Gypsy Cruising

23 - 24 September

Double Island to Middle Percy Island

We’ve been continually on the go for the past three days.  While it’s been productive (we’ve covered almost 100 miles to Double Island) we do need to take time to enjoy this as a cruise.  Today’s destination will do very nicely.  It’s only 30 miles to Middle Percy Island and the winds came into the north for a fast and pleasant sail.

Of course, Middle Percy was one of the standout locations on our way north, when I visited with Spencer almost exactly three months ago (25 June)!  So long ago, and not very long ago.  So much has happened since then.

We had a double night here and spent much of the free day up at the homestead, chatting with and being entertained by Cate and John.  They’re looking at finally giving up the island next year, which will really be the end of an era.  I guess a lot of cruising yachties will be hoping that someone can be found to take over the lease who has a real sensibility for what Middle Percy is all about.  That won’t be easy.

John found an antique photo hidden in the A-frame, and Cate has asked us to bring it back to Sydney to see if we can have it identified.  I’m very happy to include it in the Gypsy’s manifest.  We also met Ernst, a 12-year resident of the island, originally from Germany but who’s lived in Australia for over 30 years.  He gets around the island looking pretty fearsome, with sandals and a back pack rigged with a water bottle and a pair of machetes.  He was cooking a communal goat stew down at the A-frame this evening, but we were worn out to the point where we had a quiet evening on board instead.

A final sunset at Middle Percy