Gypsy Cruising

[We've been out of phone signal range for a few days, thoroughly enjoying ourselves on some of the islands further off the coast.  We're currently anchored at Curlew Island and expect to be here for 2-3 days riding out some strong winds.  That should give me the opportunity to get my posts a little more up to date.  M]

19 June

Cape Capricorn to Great Keppel Island

Cape Capricorn is named for its location, less than two miles south of the Tropic of Capricorn.  From here on we’re literally in the tropics.

Today’s passage is a relatively easy 25 miles.  That means we don’t have to be on our way till around midday.  We have two goals for this morning – firstly to climb to the top of the Cape Capricorn headland, and then to dinghy around to a shallow anchorage, just around the corner from here, called Yellow Patch. 

We can see a small beach below the lighthouse, tucked away on our northern side of the Cape, and a path up to the top.  Once we get ashore the walk turns out to be easier than expected.  At the top we find a couple of houses, one permanently occupied by Bruce, who’s lived here for 17 years.  The other houses are available for rent.  Bruce is on the roof with a mate, doing some painting, and is very happy to chat and to talk about the local area.  The lighthouse itself has been simplified from its old days and now is a rather squat tower with a light simply sitting on top, without any form of enclosure. 

The views, of course, are gorgeous, both up and down the coast and back inland.

Spencer on the beach below Cape Capricorn

Me near the top of Cape Capricorn, with the Gypsy visible, riding at anchor

Spencer near the top of Cape Capricorn, with Hummocky Island in the background

Looking south from the Cape Capricorn lighthouse

The bay we’re anchored in is wide and very shallow.  Rather than dinghying over to Yellow Patch we decide to move the boat to get a little closer and then dinghy from there.  The entry to Yellow Patch, rather than being the difficult approach we were told, is surprisingly easy, even if we had brought the Gypsy in.  Once through the sandy channel the area opens up into a lovely little water hole, ringed with a sandy beach and dominated by a very high dune made up of the deep golden coloured sand that gives the spot its name.  Spencer tackles the sand dune while I stay at water level and fly the drone up there instead.

Looking over the water hole

The sand dune at Yellow Patch (with Spencer a speck near the top)

Views from the top of the sand dune

Driftwood on the beach

Looking north out of the Yellow Patch's entry channel

The passage to Great Keppel is done in almost windless conditions.  We have the main up but the bulk of the apparent wind is being generated by our own motion.  The afternoon is pure happiness.  Wind or no wind, this is truly idyllic boating.

Approaching Great Keppel Island