…but luckily these times are rare! However, as we headed south from Airlie Beach to Mackay, we did experience some “less-than-pleasant” passages.
It's time to leave Airlie Beach
After a fantastic two months in Airlie Beach, it was time to leave. We’d had the opportunity to explore the Whitsundays – see my blog Whitsundays Pictorial – as well as eat our way up and down the streets of Airlie Beach, install new Garmin chart plotters and radar, and complete a few boat projects! We also “enjoyed” some very hot days, including seeing over 34°C frequently inside Poseidon so we went to the local beach and lagoon pool.
Here are a few photos below before we start our trip (click photo for a description).
12 March - to Shaw Island
While it’s only about 64NM, 8-9 hours cruising to Mackay, we decided to make a few stops along the way. Originally, we were going to “Naked Lady Beach” at Thomas Island, but the wind forecast wasn’t great – quite windy. Since we probably weren’t going to take the tender off the flybridge and go to the beach, we stopped earlier at Shaw Island instead, where we’d been before and knew that it would be quite protected for us.
We stayed here for two nights, and with the swell and wind both coming from the south east, the water was generally calm with minimal rolling. However, we saw wind gusts up to 50 knots. It also rained quite a lot, but luckily we had internet and phone signal. Photos below (click photo for a description).
14 March - to Outer Newry Island
Here are a couple of short videos of our trip from Shaw Island to Outer Newry Island. And this was the passage I really DID NOT enjoy! I felt seasick and to be honest, a bit scared. Looking at the videos reminds me how seasick I felt.
The videos didn’t really capture some of the elements of this crossing. Previously, we’ve had sea spray come over the foredeck and spray the pilot house windows. During this trip, we also had sea spray actually coming through the pilot house hatch – as if someone was throwing a bucket of water on us! We also had to shut the pilot house door on the port side, as I was regularly getting sprayed waves on that side.
There was a lot of creaking and banging. Things that we hadn’t secured were falling over, e.g. a fan in our saloon, a plastic crate on the aft deck holding recycling tipped over resulting in bottles rolling and crashing around the deck, and bottles in the fridge and pantry fell over. The table in our saloon, which we always lay down before heading out, was sliding around banging into things, luckily with only minimal damage.
Here are a few photos from Shaw to Outer Newry Island.
I think we were caught off guard by the short sets between the higher than expected waves/swell, which was not the forecast we’d seen. It was supposed to take us about 3 hours (23NM) but due to direction of the waves/swell, we adjusted our course and tracked further SE to set our position at a better angle than being beam on or heading directly into the waves. When we were closer to the coast, we then turned and headed NW until we reached Outer Newry Island.
After about 4 hours, we were rewarded with a lovely, protected anchorage between Newry and Outer Newry Island. We had internet and phone signal and decided to stay for three nights.
Newry Island
We enjoyed a few hours exploring Newry Island, which has the remains of a resort that closed in 2001. Newry Island has a well-signposted walking track you can take around the island. ‘Island Circuit’ passes by Newry Beach and the Lookout, and then you can take a detour to Sunset Beach. We covered most of the island and below are photos of the resort remains. Here’s some info about some of the buildings I photographed:
- Point Cabin: World famous swimmer and film star Annette Kellermen often stayed here. Apparently, she would swim in the area of the islands, braving the crocs and stingers and once swam to Seaforth for supplies.
- Willies Hut: This cottage was built some time after 1977 and enjoyed great views.
- Stone Cottage: No story available.
- Changing Shed: Resort guests showered and changed here.
- Concrete Domed Bar: This bar was built around 1966-67 and enjoyed by resort guests and passing boaters.
- Honeymoon Cottage: This was built in the 1940s and many newlyweds enjoyed their honeymoon here.
- Brady’s Cabin: One of a number of cabins accommodating up to five people.
- The Lookout: Provides sweeping views of the islands. Once was a covered gazebo, but lost its roof in one of the cylones experienced in the area.
Here are other photos I took when we kayaked to Newry Island (no descriptions provided).
During our walk around Newry Island, I connected with the birdlife. They call me the “Kookaburra Whisperer”!
17 March - to Mackay
We left Outer Newry Island around 5am for about a 3.5 hour trip to Mackay Marina. This was our first opportunity to use the new radar in the dark. It was reassuring to have radar, because at one stage we both felt we were getting a bit too close to the sandbar at Newry Island. I’ll say our autopilot wasn’t following the route properly!
It was another bumpy trip, but not as bad as the previous passage. The two videos below are taken about an hour apart.
We knew it would be a bit windy when we arrived at Mackay Marina, but we were told we had a ‘”blow-on berth” meaning the wind would be our friend! I remembered the refresher boat lessons we had in Townsville, aligned the boat parallel to the finger and let the wind blow us gently onto the dock. I’m pleased to say we handled it perfectly.
We planned to stay in Mackay Marina for about a week, so we could provision for our next route. We also had to go to some chandleries for boat stuff and Bunnings. Finally, before leaving we topped up with fuel. The few photos below show the start of our trip and then safely tucked up at Mackay Marina.
Where to next?
We’re planning our route from Mackay to Keppel Bay Marina, which will see us staying on anchor for about 10 nights.
7 Responses
The trip to Outer Newry Island does look a bit scary on the videos! Loved the photos of the buildings on Newry Island.
Nothing like getting to a good anchorage after an untidy sea. Well done you for being a great skipper!
Following your journey and love to read about it. X
As always, a great read. Thanks Pam
Another good read, thanks for sharing! Very nicely put together. Hoping no more bumpy crossings!
Enjoyed reading your post.
Another great blog with awesome pics Pam. As I have a touch of vertigo atm I should not have watched the videos lol…..that did not look like fun for you both. Glad you made it safely to Mackay xx