Yeppoon to Gold Coast aboard sv Upstart

Day 1: Wednesday 23rd October 2013

Today begins another new "In Between" adventure on an amazing boat owned and skippered by a mate of mine, Mike (ZOM) Daly, That's him below on the left.

Zom had been away from the Gold Coast for approx 4 months doing the Whitsunday Race Week and just enjoying his time on Upstart up in the Whitsundays.

This 41' Lidgard, was named after the area where she was built, Cape Upstart. Weighing just 8 tons, the boat was amazing in all aspects and I learnt a lot from Zom and his magnificent boat on this trip home.

Also on this little adventure is my old mate from the previous trip up to Tin Can Bay, Ian (Russell) Waymouth. That's him to the right - you may remember him??? And lastly - Moi

After an early morning flight I arrived at Rosslyn Bay Marina at 1445 hrs to find the boat with the engine running and the crew ready to leave for Great Keppel Island. 

Departed at 1500 hrs and not long after Zom and Russell raised the Headsail and Main for a leisurely sail across the bay to our destination for the night.

We were sailing at 6-7 knts and high on the wind and reached Keppel around 1630 hours.

Our mooring at  Great Keppel Is left, just off where the old Resort use to be and Zom & Russell enjoying a few "Sundowners" -

Day 1, Finis...

Footnote: As mentioned earlier that SV Upstart was named after the area where she was built which is Cape Upstart. This area is situated north of our current location and is up near Bowen, just south of Townsville. The cape was named by Captain Cook in June 1770 on his infamous trip up the Queensland Coast.

That evening we experienced a beautiful sunset as you can see here. These views are from Great Keppel Is looking back over to Yeppoon.

Day 2: Thurs 24th Oct 2013

0545 hrs - Awoke to a brilliant fine day with a gentle NNE blowing. After a swim and breakfast, Zom decided to head down to a perfect little bay behind Cape Capricorn on Curtis island, called Yellow Patch.

Russell sure enjoyed his early morning swims as you can tell here.

The Skipper also wanted to go via the Hummocky Islands to checkout a cove which was supposed to be a good haven from the SE winds so off we went heading SW to get as much as we could out of the gentle NE.

Eventually the wind petered out and we had to drop the Headsail and started the engine and turned back to Hummocky Is.

At left you can just see the little cove that Zom was talking about here on Hummocky Island.

After inspecting we turned around and started out for Yellow Patch.

For the whole trip so far we had been sailing thru a murky & smelly slime which we later found out from some rangers was NOT Coral Spawn as everyone, especially me, thought, but algae which happens this time every year.

We could see Cape Capricorn and Yellow Patch in the distance, but we were wary of the approach due to the fact that our 2 reference books:- Cruising the Coral Coast by Alan Lucas & The Curtis Coast by Noel Patrick, both advised that the entry was narrow and shallow.

We entered on a rising tide and Zom raised the keel to 1.5m to enable us to get thru.

We made it with room to spare and enterd into a quiet anchorage with a 4 other vessels.

Here we are entering Yellow Patch or "Yellow Cake" as I called it.

Once thru the entry which showed we had 3.5ft under the keel on the way thru the entry, the depth blew out to over 20ft.

We sailed up past the first yacht , as seen here at left, and dropped anchor between it and the other 3 boats in this lovely little anchorage.

Once again, Sundowners were called for as the Order of the Day and we settled in after a great days sailing.

The skipper then prepared one of his culinary delights which we ate ravenously and retired for the evening.

As you can see from this pic and the one further up, both Russell and Zom had chosen their preferred lounging placements early in the trip!!!!!

Yellow Patch gets its name from the "Orange" coloured sandhill that you can see here. This amazing hue can be seen for miles on approach and guides you into this little jewel....

Day 3: Friday 25th Oct 2013

We awoke to a brilliantly fine morning, but the weather forecast told of 25-30 knots of wind outside the Cape later today so we decided to stay here for another day.

Today we also learnt that one of the crew would turn out to be a real life "Action Adventure Hero" which surprised both Zom and myself.

0630 hrs - Our Action Hero Man, Russell, jumped into the tender telling us that he was going to run up the sandhill . . . and he did just that as you can see from these pics

0800 - Zom and I had some breakfast as our action Hero had not returned as yet. Afterwards, Zom decided to take the ski out to check out the bar for when we leave this perfect little bay.
Russell returned while Zom is out and decides that he isn't done yet, so he dives in and swims to the sand bar 50m away. Upon Zoms return, Action Man decides that he wants to go for a paddle next and off he goes and returns around 1130 hrs. We decided to have an early lunch.

Over lunch, the skipper told Russell that his tender was kitted out with a sail and boom, so naturally our Action Hero had to have a go as you can see at left

The little Walker Bay Tender/sailor performed a treat and Russell spent quite some time sailing her up to the mouth of the bay and back before letting Zom have a go. (See pic Below).

