We commenced our assault on the Whitsundays at a more sedate pace, a lovely sail for most of the way from Mackay to Shaw Island, where we met a friendly local, a solitary bat fish that is rather curious, obviously other boaties must feed him, but given we had none of his proper diet on board of crustaceans, we just admired him.
We spent two nights at the anchorage at Shaw Island, we attempted to go ashore and have a swim, but with the tide out the ankle deep water went out quite a way and the water was too cool for Sophie.
The beach was uncomfortable as there was no breeze in there to cool the scorching sun, so we went back to the boat and read books, took a nap, and then moved onto the usual sun downers of cheese and biscuits or guacamole and corn chips.
We then moved onto Cid Harbour, a familiar but favourite spot from the two bareboat yacht charters that we have been on, it is a good all weather anchorage and because of that becomes more like a floating caravan park every evening, which ruins it a little, but none the less it has gorgeous aqua blue water and lovely sunsets across the Whitsunday passage.
We up-ed anchor at Shaw and memories came flooding back of why I hate anchoring in the Whitsundays- grey, thick, sticky, mud spinning off the anchor chain as it rises and onto anything within reach, including the newly cleaned foredeck of the boat and the anchor committee. With no wind on the way the iron mainsail was the only option, however we were sailing with the ebbing tide and were hooning along at 8 knots with little effort from the engine. It was a short sail of 13 nautical miles and we arrived by lunch time. We went ashore to attempt a swim, but Sophie didn't think much of it so we went back to the boat and took turns at minding Sophie and swimming off the back of the boat.
We stayed at Cid Harbour for two nights, catching up with many of the yacht club boats, we also did the walk from Sawmil Beach at Cid Harbour across to Dugong Beach.
We then headed to Airlie Beach to prepare for the arrival of Warwick and Alix (my little brother and his girlfriend) for a long weekend around the Whitsundays.
Click HERE to see exactly where we are