Start Loc: Pancake Creek (24o 01.78’ S, 151o 44.61’ E)
Narrative: 26th and 27th July were spent anchored in Pancake Creek. It is a well protected and calm anchorage. We were disappointed it was too cold to swim as the water was clean and clear. Definitely worth the stop.
On Tuesday 26th we had a lazy start to the day with Pancakes for brunch at 11:00am, followed by a walk up to the Bustard Head lighthouse. I had read that there are two tracks - one that starts near the entrance to the creek, and the second from further in the creek that follows the power lines up. The latter was reported to be a longer and much harder walk. We found the second track which starts at the beach where we were anchored. There was a small sign at the back of the beach, and from there the track was well marked. After about 2km we intersected with a signed track that headed down to the entrance of Pancake Creek. After a look around the graveyard (which I think was an eye opener for Haydee, seeing graves marked for children of seven weeks and two years of age) we went up to the lighthouse. All the buildings have been well restored. Unfortunately the "site manager" was not around, so we could only see everything from the outside. On the way back down we followed the track to the head of the creek and then walked along the beaches and rock hopped back to our start point. All up it was about 8km, and the track we walked up was fine. We ran the engine for 28 minutes.
Wednesday 27th July started with some housekeeping, giving the boat a good clean on the inside. After he had done his schoolwork, Cameron and I went fishing. I am the first to admit that it is just as well we are not relying upon my fishing skills to sustain us (thanks for the vote of confidence Heather), but we always enjoy ourselves fishing. That said, apparently my pride was on the line - and now online! We came back triumphant having caught a few, but keeping a good sized bream that Cameron caught, and a lesser queenfish that gave us two good fillets. We ran the engine for 22 minutes.
High tide yesterday at Pancake Creek was at 6:53am. Given we got in no dramas on bugger all water, I knew we would get out again okay at 8:00am. I was up at 6:30am and enjoying a brew as I watched five other boats head out on the high - rush hour! Our anchor came up almost right on 8:00am, and with almost 2m more tide I simply followed out track back out of the creek. We set our course in the forecast S/SE 10-15kts, with the wind on our port quarter as we sailed across to Rodd Peninsular. After we rounded the peninsular, the wind was more on our port beam and it was all great sailing. We checked in to Gladstone Harbour Control as we entered the pilotage area (all vessels over 10m are required to do this at Gladstone), cleared Jenny Lind Bank and altered course to join the channel at the Golding Cutting. The 5nm+ run up the cutting was perfect for the spinnaker, so up it went. The wind gradually increased in strength (as was forecast) and we finally dropped the spinnaker and switched to 100% on the genoa as we came into the busy part of the port where several channels meet.
I have never sailed into Gladstone before and was surprised to see the mix of yachts like us, small power boats, larger tourist type ferries and large shipping, all on the same water. A couple of miles behind us there was a large ship (Sophia) coming in who was on the radio a couple of times asking a sailing catamaran in the channel in front of it what its intentions were (it was clearly in the way and not looking behind it). Sophia never got an answer on the radio. I imagine this is a regular occurrence involving yachties visiting Gladstone. Anyway, we got to the marina without incident, refueled (although that took some effort), and moved around to our allocated berth (having phoned and booked in advance).
There was still a 20kt wind blowing, even in the marina, and I knew it was going to play havoc with me getting into my berth. As our berth came into view, we could see a catamaran (Twisted with Chris and Margaret whom we were talking to in Pancake Creek) in the berth next to us. I told Heather there was technically enough room, but I wasn't going to attempt it in this wind. She called the marina office again who suggested another berth, but we could not have physically fitted in it as it had a wider catamaran next to it! I was unimpressed given Heather had told them our beam when we booked. Heather suggested a third berth that we could fit in, and it was agreed. The wind still made it interesting and it took a few attempts, but assisted by Chris and Margaret, we were tied up by 3:20pm. I measured the space next to Twisted. 5m and our beam is 3.94m. I like a little more than 50cm either side of me!
We will stay in Gladstone for two nights. We need to restock food, and I want to do the third coat on the toe rails and also put a coat on the teak on the sugar scoop. Saturday will see us start up through The Narrows (between the mainland and Curtis Island) and into Keppel Bay.
Refueled: 25.33L at 156.9c/L = $39.74
Economy since 17 Jul: 25.33L for 15 h 30 min = 1.63L/hr
Economy overall: 69.81L for 35 hr 34 min = 1.96L/hr
End Loc: Gladstone Marina (23o 49.96’ S, 151o 14.65’ E)
Distance run: 31nm (cumulative: 358nm)
Engine hours: 1 hr, 18 min (cumulative: 35 hr, 34 min)