6 August - Mackay to Yeppoon - 26 hours nonstop then onto Pancake Creek

We were not aiming for Yeppoon or Rosslyn Bay near the Keppel Islands.  :)

Departed Mackay Marina at 0515 aiming to reach the Percy Islands which are a popular anchorage (although not always comfortable) on the sail north.

Saw lots of whales today - mothers with their little ones and others playing and breaching in the distance.  One mother was very close to us - we didn't seem to worry her at all.  We are very glad that whales are not aggressive - they really are a very impressive size, especially when you are close in a boat.

South Percy Island was abeam at 1500.  The weather was so calm and waters glassed over so Ian said we need to keep going.  Aimed for Port Clinton.  However we were off Port Clinton at midnight and decided to keep aiming for Rosslyn Bay (Yeppoon which isn't too far from inland Rockhampton).

0730 found us through all the shoals and anchored in very calm waters off Rosslyn Bay.  We slept for about four hours and then popped into the Keppel Bay Marina (Rosslyn Bay not on the Keppel Islands).

Would have loved to catch up with my cousin Anthony and family who live near Rockhampton.  However we didn't think this weather window would last, so felt we had to keep going. As it turned out it was the right decision.

0200 saw us quietly motoring out of the marina - and would you believe another boat was entering!!  On the wrong side as he undoubtedly thought no one else would be awake at that hour.  :(

Motoring past Cape Capricorn at 0730.  Look on the top of the bare headland for the lighthouse.  See photo below.  How would you like to live here - very bare and picturesque?

We made very good headway, beautiful scenery past Cape Capricorn (didn't want to stay there again as we had a very rolly night on the way north, with bullets of wind shooting off the mountain and waking us up all night.)

See the Lighthouse on the cape?  Anchorage is around the other side - very small so only a couple of boats can fit in here.  We had a very rolly night here while travelling north.  The lighthouse is serviced by a fast catamaran these days.  I have previous photos of this on blog however not at this angle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We motored on enjoying the flat quiet sea conditions (If we had to motor that is.  The sailor in Ian really hates motoring and it is far noisier too).  We had our headsail and mainsail up for some of the day until the breeze was on our nose.  The sails did add a few knots to our speed which was great.  Even half a knot is celebrated. 

Anchored in Pancake Creek at 1415 which was great - we had motored for twelve hours and taken advantage of the tides and early flat conditions.  Just about 30 minutes out of Pancake Creek a westerly sea breeze came up and pushed us into the creek.

When you look into Pancake Creek from the sea it looks like a really large wide bay.   However, thank goodness for chart plotters and depth sounders.  Sand banks abound and the creek up which boats can travel is fairly (well very) limited.  It is well marked with buoys etc.

Conditions were a bit rough and rolly in the mouth of the creek so we continued down where lots of other boats where anchored.  It was lovely and calm here with only a little rocking when the tide and wind were opposed.