Wednesday 9th July - Coral Sea Marina
Jess and Chris got their gear sorted, then took the tender over to fill up two jerry cans.
As we were on the public pontoon we couldn’t walk to the fuel dock as it’s gated.
We walked up to put the washing in the dryer and then back for more boat prep.
Kristie turned up with all the shopping; I put some of that away but we were planning to motor all the way back to Whitehaven so left as soon as we could.
There was no wind, so a nice easy motor there: another ~25nm back from where we started the day!
It would have been nice to sail across - but the conditions were easy.
Set down anchor just the other side from Bella, and invited Viv and Russ over for sip’s ‘n dips (they hadn’t been on our boat yet).
Russ brought over a spare prop he had onboard - he had recently upgraded to a 4-stroke, but his old outboard was exactly the same as ours.
We enjoyed another good catch up with them, then time to have our own dinner.
Thursday 10th
Breakfast and then straight over to Chalkies. We’d done a count and seen that a few boats had left during the morning.
Grabbed a mooring, and we all got ready for a snorkel.
I dropped Jess and Chris off and went back for the others.
Halfway through the snorkel one of the boats closer in moved off, so Jess and I went back to Lazuli and swapped our mooring to get closer in!
There was a bit of current taking us north, so it was a nice easy drift all the way to the end where the sand starts. saw a couple of turtles along the way.
Back for lunch, then Jess and I went into the beach with the new prop and a few tools.
The longest process of it all was getting the old split-pin back in!
Gave it a bit of a test - all sweet. Thanks heaps Russ! We owe you some drinks.
Chris and Kristie geared up for a dive. We were that close to the reef they could just jump off the back and swim in.
They ended up going north for a bit and had an easy dive.
Time for the compressor to do some work and the fishing lines to go in. Lots of bites on the bait but no catches.
We had planned to have sunset drinks followed by dinner on the beach, so I cooked up dinner and put it in the Billy-boil to keep hot.
Made it in for a lovely sunset, enjoyed our drinks and nibbles.
There were two guys who’d kayaked up from Mackay, and were heading north from Chalkies (where they were camping the night).
They mentioned that the night before the mozzies were ferocious.
As soon as the sun went down they found us. Back to Lazuli for dinner!
We put out the squid light after dinner. What we thought was a school of bait fish turned out to be a school of tiny squid.
They were smaller than our squid lures, which could explain why the lures didn’t work.
The girls tried to catch some in the fishing net, but the squid were small enough to swim through the bottom.
After dinner we could hear that Pete was out fishing (and catching) out in the middle between Whitehaven and where we were, in about 80m of water.
Everyone here went to bed and I went out on our tender by myself to have a go. Got a reasonable bite, but didn’t land anything. Came back as it started to drizzle.
Friday 11th
Woke up at 4am with the wind howling 20-25kts, gusting to 30!
Up on deck in the dark to do a bit of a tidy up and make sure everything was tied down that needed to be.
Back to bed for a few more hours of sleep.
Bit of a change from yesterday that was zero wind.
Breakfast then prepping to sail to Border Island (we had thoughts of diving/snorkeling there as well).
With just the small headsail up we were sitting on 7knts or so, but comfortable.
(there weren’t many other boats with sails up!)
Got around to Cateran Bay (Border Island) and there was a free mooring or two, but the wind was coming across the island in bullets.
All the boats on moorings were dancing about wildly.
We turned around and put the headsail back up and headed for the top of Hook Island.
Another hour and we were behind the island, sailing along at 8kts in the flat water and 25kts!
The first few bays were full (and too rolly for us anyway!) so kept on to Butterfly Bay.
Headed downwind to furl the sail (easy when there are 4 adults on board).
Grabbed one of the moorings that was in close and nice and protected!
Jess whipped up some delicious lunch wraps - eggs and bacon.
It wasn’t long before we had a random dad and son turn up on their tender, asking if we were a charter boat.
They’d lost electronics on their charter boat and were told to go find another boat and use their radio and internet.
The came onboard (I had to jump down into their tender as he’d left it in gear!) and used our internet to download Navionics and then use our VHF to call in to the charter company.
Jess enjoyed a quick nap (she didn’t get much sleep with the wind last night) while Kristie & Chris enjoyed the entertainment of watching charter boats arrive and try to hook a mooring.
Was too windy for us to enjoy a dive or snorkel.
Sip’s ‘n dips instead!
Saturday 12th
Breakfast then dropped mooring to head over towards Mantaray Bay.
One cat near us had left not long before us to do the same.
They had gone all the way to Mantaray Bay before turning around as that one mooring was taken.
We saw that and made for the last free mooring in Luncheon Bay… we got the mooring then saw them come in and have to head all the way back to Maureen’s :)
(you gotta bring your mooring A-game up here!)
In the tender and over to Mantaray bay to hook up on to the tender moorings and go for a swim with all the fish there.
We love it there, and Jess and Chris both enjoyed swimming with the GT’s and Maori Wrasse (George!).
While Kristina and Emma enjoyed throwing bread at their heads to attract the fish.
Back to Lazuli for lunch, then motored around to Stonehaven for the night.
We grabbed the mooring that was closed to the reef - tricky to get onto as there’s not enough space to swing out and head into the wind.
I missed the first attempt, did a loop around then got it the 2nd time.
We put the mat in the water and then all geared up for a snorkel.
Jess and Chris joined in for a good family jump.
The girls wanted the mat out… quick play on that before snorkeling.
Kristina stayed on the mat, and Kristie went for a SUP.
Chris found a big 30lb Mooloolaba Pick on the bottom. He dragged that up and I got it in the tender and cleaned it up later on.
Jess got some Minecraft lessons from the girls. Apparently she’s a quick learner. The girls were super excited to be able to show her their training world.
Chris and I got the fishing rods out. Managed to pull in small fish only :(
I expected more from Chris however:
Sunday 13th
Quick breakfast then motored over to grab a mooring on Blacks Island.
Even though it was still 20knts, there was reasonable protection from the wind and chop.
Kristina sat in the boat in her cloths (she doesn’t like snorkeling there) but the rest of us enjoyed a really long swim.
This is still our favourite snorkeling spot in the Whitsundays.
Emma had lots of fun diving down (to keep warm) and looking at the fish.
Long snorkel. Viz not as good as previous trips but still lots to see.
Early lunch, then got ready for a sail back to Airlie.
We still had 20knt SE, so #2 reef and stay sail out only.
Chris sailed it all the way back, enjoying how well Lazuli sails.
Back in the marina we went first to the fuel dock to fill up (only 60L or so).
Jess walked over to our marina berth to catch lines, along with the marina’s dock hand (she caught our lines two weeks ago).
As Jess and Chris weren’t in a rush to set off, we enjoyed some cheese and whiskey (cider for Kristie) before doing any jobs!
You just about need a license to drive the marina trolley!
Kristie set off to check in, collect the post and gas bottle that we had left behind to get filled while Jess and Chris packed.
We all met up to top to wait for their lift, and get an ice cream.
We said our goodbyes and hugs all round.
It was fantastic to have Jess and Chris up (it was a big effort for them to come up from Tassie) on the boat.
Being both sailors it made our time on the water very easy! The girls also loved spending time with them.
They’d only been out on Lazuli once before at Scarborough, and we hadn’t had much wind then.
They got some great sailing weather as well as snorkeling conditions!
Showers, then dinner on board.
