We arrived in Airlie Beach on Thursday afternoon after more than 4 days at sea since leaving Southport. I would have posted this update sooner but it’s taken a few days to recover from our trip.
After nearly a week enjoying the comforts of Southport, a small window of better weather opened up. We follow the official forecasts from the Bureau of Meteorology, and also 6 other detailed weather models. All the forecasts predicted moderate winds and seas, but they would be coming from behind us which would have made them tolerable. So we departed Southport as planned. As expected, showers developed and the winds and waves increased a little as we progressed north past Morton Island and then along Fraser Island. Fraser Island is a remote area as it extends east into the Coral Sea, taking boats further away from the mainland. During the first 2 nights, squalls developed unexpectedly. It was time to install the storm boards across the companionway, to keep the storm out of our dimly lit haven below.
The first couple of squalls lasted maybe 30 minutes each. During the second night, the sky flashed with lightning in spectacular bursts that lit the sky from horizon to horizon. That was the curtain raiser for the biggest squall, a deluge of rain and strong winds to 35 knots that John said lasted for “5 to 6 hours!” of his 3 hour watch. Poor John; every squall coincided with his time on deck. He was definitely out of his comfort zone and into a discomfort zone that wasn’t in the brochure. Thanks John, and all the crew, for keeping watch during the bad weather.
Despite the strong winds, the waves remained much the same at 2 to 3 metres. The sea state even calmed a little. It became less agitated and appeared oily with all the rain pouring down.
Sunrise on day 3 brought better weather. We started to dry out and our appetites returned. We made our way inshore towards Gladstone on the coast to avoid the stronger winds offshore had we followed the direct route to Airlie Beach. However, getting to the more comfortable route meant a slow day into headwinds. But we were grateful the bad weather was behind us.
For 2 days we could hear on the radio the Marine Rescue authorities conducting a search for a 30ft yacht that got into trouble off Fraser Island. A woman was rescued but the skipper and yacht were never found. The weather was challenging but Debonnaire was well in control and always felt very safe.
Days 4 and 5 of the voyage were sensational. It was sunny and warm. The seas were comfortable with gentle breezes and slight waves from behind. The night skies were clear, filled with brilliant stars and the bright streaks of meteors.
We were about 12 hours behind schedule due to the weather over the first 3 days. We now had to monitor our fuel reserves closely. Food wasn’t a problem though; Catherine always ensures we won’t go hungry, and since we didn’t eat much for the first few days, there was plenty in the pantry.
It was wonderful to be back on familiar waters among the Whitsunday islands. Our spirits were high as we approached Airlie Beach in daylight. But wait! One last hurdle. As we were about the enter the Coral Sea Marina, I noticed the tide was low, and if it was a spring tide our deep keel could get stuck inside the marina. So I did a quick go-around, confirmed all would be well, then finally entered the marina and tied up in our berth, ending our voyage that started in Sandringham 24 days ago. (The tide continued to fall and eventually, a few hours later, Debonnaire was sitting on her keel.)
The crews of Carpe Diem and Debonnaire had dinner together at a popular restaurant to celebrate. They had long hot showers, clean clothes and a quiet night’s sleep before catching flights back to Melbourne.
Catherine and Phil have been resting in Airlie Beach for a few days now, enjoying the warm, dry weather. We’ve been slowly doing chores, cleaning up, washing the boat, and repairing some minor damage.
Thank you to Carpe Diem. Paul and her crew have been great company throughout the voyage. It was very reassuring to be travelling in tandem.
A very big thank you to the crew of Debonnaire. You had to dig deep to get through the first few days after Southport, and then continue with the watches without a break until we reached Airlie Beach. It was challenging and tiring.
Thank you, also, to the crew who helped on the previous sectors. You, too, had your challenges. We’ve enjoyed having all the crew with us on this adventure and hope you found the experience fun and rewarding.
And now, time for a shave…
Debonnaire 