22:33.8S 150:45.45E

11 - 17^th June 2010

Mooloolaba to Port Clinton

We finally left Mooloolaba to sail up the coast of Fraser Island, on the outside rather than go across Sandy Straight on the inside, as we could see that we were getting short of time to get up to the Whitsunday’s, having spent 6 weeks in harbour!  We were lucky to have the company of these bottle nose dolphins for a good two hours whilst we sailed quietly up the coast of Fraser Island.

They frolicked around the boat for nearly two hours, showing off, jumping, doing rolls and making sure we gave them plenty of attention!

This rough weather next morning soon washed it off though!

We sheltered behind Rods Harbour,  just South of Gladstone after 36 hours of sailing,

Unable to call into the first atoll on the way due to rough weather forecast for the next few days.

David mended the staysail furling line which had broken just a crucial moment of

 trying to reef it during the rough spell of weather.

Our anchorage at Great Keppel Island was sheltered, but a bit rolly.

 We stayed here swaying from side to side for 4 nights waiting for worse

weather to go by.

Weather was still a bit rough along the headlands

So we were glad to find shelter, despite surfing over shallow water

into Port Clinton with Wedge Tail Shearwaters alongside

The pleasure of a calm anchorage in Port Clinton is bliss after having had

4 days and nights in a rolly one!