For a journey of so many firsts it was appropriate that Capt G should catch a Spanish Mackerel on our last day at sea. It’s been an ongoing joke that trips to the supermarket don’t qualify as hunter gathering skills… So tonight we’re moored at Fitzroy Island. We watched the sun go down over Cape Continue reading
Tag: Helene Young
Island of Dreams
Fifteen years ago when I first landed at Dunk Island, a tiny slice of paradise half way between Cairns and Townsville, I was a newly qualified First Officer on a Twin Otter. I was mesmerised by the azure water, the tropical gardens and the tiny sunbirds nesting underneath the roof of the bush terminal. Capt Continue reading
Sublime to the ridiculous
The morning started at 4 am with a local tinnie driver doing a donut around Roo Bin Esque. Luckily I wanted to watch a meteorite shower so I was happy to be awake. Sadly the clouds had other ideas and for once the stars and meteorites were hidden from sight. Dawn broke with a sigh Continue reading
Today’s score card
Zeus the salty old sea dog was awarded a perfect 10 for his entry into the dingy. His dismount is a little more problematic. Capt G received an ‘A’ for effort with his casting ability. Sadly not even hitting the fish on the head with the lure resulted in a fish dinner… I received a Continue reading
Rocks look different at sea level
So many of the most beautiful moments of this trip have been seeing places at sea level instead of from fifteen to twenty-five thousand feet strapped in a pressurised flight deck. I’ve spent fifteen years flying from Cairns to Brisbane and back and have driven the roads many times, but on this trip I’ve been Continue reading
Catch ups.
I hate to compress any of this wonderful journey but writing a blog a night was barely keeping my head above water – and no that doesn’t mean the bilge pumps have stopped working! The three days without internet occurred at a time when I most wanted to shout to the world, ‘Look, isn’t this Continue reading
Now where was I?
Since Telstra so rudely interrupted us I’ve lost track of time 
Easy to do when you have no contact with the outside world – and no offence, but it was a lovely three days of sailing, writing and talking. Shoalwater Bay is a remote section of coast that is owned by the Department of Continue reading
Great! It’s Keppel
Anyone else remember the best advertising campaign for an Australian resort island – Get Wrecked on Great Keppel? Sadly the resort is no longer operating, a salutory reminder that Australian tourism is not the driving force it used to be. 24 years ago, with my brand new private pilot licence, I landed on Great Keppel Continue reading
Navigating the narrow places
Looks can be deceiving. Beneath the calm waters of The Narrows lurk hidden rocks, shoals and bankings ready to snare the unwary. The channel runs up the western side of Curtis Island to the north of Gladstone and through to Port Alma near Rockhampton. With a strong wind warning outside it was our only option Continue reading
A day of learning.
I’ll be brief 1: A 12 metre long catamaran that’s 7.24 metres wide will be a handful in 25 kts of crosswind when trying to moor on a berth. 2. The refueller at Gladstone is a gentleman above reproach and should be paid a great deal more money. 3. An old bloke called Pete, Continue reading