Position Report and other info UTC (+10 Hrs Brisbane Time)

Cut and paste the GPS location below into Google earth, you can place mark This position and follow our Progress. Satellite Phone / SMS no. +61 405 592 606

Saturday December 21, 2024, 1230 hrs

Arrived at the Queensland cruising yacht club. Final update pending after induced coma expires.

Friday, 20 December 2024, 1300 Hrs

Over Wide Bay Bar. Brisvegas here we come.

Earlier Today

Thursday, 19 December 2024, 1200 Hrs

Tin Can Bay Marina, Glad we are not out there today. Overnight at Double Island Point it reached almost 50 Kts and here in the Marina its still gusting over 30 Kts.

The forecasts are showing Friday to be calming right off to 15-20 Kts from the SE. The seas are predicted to fall by then but with the possibility of swell and seas throwing up a 4 m wave we shall be crossing the Wide Bay Bar at high tide and slack water tomorrow around Midday.

Current ETA should be early afternoon Saturday at the Queensland Cruising Yacht Club Shorncliffe.

Wednesday, 18 December 2024

After making our way through the Straits overnight we were hoping for an improved forecast for today and tomorrow.
Unfortunately those weather updates have been upgraded to a Gail ( correction “Gale” sorry no offence intended) warning moving up the coast so even the dream of making it to Mooloolaba in time is unrealistic.
Looks now like a Friday bar crossing delaying our ETA in Brisbane to Saturday.
Will head to Tin Can Bay for one night to shower and do some washing as I think the boat anchored behind us is suffering asphyxiation.

Tuesday, 17 December 2024, 1700 Hrs

25 10 S, 152 52 E, Just entering the Great Sandy Straits. Left our Mooring in Pancake Creek at 0515 Hrs this morning. After a final fuel top up in Bundaberg at 0730 Hrs we finally have had a favourable NE change and will be travelling through the Straits tonight for this evenings high tide. May have to anchor and wait if we are too early but its going to be full on all night navigating the Narrows. Update again as soon as able tomorrow.

Monday, 16 December 2024, 1200 Hrs

24 05 S, 151 58 E, We are 6 Nm NE of the Town 1770. We started out with around 130 Nm to Boonlye Point in the Sandy Straits. This is where the tide meets from either end and are hoping to make it for high tide tomorrow afternoon. Shouldn’t be a problem on the forecasts as its supposed to lighten off by now and maybe go a bit more east. Fingers crossed as I’m getting weary of re-calculating tide times and distances. Below is our track this morning. My distance calculation isn’t looking valid anymore unfortunately.

Anyway we may have to take the next tide if we can’t be quick enough. Our ETA was for Wednesday morning in Brisbane which would be great but now I’m seeing a strong Southerly moving up the coast for Wednesday afternoon in Brisbane and moving North which could last several days.

Shall update again tomorrow sometime as it will be a busy day through at least part of the Straits.

Progress since 5 am

Sunday, 15 December 2024, 2045 Hrs

Moored in “Rodds Harbour” Pancake Creek.

1200 Hrs

23 42 S, 151 34 E, some 15 Nm NE of Gladstone, Frustratingly our slowest day in the right direction yet. Its been 20 Kts of wind from SE causing double the distance to sail and there is now a strong wind warning for this afternoon and overnight in this area meaning its only going to worsen up to 30 Kts.

We will continue to crawl SE until the early afternoon and put the anchor down whilst it blows through. Conditions should improve by late morning its been forecast, so am hoping with an early start and improving conditions we can make the tides through the Sandy Straits on Tuesday.

The good news is that we are technically out of the tropics.

Saturday, 14 December 2024, 1330 Hrs

23 17 S, 150 54 E, 25 Nm from Cape Capricorn, soon we will be out of the tropics. Currently there is no wind as a rain shower moves over us so motoring on course at the moment but have spent the first 4 hours tacking into the SE wind which will be back again this afternoon. The Autopilot is now working like a dream even since the rain started. All is well.

Friday, 13 December 2024, Friday afternoon

Keppel Bay Marina. Sorry for the late update but got in late last night and on the go since early. All fuelled again, cable replaced on the instruments so auto pilot should be fine. Found the Gremlin in the system and its been taken out of action (photo to follow)

Anyway all ready to go so it will be when the sparrow emits methane in the morning.

