Usually I tow an 11 foot aluminium dinghy. Great for the river, not for open waters. Needing something to fold up and carry on deck, I bought a Mercury 250 Airdeck HP inflatable dinghy and Mercury 4-stroke 3.5 hp motor. When I set out on May 28, the dinghy was in its bag tied down on the cockpit roof. The motor inside the cabin laying on the floor with its powerhead raised slightly resting on the bilge cover which is a step up from the lower floor.
The morning I set out, I checked the weather forecasts and found they were changing. Gone the light easterly winds. Strong ones coming. Okay. I move to Plan B. Rather than go to Great Keppel Island where strong winds moving around the compass can make it difficult to find a calm anchorage, I decided to head to Yellow Patch on Curtis Island. Being a small estuary, I hoped it would be more protected. The problem is the entrance which is shallow.
- Sunset from Egg Island, Fitzroy River Qld.
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The first day I anchored overnight at the mouth of the Fitzroy River, beside Egg Island (23 nm). The next day I crossed the bay and headed around the top of Curtis Island past Pacific Creek. I was glad not to be going in there as I wanted to see new places and the landing at the jetty to access the shore has many sharp bits of shell and rock. Didn't want to puncture my new inflatable.
Hummocky Island is practically on my path so I detoured and eye-balled it. Wind is southerly but shifting towards the east. I motored as winds not good for sailing and I am mostly heading into the wind which picked up as the day passed. I enjoyed my quick view of Hummocky Island but was running out of hours.
- Approaching Hummocky Is. off Curtis Island Qld.
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Decided to anchor at Cape Capricorn as closer than Yellow Patch and I was not feeling well (total from previous anchorage 31 nm). My thought was I would have more time the next day to inspect the entrance to Yellow Patch and go in.
- Packed inflatable on cabin roof, Cape Capricorn ahead, Yellow Patch on R
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With swells coming around Cape Capricorn, I had a very rolly anchorage. Felt very sick but didn't need to hang over the side. When I noticed that my throat was becoming sorer and my sinuses congested, I realised some or most of my feeling sick was a head cold coming on.
- Cape Capricorn
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The next day, Monday, feeling even sicker, instead of going to Yellow Patch, I headed back around Curtis Island and entered Pacific Creek (20 nm). I went there because I know it is a safe anchorage and being only one day from Rockhampton, if I get too much sicker I can easily return home.
Thankfully, the head cold didn't get that bad but it did zap the energy out of me. I stayed on the boat, slept, ate when I could, sippped tea and contemplated my surroundings. Later in the week I did some light work on the boat.
- Sunrise Pacific Creek, Curtis Island Qld.
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Continued next post.
