Capricorn Group of Great Barrier Reef

After our gale at Musgrave a window of several days of light winds opened up and we took this opportunity to visit some of the other Coral Reefs in the group. In company with a Hanse 41, Imagin iv, we motored in flat seas to Fitzroy Reef which is only a fringing reef and lagoon with no coral/sand cay. All you see on the horizon when approaching is a line of breaking surf, and then only when you are relatively close. Fitzroy, like Musgrave, is only one of a few reefs in this region with boat access into the lagoon and so after the exhilaration of entering the via the very narrow entrance, no wider than Erica’s 40’ length, with its very fast flowing current (see photo) we anchored in glassy conditions inside the reef. It felt very strange at high tide to be anchored in the middle of the ocean 60 nm from the Coast of Australia (see photo) with no land or anything else in sight. Fitzroy reef has extensive coral formations for the snorkeller but we only managed to see a very small part of this incredible underwater world in our brief stay. No need for Erica’s crew to fish because Imagin’s kept us supplied with an ample amount of superb eating fish.

From Fitzroy we motored on another windless sea, sometimes in the company of dolphins, past the resort island of Heron and on to Masthead Island which has a wooded coral cay but no access to the lagoon. We anchored only metres from the coral in open ocean with the reef providing some protection from the ocean swell.

A fabulous week out at the Great Barrier Reef was topped off with an exhilarating dawn sail to Cape Capricorn on the mainland (see photo) marking Erica’s passage up the East Coast of Australia and entry into the sunny Tropics!

Lady Musgrave Island (Great Barrier Reef)

With 90 nm of ocean between us and the coral island of Lady Musgrave it was time for our first night sail. On the evening of 15 May we set out in calm seas and 10 knot winds. However, once out of the protection of Fraser Island the seas became very uncomfortable and a long night was spent dodging fishing trawlers. The reward for the unpleasant sail arrived mid morning when Lady Musgrave Island, a wooded coral cay with fringing reef around a lagoon, slowly began to appear on the horizon. The popularity of Lady Musgrave is partly that it is one of only a few reefs with access to a lagoon and an island on which to stretch your legs (see photo). Dropping anchor in 7 metres depth and watching the anchor glide through the crystal clear water to the sand below is quite an experience. Time here was spent snorkelling around the massive coral formations, among schools of brightly coloured fish and eye balling large sea turtles as they glided by in this clear water. I really do need an underwater camera! The price we paid for this fantastic experience was a night of surviving a 35 knot gale with only the protection of the coral reef and a very small island (see photo).

Hervey Bay to Arch Cliff (FI)

After restocking in Hervey Bay Erica set sail with a refreshed crew for the trip north. To get back our sea legs we decided to spend a few more days in Platypus Bay, Fraser Island but this time further out in this glorious bay at a spot called Arch Cliff where we spent several days – walking, swimming and yes, fishing at last. The composition of Fraser Island never ceases to amaze us with the different layers of sand over thousands of years (see photo). One of the highlights was bathing in the freshwater creek that runs out across the beach after the water has filtered through the island’s sand (see photo).

Platypus to Yankee Jack's

You could say we are stuck at Fraser Island but 'stuck' isn't quite the right word as we think this is close to paradise! Out in Hervey Bay the beach at Platypus stretches for miles and miles to the northern end of Fraser Island - perfect for long walks and refreshing dips in the crystal clear waters. After a brisk sail, we were back in the forest and wilderness of the island, up Yankee Jack Creek experiencing its pure water, naturally filtered through the Island's sand, and surrounded by calls of the numerous birds in the majestic eucalypts and drooping casurinas.

Moon Point Bank - Hervey Bay

Erica and the crew have had a busy 10 days sailing north through the Great Sandy Strait (GSS) to Hervey Bay. Boats and crews from all around the world are adding to the colour of our experiences. The weather has been fantastic and we’ve had some great sails in the relatively protected waters of GSS, past numerous sand banks, the Kingfisher Resort and Big Woody Island. During the last few days we have explored the holiday town of Hervey Bay, entertained friends and sailed out to Moon Point Bank/Island (photo)where we swam in crystal clear water before enjoying a superb lunch overlooking the azure blue backdrop framed by white sands and the occasional pod of dolphins frolicking by. Weather is predicted to be excellent for more island exploring and so we’re now setting off to spend time in Platypus Bay on the north western shores of Fraser Island before proceeding to explore more of the GSS with our first guest crew.