Shame the SE is in for a few days but will hug the coast and take the more protected Sandy Straits option.

Thursday, 12 December 2024, 1630 Hrs

Unfortunately we will not make the fuel dock in time for this evening in Keppel Bay. We will need to stop and continue tomorrow as the forecasts certainly changed in the last 24 hrs and could be SE up to 25 Kts this evening. Hopefully we can convince the autopilot to behave in the meantime.

1200 Hrs

22 36 S, 151 03 E, Near Port Clinton, 7 Nm NE of Peak Island which we have been staring at since dawn. After a great run the first half of the last 24 hrs Murphy caught up with us and threw us a downpour which the autopilot didn’t like followed by forecast variable winds which seem more like a 15 kts southerly to me.

Anyway the plan was to do our last fuel top up in Roslyn Bay giving us enough range for the last 380 Nm or so. Plans may change as its currently touch and go if we can get there before the fuel wharf closes. Update when internet coverage

Wednesday, 11 December 2024, 1200 Hrs

21 16 S, 150 03 E, Around 45 Nm East of Mackay. The tide worked in our favour so have made great progress over the last 24 hrs. The autopilot has decided to behave itself (for now at least) so still motoring in light winds (N 10 Kts) and enjoying getting some distance behind us. All is well

Tuesday, 10 December 2024, 1930 Hrs

Hamilton Island fuel dock. Change of plans as the fuel dock is 24 hrs we have stopped to top up now and will bypass Mackay for tomorrow. Have had a great run this afternoon with the tide assisting so by using the change of tide now I hope to be sent way east around Lindeman Island where to tide will run more east-west than north-south and avoid being slowed too much

1200 Hrs

19 53 S, 148 24 E Around 12 Nm NE of Bowen. Have light easterlies lets say Variable winds so have been under engine as expected. Making reasonable progress though so all is good. The autopilot is still being on and off so hopefully will find the loose connection. At this stage we are planning top up fuel in Mackay tomorrow then continuing on south while the weather holds.

Monday, 9 December 2024, 1100 Hrs

Leaving Townsville “Breakwater Marina”

Sunday December 8, 2024 Update

Thanks to Neaus we have put Humpty back together again. Fueled, fixed, provisioned and almost ready to go.
Weather is looking great for the next week so looking forward to improved av speeds. Expecting a couple of stops for fuel as the winds are light but at least not adverse.
Planning to leave in the morning after a couple of errands first up that you can’t do on a Townsville Sunday.
Just turned “beer o’clock” and do you think I can find a pub? One more mission to conduct.
Update after departure.

Sunday Post

Sorry for the lack of updates but it’s been and will be a bit of a delay whilst we change fuel filters and re provision before getting underway to the next location.
Unfortunately one crew needed to cut short the trip so feelers are out for extra here or the Whitsundays.
Better updates pending.

Friday, 6 December 2024, 1100 Hrs

18 34 S, 14, 146 26 E, Just West of Orpheus Island in the Palm Island Group. Heading for fuel in Townsville so a more southerly course this morning is allowing some sail up and hence finally some speeds up around 5.5 kts as expected when not “on the nose”. Speaking of “on the nose” fun (not) yesterday when a hose to exit toilet waste overboard popped off spraying crap everywhere. Anyway the weather forecasts are finally showing some hope of reprieve in the next few days but another 25 kts SE tomorrow. Planning to will provision for the next leg when arrive tomorrow and leave again on Sunday when conditions start to improve.

Thursday, 5 December 2024, 1200 Hrs

17 27 S, 146 10 E, Around 30 Nm North of Dunk Island for a landmark that may be familiar. We have been making very slow progress with wind and tide against us. With only really one tide a day it has been running out for 18 hours so hopefully the incoming tide will give us back some of the lost distance. Rain, well its finally stopped for a while this morning but it basically been pouring certainly all night so things are quite damp on board. Anyway all are well on board.

Wednesday, 4 December 2024, 1200 Hrs

16 30 S, 145 30 E. Left Port Douglas about 2 hours ago and are motoring into light winds with the tide against us for now. Will update again daily.

Tuesday, 3 December 2024 2000 Hrs

About to start. Had a traidie attending to some last minute electrical work so preparations were somewhat difficult and slow but should be ready early tomorow.

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Dinah Eagle +61 (0) 475 306 555