer.

Burnett Heads is approx 15 klms east of Bunderberg. A daily courtesy bus runs us into town there.

Day 34, Kingfisher to Moon pt bar

Moon point bar you might ask?
Well.......its nowhere of any significance. Just a little sand bar in the middle of the sandy straits that was a nice unexpected find. Dave was stoked that we stayed there and its not in the Lucas book. Jo and Tania thought that we had set them up as training for Lady Musgrave.
The water was crystal clear and it was time for "scuba steve" to come out and play.

A little bit of fog before we left. The hunter gatherer was off doing his stuff again in this. A reasonable result again with 2 good bream for lunch.

Day 33, Kingfisher resort R+R

Up early and on the water to "hunter/gather"
No takers from anyone else, as the fishing has been ordinary to say the least, so its up to the captain to provide. 1.5 hrs later and i return with a bucket of fish ready to feed the flock. No Jesus tricks here, just luck and determination. Check out the size of these babies. As usual, the photo doesn't do it justice!

The fish are cleaned and it's time to hit the pool. Knock back a few XXXX gold's and think about what we are having with the fish.

Munchin time! Best fish ever eaten!
We have gone from 2 minute noodles to this. What a change.

NOT EUROPA!
Note to others: always check the tide when you drop the pick and go to shore!