Start Loc: Mackay Marina (21o 06.84'S, 149o 13.52'E)
Narrative: After four days doing a little bit of maintenance, restocking, and sitting out some strong winds, we headed off from the marina berth just after 11:00am and headed around to the fuel berth.
Refuelled: 81.95L at 157.0c/L = $128.66
Economy since 28 Jul: 81.95L for 38 hr 09 min = 2.15L/hr
Economy overall: 151.76L for 73 hr 43 min = 2.06L/hr
After refueling and final preparations we departed Mackay Outer Harbour at 11:50am, hoisted sail and set course for Keswick and St Bees Islands. The islands are about 15nm NE of Mackay and are close together, forming Egremont Passage between them, about half a mile wide.
The winds were SE at 15-20kts. We sailed NE on a beam reach with a reef in the main and reduced head sail. This pushed us at 6.0 to 6.5kts boat speed, with the favourable ebbing tide giving us an additional 1.0 to 1.5kts over the ground. The light but constant rain gave us cause to break out the wet weather gear again, and reduced visibility to about 3nm.
The plan was to anchor at the north end of Homestead Bay on the west side of St Bees Island. As we entered Egremont Passage, it looked like there would be less swell a little further up the passage tucked in close to Keswick Island. This proved to be the case and we had a calm anchorage just north of the new marina facility being developed on Keswick Island. The fringing coral is close, and the water is clear. The weather is overcast with the occasional shower, which is what we will have for the next few days.
End Loc: Keswick Island (20o 54.78'S, 149o 25.08'E)
Distance run: 18 nm (cumulative: 750nm)
Engine hours: 1 hr, 27 min (cumulative: 75 hr 10 min)