We've done the numbers: Time commitments + accessible available marinas + continuing trade winds + insurance premium increases + emotional reserves + motivation + desire to ski in Thredbo next week = mooring at Gladstone marina until next autumn. The decision has been made and this year's boat cruising has reached its end. We will indulge Blue Eagle at times during the summer, but are happy to secure her in an exceptional marina in the interim until we head further north next year. To everyone that has followed the blog this year, thank you, we hoped you've enjoyed it and for now Blue Eagle over and out.

If you ever need to understand the current world reliance on fossil fuels look no further than Gladstone Harbour. A collection of huge facilities dedicated to fuelling global warming.

Cruising in Port of Gladstone’s controlled water space is akin to controlled airspace, you log on with harbour control, there are designated small boat passage routes, you give way to anything bigger than you and must constantly monitor two radio channels. With a holding anchorage of more than 40 ships at the entrance, dozens of wharfs for coal, LNG, aluminium, and agricultural exports, tugs and support vessels abound and this is one busy harbour. It’s not pretty but it’s interesting to transit through.

Koongo, place of water, and Yallam, place of shells, are the traditional lands of the peoples of Bailai, Gurang, Gooreng Gooreng and Taribelang Bunda nations. Our spectacular anchorage, Targinie Creek, is named not after first nations but the original "Targinia Pastoral Run" dating back to 1863. In the last census the area had a population of 31 so not surprisingly, we have this anchorage all to ourselves. The only evidence of human development is a communications tower on the ridge on the horizon, this is despite the industrial ugliness of Gladstone harbour less than 10 km away. It is so protected and peaceful we have extended our stay to indulge the tranquillity.

When the winds and seas are up, we look for sheltered anchorages along the coast often in the mangrove lined creeks of coastal inlets like this one in Targinie Creek at Gladstone. The mangrove ecosystem is complex and dynamic and healthy mangroves are good indicator of a healthy waterway. Mangroves have many roles including acting as a fish and crustacean nursery, a compost heap for breaking down organic matter, a bird sanctuary, a desalination plant removing salt from the water they need to survive, and erosion stabilisation of the creek system. Home to a range of friendly and not so friendly wildlife which live and feed amongst these amazing plants. Luckily to date we haven’t seen the unfriendly ones, but our cruising guide warns us “take care around the water and do not swim, there are definitely crocodiles here”.

At low tide vehicles drive over dry dirt tracks and cattle used to walk to new pastures across the narrow and shallow channel behind Curtis Island called "The Narrows". At high tide it becomes a weather sheltered shortcut between the anchorages of Gladstone and Keppel Bay. It takes a bit of planning. You need to enter the narrows about to 45 min before the peak high tide with a tide height that is ideally 2m greater than the draft of your vessel. Today was perfect 3.5m tide at noon with Blue Eagles draft of 1.5m and also strong south easterly winds making an alternate ocean passage uncomfortable. For the next week the tide range drops below ideal, and passage would be fraught with danger of running aground. Stuck in the mud so to speak for a week.

Did you know Curtis Island is home to the Capricorn yellow chat (Epthianura crocea macgregori), a tiny bird which is listed as critically endangered. The bird's habitat is threatened by rising sea levels as it is only found on Curtis Island on three plains adjacent to the water, and since 2002 the sea level along that coast has risen 80 mm. The population was reduced to just a couple of pairs 20 years ago, but now there are almost 40 on Curtis Island mainly due to feral pig management and cessation of cattle farming.

The engine problem, a steady drop in oil pressure to critical levels after about 1 hour of cruising baffled mechanics in Brisbane and Yeppoon as well as us. All simple checks failed to find a definite cause and each adjustment tested with a sea trial returning early as the problem remained unsolved. Despite the assurances of our mechanics that it wasn’t a major issue, we were both despondent, dejected and a little overwhelmed. Then Wednesday, the breakthrough came, we identified that a malfunctioning secondary oil cooling pump was overheating the oil and a simple fix ensued. Back to testing in sea trials and this time no early returns. Three days of several hours cruising out in blustery and rough conditions from the gusty trade winds seem to show that the issue is solved. Fingers crossed as we plan the next stage of our journey.