Island hopping along the Curtis Coast

Well you might ask why no entry since Pancake Creek? Something to do with the passage taking us out of Internet coverage.
We are presently in Mackay marina and as things have it we are watching a documentary on fishing trawlermen. Whilst the AIS identifies all the large ships well, unfortunately not the same can be said for numerous fishing boats. So one has to keep a keen eye on their lights and movement.

Pancake Creek marked the start of day sailing, no overnight passages for a while; I hear a thankful sigh from Anne! Onward to Great Keppel Island. A good days sail with the SE wind behind us, making 8+ knots most of the time. Just as we came to anchor having come around the eastern side of the Island we noticed a catamaran coming towards us tripping off the AIS! Must be our friends in their Perry 43 who have the enhanced AIS with transponder! We had actually seen them in Pancake Creek but only talked on VHF. We spent a great couple of days sharing a few drinks in the evening with Martin, Sue, and Sue’s brother in-law. Explored the beach. And to Anne's OCD pleasures were able to inspect the anchor! The water was great. You laugh but we were woken the other night with a large catamaran dragging it's anchor and getting very close! Even had a swim. A brief digression – Anne is asleep again and it's only 9 pm. She falls asleep most evenings, must be my company!! Keppel had a well known resort but this closed about 18 months ago. The resort was around the corner and the way it is tucked behind the beach you hardly notice it from the sea. Still a very pretty island, but despite the shelter from the wind, the swell at anchor....

After 2 nights at Keppel it was off again at first light. Another days sail to Pearl Bay on the mainland, just south of Shoalhaven a military training area. Yet another good sail with this persisting southeasterly and its accompanying swell. Going down wind we maintain a good speed of 8-10 knots. We reached a maximum of 12 knots surfing down a wave! A beautiful bay which appeared very calm! However with the change in tide later it became very rolly! Anne took some great sunset photographs. We didn't go to the beach as much to our surprise this area has crocodiles and tiger sharks!

The next day saw the routine of waking at 530am and raising the anchor at 0615am. We set off for Middle Percy Island some 40 nautical miles away. The persisting SE winds of 15-25 knots meant good progress and we arrived early afternoon. The ritual of inflating the tender and launching followed. Percy Island has an interesting history that more recently involved the courts and the legitimacy of the lease. An inscrutable Englishmen had obtained the lease from a mentally ill elderly man. You will see a fair number of photos in our picasa album [see link]. The islands main beach has an A frame with lots of memorabilia from previous visitors. One is encouraged to leave your mark!

The next day was a day sail to Curlew Island, and then onward to Mackay.. I will leave the story about our arrival in Mackay to Anne!