Adventures of Tropicali
| Vessel Name: | Tropicali |
| Vessel Make/Model: | DEW 33 |
| Hailing Port: | Tin Can Bay |
| Crew: | Stuart Pryor and Dianne Pryor |
| About: | From Poona, Queensland they go to sea. There is nothing half so much worth doing as simply messing around in boats |
15 October 2017
The last post...☹️☹️☹️
They say all good things come to an end, and after 105 days of our first venture north on Tropicali, we are now back in Tin Can Bay wondering where the last few months have gone and how the trip has affected us.
12 October 2017
Home waters again !
Over the last two days, we have milked the continuing run of northerlies from Bundaberg to our home port of Tin Can Bay. We have been incredibly lucky to have ridden this northerly flow from the Whitsundays all the way home over a two week run.
09 October 2017
1770 to Bundaberg
Just love 1770, it's on the must do again list. Yes, it's shallow, but it is a pretty place to sit in Round Hill Creek, especially at night. No wonder Captain Cook took the Endeavour in there. It must have been a LOT deeper in 1770!
08 October 2017
Day 100 - Town of 1770
Hard to believe, but it is 100 days since we left Poona, and sadly, we are rapidly heading back home, with a stop in Bundaberg likely for the next two days.
06 October 2017
Back through the Narrows again
It seems like only 2 weeks ago we were travelling north through the Narrows, but as we are now at day 98 of the trip, I guess it was quite some time ago.
04 October 2017
Back to sea again
After having Tropicali at Rosslyn Bay Harbour for 9 days, 4 of which were while we travelled to Sydney to farewell son Chris off to the UK, and 2 more waiting for the soggy weather to clear, we made a break today for Great Keppel.
Heading South - Mackay to Marble Is.
Left Mackay at sparrows, and headed past the impressive Hay Point coal loader where there were about 30 ships anchored offshore waiting their turn. We had contacted Hay Point VTS who advised there were no ship movements until 11.30am, so this time we sailed right through their moorings. These huge bulk carriers are mighty impressive from close range!
Target for the first overnight anchorage is Curlew Island as it has three distinct anchorages for a variety of wind directions. We decided on Buchanan Bay as we had been getting land breezes during the night at Mackay....bad choice! A very uncomfortable night where we got minimal sleep perched up in the saloon lounge, as our bed in the port hull felt more like a bucking bull ride.
So, out of Curlew at first light, the winds slowly becoming more northerly through the day as we headed for the next overnight anchorage at Hunter Island. When we arrived at Hunter, we decided that our pre-selected anchorage would not be suitable for the now north wind, however, just around the corner was the very pretty and protected anchorage at Marble Island, where we spent a very restful and secure night. A shining of the spotlight on the water at night showed up dugong, turtles and an amazing sight of squid zooming around. Were they hunting or being hunted?
Both these islands are part of the "Duke" group of islands, 3 of which are run by the Duke Pastoral Company, who still run cattle on the islands. Even so, it was a very strange sight to see cattle on the beach at sunset!
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