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Blue Nomads
Reviews
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25.01.2022 After lying low in COVID isolation during March, April and May in Lake Macquarie and The Clarence River in June. We crossed the Queensland border on the 10th July, the day it opened, in order to get to Boatworks for maintenance. It was a busy month, removing the old perspex which was held on with 473 screws and covering some rot, rebuilding the engine pods for the new 25hp motors, securing the cleats, fitting a new anchor winch, fitting cameras under the tramp and onto the stanchions, antifouling and other jobs. Yesterday Hurtle Turtle splashed back into water a stronger vessel with a whole new look.
25.01.2022 From The Palm Group of Islands we went into Townsville. Our wind instrument was out of alignment and giving us wind directions around 30 out. Kev from Dream Runner volunteered to go up the mast to fix this. A big thankyou to Kev and also his wife Joan who drove us around Townsville shops. We are now back on Magnetic Island waiting for the weather to head South.
22.01.2022 We have spent the past 10 days in Pittwater, in Morning Bay and at The Basin. Initially the weather was to our liking and we were swimming, kayaking and socialising. We caught Myra, a little wooden ferry, across to Pittwater and then a bus to Avalon for an adventure and to go to the supermarket. On Friday, heavy rain and high winds were forecast. It turned into an East Coast low and lasted three days. It is the most sustained wind and rain we have ever seen and don't want to ...again. Thankfully the mooring held despite wind gusts in the 50s. Today the foul weather has passed and we are back to peaceful conditions again.
22.01.2022 We have arrived back in NSW and wound our clocks forward for daylight savings. It been a few weeks since my last post so here's a quick update of what we have been up to. After catching up with friends in Mooloolaba and reprovisioning we headed down to Moreton Bay. In the past we haven't spent a lot of time in the Bay so we we wanted to explore it. We anchored at Little Sand Hills on Moreton Island, Myora and Deanbilla on South Stradbroke Island, Canaipa Passage on Russell I...sland, Karragarra Island, Horseshoe Bay on Peel Island, Raby Bay and Green Island. Then we went up the Brisbane River. We tried to anchor at City Reach but it was too tight. We moved down river to New Farm, where we had a guest for a few days, but there was a lot of wash from the fast rivercat ferries. Neverless we enjoyed the delights of the city. From Brisbane we sailed down to Paradise Point on the Gold Coast before making our escape from Queensland waters. See more
21.01.2022 Happy New Year! We survived Sydney Harbour on New Years Eve. We anchored Hurtle Turtle in Rose Bay, not close in but with a clear view of the harbour bridge.There was a little pre entertainment when the wind did a 180 wind shift, as forecast and a few boats dragged. The fireworks display was amazing!
18.01.2022 We spent five weeks in Sydney Harbour. Time certainly disappears. We were kept busy with guests onboard, catching up with friends, annual medical checkups, exploring new places, shopping and being part of the mayhem of New Years Eve and Australia Day Festivaties on the water. We have now starting heading north slowly and we're enjoying the peace in Pittwater.
16.01.2022 We have spent the last three weeks in the Whitsundays. We hosted two sets of friends each staying five nights on Hurtle Turtle. It's a pleasure sharing our unique lifestyle with others in paradise. Towards the end of the week with our first guests onboard, we were departing Stonehaven when the morse cable to the starboard gearbox broke. After diagnosing the issue our guest used the gear lever on the engine to change gears as required. Once anchored in Airlie we were able to source new cables and fit it that afternoon. We are now anchored in Gloucester Passage in readiness for a huge weekend The Annual Shag Islet Cruising Yacht Club Rendezvous.
16.01.2022 From Lady Musgrave we had a good sail into the Burnett River. We spent a few nights in the Bundabeg Port Marina and enjoyed the Friday night cruisers' BBQ. We went into the city of Bundaberg for shopping and a look around. Now fully reprovisioned we sailed across to Rooney Point at the top of Fraser Island.
