East Coast Cruising

Sailing on Northshore 38

Vessel Name: Sorceress
Vessel Make/Model: Northshore 38
Hailing Port: Newport, Victoria
Crew: Vince, Emma, Laura & Rayner
About: We are all mad!
15 November 2010 | THE END!
30 October 2010 | Mackay to Mooloolaba
11 October 2010 | Queensland Weather
30 September 2010 | Leaving the Whitsundays
22 September 2010 | Whitsunday Islands
04 September 2010
25 August 2010 | Up through the southern islands
24 August 2010 | Great Keppel Island
09 August 2010 | Port Bundaberg and Gladstone
29 July 2010 | Kingfisher Resort, Fraser Island
20 July 2010 | Great Sandy Strait
03 July 2010
29 June 2010
25 June 2010
21 June 2010
12 June 2010
11 June 2010 | Kiama
Recent Blog Posts
15 November 2010 | THE END!

THE END!

Well we are sad to say that we have landed back in Melbourne and are no longer sailing boo hoo! Its great to see all our friends again but we often let our thoughts drift back to the deep blue seas, the white beaches, friendly dolphins and that stress free life. We left the boat in Mooloolaba up for [...]

30 October 2010 | Mackay to Mooloolaba

Mackay to Mooloolaba

We made our way down from Port Bundaberg to Kingfisher Bay at the beginning of the Great Sandy Strait. We all like Kingfisher Bay as the resort there is very welcoming of Yachties and we can use their facilities which include a swimming pool, showers, bins, cafe etc. The weather was great and we spent [...]

11 October 2010 | Queensland Weather

Queensland Weather

OK enoughs enough - I was under the impression that Queensland's moto was 'Beautiful one day, perfect the next' I want everyone to know that that is rubbish! It should be changed to 'Blustery windy one day and pissing down with rain the next'. After being stuck in MacKay for a week with rain and strong [...]

30 September 2010 | Leaving the Whitsundays

Leaving the Whitsundays

We didn't end up leaving Airlie Beach for another week which was ok because we got to watch the Grand Final - Vince goes for Collingwood and we didn't want to miss it. So our goodbye drinks at Cid Harbour the week earlier was a good excuse for a party because we saw everyone again when they came in [...]

22 September 2010 | Whitsunday Islands

Whitsunday Islands

Well we are still here in the Whitsundays, but about to turn around and head home. Vince is doing some work for a few days so we are in the marina and then we will get the boat ready for our return journey. The whole boat could do with a good clean!

Leaving the Whitsundays

30 September 2010 | Leaving the Whitsundays
Emma
We didn't end up leaving Airlie Beach for another week which was ok because we got to watch the Grand Final - Vince goes for Collingwood and we didn't want to miss it. So our goodbye drinks at Cid Harbour the week earlier was a good excuse for a party because we saw everyone again when they came in to restock! In fact we all went to Club Crocodile, a resort in Airlie Beach, and watched the Grand Final - what a game, can't believe they are making the poor buggers come back and do it all over again a week later what a disappointment not to get a result. Who makes these rules? Still looking forward to seeing another footy match lets hope its a good game again and not a draw - Go St Kilda - oops sorry Vince!!
We are now in Mackay. It was good to finally leave Arlie and start sailing again, leaving the crowds and hustle and bustle of the place behind. We have both missed being on the open sea. We are now officially heading home! We spent three days getting to MacKay which is 65 nautical miles from Airlie Beach - a short hop but the trade winds are still blowing south east which makes sailing in that direction slower. Sailing through the southern islands is magical and the scenery is amazing. We stopped at Shaw Island for one night and then onto Port Newry which was a pleasant surprise. We were going to go to Brampton Island but because of the winds we could only head for the coast, so Port Newry it was. We are very much in the hands of the winds! Port Newry is a group of very small islands close to the mainland and it was a great anchorage, very picturesque and a short dinghy ride to another island had a beautiful beach lined with coconut palms and good walks. There were about five other boats here and we were invited to join them for drinks on the beach. We would liked to have stayed here longer but we knew bad weather was coming so wanted to get to MacKay. One couple were local from MacKay just out for a weeks holiday and they said when we get to MacKay we can use their marina berth for nothing which was great and saved us a lot of money. We really have met some amazing cruising people, everyone is friendly and helpful.
We are now in MacKay and have met a lot of people that live on the Marina permanently. We are boysitting Jordan today, a 10 year old, today whilst his parents work.
Looks like we will be in Mackay for a while as the weather has turned savage. Its due to blow 30 knots from the south east for the next 3 or 4 days. We had another massive downpour of rain and a big thunderstorm. All the electricity went out for a few hours and places around MacKay flooded. While this was happening our kids were swimming in the swimming pool getting pounded by the heavy rain! Everyone is surprised by the weather and say its typical of moonsoon weather not supposed to happen at this time of year.
We will be watching the Grand Final again here and then looking to try and find a window of opportunity to keep moving south. We are meeting friends at Great Keppel a week on Saturday so the bad weather better let up soon!
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