The look on Russell's face said everything - he was in heaven

1500 hrs - Time had come after all this fun for the day to have some Sundowners. Yes they came out early and we sat back and talked about what our plans for the coming days.

1700 hrs - As the sunset over Yellow Patch,  Action Hero cooked a great meal of steak and his world famous Mash Potato and  we cracked a bottle of Cab Sav to wash down a superb meal.

We retired early as the weather forecast was that it was abating so we wanted to get a good nights sleep just in case.

Leaving Yellow Patch and rounding Cape Capricorn on the way to Pancake Creek day #4

Day 4: Sat 26th Oct 2013

0600 - Awoke to another perfect morning, had a cup of breakfast and decided to leave here and head for Pancake Creek as the forecast was that the winds would be abating throughout the morning.

0730 - Hoisted the anchor & headed out to the bar. It was dead low tide but we weren't worried as it was an incoming tide so if we went aground we wouldn't have long to wait.

0800 - We threaded our way out, and again, we were in 3.5 ft of water. Zom was masterful by taking the engine out of gear and letting the current push us out. After rounding Cape Capricorn we took a SE heading  for Pancake Creek, some 43nm south of our position.

It was still choppy with 20 knots which made us alter course to ESE to tack away from the coastline and our intended course of 140 deg.

11.30 hrs - tacked back to 200 deg with the intention of dissecting our intended rhumb line but with the wind changing all the time we unintentionally slowly came back to our intended course.

 

1300 hrs - We came up to the northern channel leading into to Gladstone and there were approx 29 bulk carriers waiting their turn to get loaded at the Gladstone Coal and Gas terminal.





Here are a couple of the vessels that we sailed close to on the way to Pancake Creek.



1630 hrs - Arrived Pancake Creek - stowed sails and anchored for the night.
It was a long day and even better to be moored in this peaceful setting.

As the sunset, Russell went for another swim, a Turtle swam lazily by and a school of GT's were chopping up the bait fish all around us.

Pancakle Crkk

Day 5: Sun 27th October 2013

Day five and once again, another beautiful morning. Zom & Russell woke half an hour later with Action Man diving in for his morning constitutional. After his swim, he cooked a hearty breakfast of bacon and tomato while we discussed our Plan of Action . . .

Zom decided to head down to 1770 as the weather forecast was good. We have all heard a lot about the entrance being too shallow etc etc etc., so we decided to leave around 0800 hrs on the low tide so as to arrive at our destination 3-4 hours later (approx 12 nm SE) on a rising tide as we go thru the entrance at Round Hill Creek.
I can see why Pancake Creek was such a popular anchorage with all the little bays and due to its proximity to Gladstone.
Bustard Head Light House as seen from the Pancake Creek side . . .

After rounding Clew Point, we turned east towards Bustard Head before starting our run down to 1770, and as you can see here at left, that thick, slimy algae was back.


We arrived at the Town of 1770 approx 1130 hrs & contrary to all that we have been told over the years, experienced no problems entering the passage.

The Town 1770 has an historic background and was once called the birth place of Queensland and is where Lieutenant James Cook landed in his discovery voyage back in 1770. In fact this was Cook's 2nd only stop in Australia after Botany Bay.

 For those who are interested, a mate of ours, Rob Mundle, has just published his latest work titled:- "Cook - from Sailor to Legend", and might I say, it is well worth the read.
I have read several of Rob's books, including Bligh and Flinders, which in my opinion, forms part of the Trilogy with this latest release and find that his research is meticulous and the writing style to be easy and enjoyable. 
This book bought back a lot of memories of the places that I have visited in my life, especially now as we were sitting in 1770.



It has been over 25 years since I was last here, so as soon as we got  everything stowed away, down came the tender and off we went for a look.
The old Sly Grog Shop had certainly expanded as you can see here.

- Zom & I on the deck of the 1770 Tree Bar & Restaurant 

1600 hrs - returned to Upstart for a good night's meal and and early nite.
During the nite the wind came up and pushed us up close to another boat, so we all took turns to keep a watch on it.

The 1770 Marina in the background where day trips are offered to the tourists to Lady Musgrave Is and Fitzroy Reef.

Day 6: Monday 28th October 2013

0800 hrs - due to the weather turning in our favour, we decided to leave the gorgeous little anchorage this afternoon and do an all nighter down to Fraser Island.

Before we could leave however we needed some supplies so Russell and I headed off to Agnes Waters, some 7 klms away. 

As there is no real public transport in the area, we had to hitch over to the local IGA - Russell was right into the moment!!!!!

1500 hrs - Hoisted anchor and headed out around Round Hill Head. Winds NE which we expected to come around to E as we went along.
  
Course 130 deg - this puts us on a direct line for Fraser Island. Zom has timed this to be at the " " "Fairway Lead" at the top of the Straits around 1st light.

1600 hrs - We have been choofing along at 7-8 knots ever since we turned the corner and set our rhumb line course and these dolphins appeared and swam along for a little off the bow.