16.01.2022 After spending 8 weeks enjoying the pristine clear waters of The Keppels we have turned around and started heading slowly south. We made our way down through The Narrows, a channel between Curtis Island and the mainland. This was a first for us. You need to work the tides and it dries out at low tide and the currents run strong so you want them in your farvour. The Narrows takes you right into Gladstone a very large busy industrial port, quite a contrast from the natural setting of Curtis Island. We are now anchored in Turkey Beach comfortably sitting out strong south east winds.
15.01.2022 We spent a week anchored in Iluka. There was a large bushfire burning out of control to the north and west of us. We received an evacuation SMS as the road into Iluka was cut. We were safe and feel for those fighting the fires and those who lost lives and properties. Our autopilot died as we were coming into Iluka. We rang Tamar Marine and within 21 hours are replacement unit arrived. This was successfully fitted to Hurtle Turtle. We supported the Iluka community by getting all three outboards seviced, a trip to the hairdresser, supermarket, fish Co op and pub.
14.01.2022 The gypsy on the anchor winch was playing up so it had to be pulled apart and put back together underway between Moon Point and our next anchorage at Kingfisher. After an overnight stop at Kingfisher we sailed down the Sandy Straits and anchored in Kauri Creek. The following day we headed into Tin Can Bay to take up an invitation that was first offered 3 years ago by Tropicali to have Pizza in Poona. We enjoyed a fabulous respite for two nights away from Hurtle Turtle with perfect people in Poona providing pizza, peanut butter and pina colada icecream, pasta, amongst other delights. From Tin Can Bay we moved to Pelican Point in readiness for the Wide Bay Bar Crossing this morning. We had a smooth crossing in company with 28 vessels and are now in Mooloolaba.
14.01.2022 We left Magnetic Island last Monday and sailed to Herald Island timing our arrival for 4pm as the military use this island and Rattlesnake for training exercises and they had live firing activities scheduled on that day, due to finish at 1500. The two islands are quite barren and burnt out. Our friends on La Libertine joined us at Herald Island we plan to spend the next few weeks sailing in company with them. On Tuesday we sailed onto Fantome Island. The weather forecast showed very light winds for the next few days and we made the decision to move up to Zoe Bay on Hinchinbrook Island. Hinchinbrook Island is Queensland's largest island National Park with magnificent rugged ranges. Zoe Bay would be our favourite recent anchorage. We enjoyed two wonderful days in this glorious bay before heading around to explore the Hinchinbrook Channel.
13.01.2022 We sailed from Burnett Heads to Rooney Point on the top of Fraser Island. Bushfires had been burning on the island for about 5 weeks. With the northerly winds the smoke was blowing away from us. We moved further south to Wathumba still avoiding the smoke. When the winds shifted south we moved again this time to Kingfisher and were fortunate to be able spend a day enjoying the resort facilities. Two days later the resort was closed as a safety precaution due to the fires. We made our way down the Sandy Straits and spent a night in Pelican Bay before making a smooth exit across The Wide Bay Bar and sailed to The Lagoon at Double Island Point. Then an overnight sail to Scarborough to catch up with friends.
13.01.2022 Our patience in waiting for the right weather paid off and we were extremely fortunate to get out to the reef at Fitzroy and Lady Musgrave. We enjoyed amazing snorkelling, it was like swimming in a tropical aquarium and we witnessed two large sea turtles using their flippers to propel themselves up the sand and dig themselves into hole in order to lay their eggs.
12.01.2022 The positive side of the storm we sat out when Sydney received 391mm of rain in 3 days was that the waterfalls in Pittwater and Cowan Creek were flowing. We have spent the past week exploring six waterfalls, such a magical and wonderful experience. Tomorrow we are planning on sailing north to Lake Macquarie.
10.01.2022 Other cruisers had spoken very highly of Magnetic Island and now that we have visited we can see the attraction. A scenic island with natural beauty, beaches, walking tracks, shops and restaurants. We got an all day ticket for the local bus and toured from one end of the island from our anchorage in Horseshoe Bay to Picnic Point. We walked to the old Fort that was built during World War II to defend Townsville.
08.01.2022 There is a lot of waiting on the weather, winds in the right direction in this sailing game. We waited in Horseshoe Bay for a week before sailing to Cape Upstart and Cape Gloucester and now we are back in Airlie Beach, again waiting for weather. While we are waiting we get boat jobs done, play tourist, go for walks and of course socialize.
