Gypsy Cruising

26 September

Port Clinton to Great Keppel Island

The wind had some north in it again today and we had another simply wonderful, fast sail down to Great Keppel Island.  I’ve been looking forward to returning to Great Keppel Island after it gave us such an enjoyable time on the way north.  

We anchored off the old resort, along with perhaps 30-40 other boats, all sheltering from the easterly winds.  There’s a distinct swell coming around the northern side of the island.  Not as bad as we suffered on Middle Percy, but enough to cause some uncomfortable rolling.  I’ve discovered that if I sleep at right angles to the centreline of the boat then the effects of the rolling are largely mitigated.  This is a very useful discovery.

I’m at the stage now where I’m trying to plan the last days of the cruise.  I’ve set a target of being back in Sydney by 12^th October, and returning to work on the 14^th.  It’s looking unlikely I’ll get the boat back home by then.  At the very least I’d like to have it in Southport from where I can retrieve it at short notice over three days.  The weather now becomes the critical factor in planning.  I still have four significantly exposed southwards sections to complete - from here at Great Keppel to Bundaberg, Bundaberg to Fraser Island, into open ocean to Mooloolaba and then Moreton Bay.  I can go through the inland waterway between Moreton Bay and Southport in complete calm, which will simplify things considerably.