1700 hrs - Russell relieved me of the helm. Current speed has increased to 8-9 knots.

2200 hrs - Still powering along at

between 8-9 knots and at this pace

we will definitely be at White Cliffs

well before our anticipated time at 

daylight.

Garry's Anchorage, Fraser Island

Day 7: Tuesday 29th October 2013

0100 hrs - Dark night. Still moving along at 8-9 knots

0200 hrs - The skipper, Zom, decides to slow us down a bit so he drops the Headsail but keeps the main up with one reef, as he really wants to enter the straits at day light.

0230 hrs -  Obviously he didn't slow us down too much at all as we have just passed the Fairway Lead at the top of the Sandy Straits. We decided not to stop at North White Cliffs but to keep going to Garry's Anchorage. Wind is increasing, we estimated at around 25-30 knots, so we are glad to be behind Fraser prior to dawn. We had traveled 125nm last evening and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Day 8: Wednesday 30th Oct 

0700 hrs - Left Garry's Anchorage and headded down the Straits for Tin Can Bay under power.

1030 hrs - Arrived at Tin Can Bay Marina and were berthed in B30. It felt strange to be back here so soon after my last trip, especially as Russell was here as well.

Leaving Garry's Anchorage

1200 hrs - After stowing the boat, we headed down to the 
Yacht Club for lunch and a couple of beers.

1500 hrs - back on Upstart, showered and had a couple
 of Sundowners for good measure.

Later Russell cooked up his world famous gourmet Pizza and we turned in for the night. Tomorrow's weather was for more 20-25 knot winds so it is unlikely we will head off for the Gold Coast.

End of Day #8, how else but with another
 glorious sunset . . .  

Day #9: Thurs 31st October

Lay day in Tin Can Bay due to 20-25 knot winds from SE. 
Decided to do some more shopping for supplies and stay another nite and head up to Pelican Point (jump off point for the Wide Bay Bar) tomorrow just in that case the weather abated.
Tin Can Bay is the only place I know which has 1 (ONE) pub but 2 names. That's right, because it has a 2 street frontage - so we had to have a look and a beer. 

Not only has the only pub got 2 names & 2 street frontages, but it has the largest gaming area that I have ever seen - 1 Poker Machine and 1 NRL game of chance. (Pic at Left)
Zom and I also bought tickets in the seafood raffle and I won and eventually sold it to a local for $10. Not bad for a nite on the town.

1900 hrs - returned to the boat for an early nite.

Day 10: Friday 1st November

0600 hrs - woke to see the wind still blowing around 20 knots, but the weather forecast said it would abate overnight. Russell cooked his World Famous bacon & egg sandwiches and off we went to the local coffee shop for a cup of coffee. 
We had decided to do another all nighter from here to the Gold Coast. A rhumb line trip of approx 145nm 










At the Tin Can Bay Bar & Grill/shop we ran into another SYC member, Paul & his mate Gary on "Northern Lights" who had also been up here for 3-4 months enjoying the winter months.

At Left: Some of the other boats waiting to leave Pelican Point tomorrow





At left  is Russell with Paul's yacht in the background.
1100 hrs - left the marina and headed out Snapper Creek and into Tin Can Inlet heading for Pelican Point. Paul and Northern Lights just ahead of us.

1200 hrs - Arrived and moored at Pelican Bay, only to find another 15 boats waiting for tomorrow's tide & wind. Later on several more boats came in for the night. 

Day 11: Saturday 2nd November 2013

0500 hrs - All awake in anticipation of the day ahead. Russell makes us a cup of

Breakfast and at 0530 hrs, the skipper gives the order to raise the anchor.

Here we go. We see that 6 boats have already left the group of 20 or so boats that were here this morning, so we follow them out towards the Bar.

The bar is not as active today as it was when Russell & I came thru on his boat, Aquarius 1 a couple of months ago, but we were still keeping a close eye on everything. 

It was a magnificent day for a sail and we could see all the other boats that had departed the bar all heading South, the majority were heading for Mooloolaba. Paul & Gary on Northern Lights sailed closer to the shore on their 63nm journey.

We on the other hand set a 130 deg course direct for the Gold Coast seaway some 145nm ahead.

As you can see from the video above, we had some friends join us for a short time. as we were only doing around 5-6 knots, Zom felt that we were too slow for them to frolic off our bow. 

The day was long and again at nite the wind picked up and we were back doing 7-9 knots.

On rounding Cape Moreton, the nite came alive  with trawlers. Lights everywhere!!! In fact Russell had to steer further seaward to get away from their trawling areas. 

We stayed on that more easterly tack for quite some time until we turned and  tacked for the GC Seaway. 

As the dawn rose, the Surfers Paradise skyline came into view on our port side and we were home. What a great trip.

That's all for this little adventure on sv Upstart with Zom & Russell - so until next time, Cheers!