08.01.2022 A small turtle feeding at a reef near GKI
07.01.2022 After recovering from the Rendezvous we have sailed north to Magnetic Island, taking 3 days. We spent the first night anchored at Queens Beach and then the next evening at Cape Upstart. Here we were invited ashore to have dinner with a couple whose family own a beach hut there and cruising friends off Zoo. It was a very pleasant impromptu night.
06.01.2022 Percy Island is a Mecca for cruising boats and the A Frame is a Shrine where yachties come ashore to socialise in style. It is filled with plaques and memorabilia marking their visits. We anchored here for two nights enjoying the island's many delights. Today we have sailed onto Curlew Island.
06.01.2022 This morning just after dropping the mooring we noticed there was no cooling water coming out of the port engine so we immediately shut it down. Although we have two engines we do need both for manouvering. We decided we were best to get it seen to ASAP. We headed down to Royal Motor Yacht Club in Pittwater and tied up in one of their 45 minute spots. I called around to find a mechanic. Luke from Marine Tune was helpful and advised he could come out after 2pm. James from Newport Marine Services, who are on site at RMYC, came over immediately and diagnosed a blocked outlet and showed us where to check. Our major drama was sorted in minutes and at no charge. What fantastic service! We headed off to explore Cowan Creek.
05.01.2022 We have had northerly winds and have made good progress heading south. Our first jump was Airlie to Keswick Island missing the last public mooring by minutes. From there we went into Mackay marina to catch up with friends and attend the Shaggers weekly BBQ. Then a 26 hour, 170 nautical mile sail to Long Beach on Great Keppel Island under a full moon. There were around 40 other boats in the anchorage. Next another 170 nautical miles from GKI to Moon Point on Fraser Island. We enjoyed a fast sail and we had to put the third reef the mainsail to slow Hurtle Turtle down as we wanted to arrive in daylight.
05.01.2022 It's been a couple of months since our last post. We have been taking it slowly and keeping a low profile so as not to boast especially to those who are stuck in lockdown. We are at North Keppel Island and loving it. Magic weather, quiet clear water anchorages, incredible snorkelling, swimming, paddling, bush walks, beaches, sunsets, sundowners and sharing these experiences with cruising friends.
05.01.2022 We are all "shagged out" after spending a fabulous week at Gloucester Passage for the annual Shag Islet Cruising Yacht Club Rendezvous. It was a fabulous event with terrific people coming together to have fun and raise awareness and funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia that provides support and research in the field.
04.01.2022 Time goes fast when you're having fun. We have spent the last eight nights exploring the Hinchibrook Channel in the good company of La Libertine, Dream Runner and Calypso Magic. We shared an anchorage with a 2 metre croc and had constant wars with the midges.
01.01.2022 We sailed from Hinchinbrook Island to Orpheus Island and then on to Fantome Island. Whilst anchored we watched a documentary on SBS online about the history of the island. Fantome Island was used to isolate Aboriginal and Islanders who had sexually transmited diseases in a lock hospital from 1928 and 1945 and those suffering from leprosy in the Lazaret from 1939 to 1973. Despite the site being listed as a Historic Site very little remains of its sad history.
01.01.2022 Over the past year visitors on the catamaran Hurtle Turtle have been generously contributing to Prostate Cancer support & research by adding to the money tin onboard. At the 2019 Rendezvous the tin was opened and handed over to SICYC. A grand total of $458:70 was raised.
01.01.2022 Well we made it to Airlie Beach even if we're not showing on FindShip their app appears to no longer be working. From Percy Island we went to Curlew Island, Keswick Island and then into Mackay, where we attended a fun wine tasting night with the local shaggers and caught up with friends. Then a couple of nights on Thomas Island before arriving in Airlie. We have been busy with reprovisioning, laundry, socialising and enjoying events at the local Reef Festival and SICYC Welcome to The Whitsundays.
01.01.2022 We have arrived in Sydney Harbour and plan to be here for all of January. The last fortnight we spent enjoying Lake Macquarie.
