Gypsy Cruising

10 June

Kingfisher Bay to Platypus Bay

I think Gene and I were both in a bit of a celebratory mood last night, after having had such a great day.  So, it seemed appropriate that we retrieve the two pieces of fillet steak that had been in the freezer since Southport.  They were grilled on the BBQ with copious amount of Worcestershire sauce, then served with Bearnaise sauce and salad, washed down with some 2012 Pieter van Gent Cab Sav that I happened to have on board (along with several dozen other bottles carefully stashed).  It was a grand meal.

This morning dawned as lovely as the last few.  Tourist activity started to pick up at the resort with the arrival of the first of the transport ferries.  There were a small number of other boats anchored nearby, since this is one of the key anchorages on the inside route up the Great Sandy Strait.  This morning we would leave the strait and travel up into Harvey Bay.

Calm in Kingfisher Bay - a boat anchored nearby in the early morning sun

 A few visitors on board

We still have one more day before we're due at the Bundaberg Marina for the end of this leg of the cruise.  Some time ago I'd heard of Platypus Bay, a very large, gracefully curving bay on the north western side of Fraser Island.  It's mouth is roughly 22 miles wide, stretching from one horizon right around to the the other, with a single white sand beach that runs for over 27 miles.  As we discovered when we logged on to Marine Rescue radio, you don't simply advise your intention of going to Platypus Bay - you have to specify which part you're headed for along its huge length.

The passage was simple.  We motored up the remaining part of the Strait, then crossed the last of the shallows and sailed 13 miles to our anchorage. 

Approaching the end of the Great Sandy Strait - motoring along the coast of Fraser Island with Harvey Bay ahead

A stretch of beach along Platypus Bay

Another Club boat, Kailani, was coincidentally heading for the same spot and coming up behind us.  We ended up heading over for drinks once we'd anchored, the first of the cruise so far.  This will be the final night for the delivery leg of the cruise.  Tomorrow we'll sail the final 45 mile straight line course across Harvey Bay to Bundaberg.

My arty picture of the dinghy, finally allowed off the Gypsy's foredeck, sitting on Fraser Island at Platypus Bay with the flat waters of the Barrier Reef in the background.  This will be our playground for the next few months.