Start Loc: Bona Bay, Gloucester Island (20o 02.52'S, 148o 26.61'E)
Narrative: We happily spent Friday 14 October anchored at Bona Bay as well, and had one of our typically lazy days - it is after all why we are doing this! We ran the engine for 26 minutes.
The winds switched to NW overnight, so we started to roll around a bit. Enough so that first thing this morning, Heather suggested we move to somewhere a little more protected before we had breakfast. I would like to visit the Gloucester Eco Resort but that would also be too exposed, so at 7:30am we raised anchor and motored the 3nm back to Breakfast Bay. We were anchored there by 8:00am but it still took a couple of attempts; even with plenty of chain out. Breakfast Bay really is poor holding.
The N winds bend around the bottom of Gloucester Island with very little drop in strength, and may even accelerate a bit, so we had W winds. The winds were forecast to increase in strength to around 25kts by evening. While Breakfast Bay was still fairly calm, I was concerned that with strong winds and poor holding we would potentially drag anchor. Once the tide changed and we had wind against tide it would also play havoc a bit and probably ride us forward so the anchor chain rubs against the hull. In short, I didn't want to spend the night in Breakfast Bay with 25kt winds, knowing I wouldn't get much sleep as I would be constantly checking the anchor and/or the chain would be rubbing on the hull. I convinced Heather we should head for Bowen a day earlier then planned.
After a few phone calls earlier in the day I had booked us into a berth at the North Queensland Cruising Yacht Club on Monday (so we will have shore power after shopping), and we would take a fore and aft pile berth for Saturday and Sunday. We left Breakfast Bay at 1:40pm, and after motoring clear of the passage, set sail for Bowen. The wind was NNW at around 20kts so our W course had us sailing on a close reach. With two reefs in the main and reduced head sail we sailed at 5.5-6kts boat speed, with an extra knot or so of tidal assistance. It was a great sail for a couple of hours. As we came to the channel on the south side of Stone Island, we put the sails away and motored into wind up into the harbour. This was the first time we have taken up a pile mooring, and it was interesting to say the least. The wind didn't help, and I think it would be easier with a couple more adult crew, but the kids both did great and we were tied up by 4:00pm.
We will have a look at Bowen tomorrow, including watching the rugby world cup semi-final, and then move in to our berth and do the shopping on Monday.
End Loc: Bowen Boat Harbour (20o 01.05'S, 148o 15.35'E)
Distance run: 16nm (cumulative: 1209nm)
Engine hours: 2 hr, 02 min (cumulative: 157 hr 44 min)