Cruising from Mackay to Brisbane

[john jeffrey]

Hi All,
I am about to take off on a delivery trip from Mackay to Brisbane in Queensland. With my DeVries 37' steel ketch we plan on 100 miles per day, however I would imagine a 40' cat would eat this for breakfast
Could i have some fedback as to a reasonable days coverage, not busting any guts, just taking it easy. Prevailing winds are beam to forward of the beam at 10-15kts this week - next week probably on the nose?

[Boracay]

Other members may be able to give better information than myself about a direct trip from Mackay to Brisbane. Some information regarding your crew and their experience would be helpful.

If time is not of the essence (this is the Cruisers Forum) I'd go for short coastal hops. After all, this is one of the better cruising areas in the world. Shame to blink and miss it.

Consulting my very old copy of "Cruising the Coral Coast" by Allan Lucas I find the following suggested stops:-

1) Middle Percy Island
2) Island Head Creek
3 Great Keppel Island
4) The Narrows
5) Gladstone
6) Lady Musgrave Island
7) Bundaberg
8) Great Sandy Straight
9) Wide Bay Bar (Lucas marks this as a suggested stop but he is referring to crossing the bar.)
10) Mooloolaba

I must empasise that I have never sailed this area, and that my copy of Allan Lucas' book is very old. You must make your own preparations, inquiries (including the latest sailing directions and charts) and have good current weather information.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by john jeffrey

Prevailing winds are beam to forward of the beam at 10-15kts this week - next week probably on the nose?

Then I would do it this week in one hit.
Its a delivery, not a social cruise so go as the wind is good.
Cats don't like going upwind

[Factor]

Originally Posted by john jeffrey

we plan on 100 miles per day, however I would imagine a 40' cat would eat this for breakfast

What cat - contrary to what Mark J said some of them - even minikeel boats actually do go upwind, mine certainly does.

I would give the narrows and Gladstone the miss - long way out of the way for no great reason.

I might choose the following

go to percy (65 MILE) good first day
THEN YELLOW PATCH - CAPE CAPRICORN 120 MILE long day but achievable
then LAdy Musgrave - 70 mile
Wide Bay (double island point) 130 mile
Then tangalooma

Note that these distance are very rough.
The Lady Musgrave route is optional you could go inside fraser island if the weather is crap but its a bit of a pain in terms of navigating round the sand bars.

[sokari]

Hi Mate
I deliver boats and sail cats and Mono's,I would if I were you have a good look at the charts figure out your most direct line(wotk out some bailout anchorages) and Go.
All the best intentioned people cannot give you advise as they don't know your level of knowledge.
I will give you one warning ,make sure the boat is seaworthy before you go a lot of people who don't trust their boats anymore dump them on a deliery crew.

Carry the standard 20% overload of fuel(after all this is a delivery),Beware of the currents around the broadsounds (this is the highest tidal range on the east coast )but I am sure you already knew that before taking on this job.

All the best
John
Ps if you need any advise just give me a ring 0418 886 794

[john jeffrey]

Thanks for the responses, the trip has been postponed until Saturday - i don't like taking off on a friday (superstitious) and especially not Fri 13th!

[cat man do]

There are many many fantastic places I could suggest you stop off at on the way that have not been mentioned, but once revealed to you I would have to kill you.

Sounds like you are on a time limit anyway

Have a safe trip.

[44'cruisingcat]

I'll be doing a similar delivery, probably leaving on the monday. Never know, we might just catch you.