Draggonfly 3
We awoke this morning in Garry’s Anchorage to fog - this is “Dragonfly 3″ owned by Jim and Anna from Brisbane, they are about 100 meters off our stern in this picture. We plan to leave for Tin Can Bay on the tide this morning.
Here in the Sandy Straits we have caught fish & crabs, seen dugongs, dolphin and turtles. Once the fog lifts we will retrieve the crab pot (hopefully with crabs) and weigh anchor for Tin Can Bay, with an overnight along the way at Pelican Bay so we can go into Tin Can Bay Marina on the high tide the next afternoon.
Sheridan Flats Bounty
Fishing the banks
Sunset
We’re off to pull up the crab pot, fog is lifting now, we have about 3 hours before the tide is favourable for our departure today Monday 19th September 2011.
It’s been some time since our last posting, not much to add as I have been in Nigeria working and Raewyn has been marina bound maintaining Crusoe awaiting my return. When I did return I was only here for a day then picked up by Kyle and Peter and whisked off to the F18 Nationals in Townsville. 10 hour drive then ferry ride across to Magnetic Island where we would compete for the national title in the F18 catamaran class. There were 16 races scheduled however because of 25-30 kt winds the first 2 days they only got 2 races off each day so a total of 12 races were sailed over 4 days, all in blistering winds and breakneck speeds. If you’re not familiar with the F18 they are arguably the fastest 18 foot sailboat on the planet. (we are 751 in photo below). Our downwind spinaker runs were 20+ knots at times. We did not place in the top 10 (required for an invitation the the F18 worlds), but had a lot of fun sailing.
We are 751 on right
National Champs!
Tomorrow, Sunday eve, we will head out of Gladstone for an overnight sail to Lady Musgrave Island in the Great Barrier Reef for a few days of R&R, fishing, diving and mayby some surfing (Sore rib from F18 sailing).
Our itinerary is Lady Musgrave Island, Lady Elliot Island, Gary’s Anchorage in the Sandy Straits then onwards to Tin Can Bay. Our arrival into Tin Can Bay coincides with the Seafood Festival on the 24-25 of September. We plan to stay in Tin Can Bay for the cyclone season and start our journey north to Malaysia when I return home from work mid April 2012.
Lady Musgrave
Lady Elliot Island
We may have limited internet capability while out on the reef (50 miles offshore) and may not have another update until Tin Can Bay. Tin Can Bay is on the southern end of the Great Sandy Straits.
Great Sandy Straits.
Cheers for now!
