Arrived Airlie Beach
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Position: 20 15.64 S 148 42.94 E It has been a wet and windy ride from Percy Island to Airlie Beach with a trough passing through the region bringing showers, and strong and at times squally winds. And now that we are in behind the Great Barrier Reef there are numerous islands and rocks we have to look out for, so it was a long night with virtually no sleep as I had to constantly monitor the navigational situation, adjust course and trim sails, as well reef and unreef according to the conditions. In the early hours of the morning we were entering the Whitsundays, passing many familiar islands on the way, such as Scawfell, St Bees, Brampton, Lindeman, Hamilton, and Daydream, before rounding the isolated danger mark half a mile to the north of Pioneer Point, tightening sheets and beating our way in to the anchorage off Airlie Beach. We arrived just as the day was dawning allowing me to see more clearly the many boats moored and at anchor. I had an anchor position marked on my plotter from the last time we were up this way in July 2019, which I recalled as being relatively convenient to a rocky beach where I could get ashore in the dinghy, so I aimed for this spot. Fortunately there was enough room and we motored the last half mile in among the numerous boats and at 0630 let go the anchor in five meters of water. Once Sylph was secured I had breakfast then turned in for a few hours. Now, feeling much refreshed after a bird bath and lunch, it is time to get the dinghy in the water and go seek out a supermarket. All is well. |