100 Magic miles of the Great Barrier Reef: How old is too old?

[GILow]

Hi all,

It seems 100 Magic Miles is the goto book for cruising the Whitsundays.

But at nearly AU$100 its a bit eye-watering for this live-aboard student.

There are some older editions out there at more friendly prices, but no point buying them if they are too old to be relevant.

Does anyone have a feel for how old is still useful with a book like this?

Matt

[Reefmagnet]

Originally Posted by GILow

Hi all,

It seems 100 Magic Miles is the goto book for cruising the Whitsundays.

But at nearly AU$100 its a bit eye-watering for this live-aboard student.

There are some older editions out there at more friendly prices, but no point buying them if they are too old to be relevant.

Does anyone have a feel for how old is still useful with a book like this?

Matt

They'll be servicable. Expect public moorings to be different (there should be more of them nowadays), anything on resorts and facilities to be pretty much irrelevant (not so much Hammo or Abel Point Marina) and grab the current marine zoning charts (free!) along the way and ignore any references to these in the book. Other than that the reef, critters, weather, seasons and anchorages haven't really changed.


Keep in mind the book is aimed at charterer's, so don't necessarily limit yourself to the anchorages detailed in the book.

[ilenart]

I have the 9th edition from 2010, which still appears fairly relevant However I have hardly used it. Instead I have found the latest version of Alan Lucas’s Cruising the Coral Coast my main source of info. Note that Cruising the Coral Coast has 26 pages that details the Whitsunday Islands, plus the mainland section like Airlie & Shute Harbour. Like Reefmagnet mentioned, 100 Magic Miles is mainly aimed at Charters, so I found some of the information a bit basic.

Maybe buy the latest version of Cruising the Coral Coast for $80 and see if that covers your requirements?

Ilenart

[chrisr]

100 magic miles is ok, but cruising the coral coast by lucas is imho better value n more useful

cheers,

[Reefmagnet]

Originally Posted by ilenart

I have the 9th edition from 2010, which still appears fairly relevant However I have hardly used it. Instead I have found the latest version of Alan Lucas’s Cruising the Coral Coast my main source of info. Note that Cruising the Coral Coast has 26 pages that details the Whitsunday Islands, plus the mainland section like Airlie & Shute Harbour. Like Reefmagnet mentioned, 100 Magic Miles is mainly aimed at Charters, so I found some of the information a bit basic.

Maybe buy the latest version of Cruising the Coral Coast for $80 and see if that covers your requirements?

Ilenart

Spot on. Cruising the Coral Coast is the more useful book in general although if you were planning on spending a fair amount of time in the Whitsundays 100 magic miles is still the goto.



As an aside, I have a copy of a very early edition of (i think) Cruising the Curtis Coast. It's a far more interesting read with hand sketched charts and a focus on getting into creeks and inlets of the type a modern sailor would not even remotely entertain based on the readout of an electronic chart. I think it covers Bundaberg to Bowen or thereabouts. Definitely worth getting a hold of if the opportunity arises!

[GILow]

Oh... right, on my limited budget, a broader purpose book is better anyway, so maybe Lucas instead. I’ve bought the current version of his NSW Coast and I’d be happy to spring for the QLD version.

[GILow]

P.s. thank you all for the great responses.

[RaymondR]

Lucas is by far the better buy for those on a budget and the older versions are still very usable.

I have cruised from the GSS to Cairns and back almost every year since 2002 and I have found that the info on moorings from any source is not very reliable as they get changed regularly at short notice.

The info on anchorages appears to be reliable and fairly unchanging except for Corio Bay and Island Head Creek which have fairly severely shoaled from sand movements during cyclones.

Queensland appears to do a pretty good job at maintaining nav markers.

On a limited budget I would go Lucas, Curtis Coast and 100 Magic Miles as purchase priorities.

[barnakiel]

We had a digital (scanned) copy of Lucas. Absolutely fabulous. Cost me nothing.


Not that I would not pay - but this is what was available at that time.


barnakiel

[IMACSS]

Good question GILow.

Answers were great and relevant reading too.


Thanks to all from me too.

[Ramona]

Use this to get there or pay for the new version.


https://bluepeteraustralia.files.wor...lanner2011.pdf

[Jacko]

Hi GILow From a fellow South Ozzie I have spent 18yrs up here on the reef and had a look at most places and found Alan Lucas books fantastic also when coming up the coast Noel Patricks "Curtis Coast" invaluable with lots of sketches it covers Bundaburg to Mackay and if you are like me and enjoy getting off the charter highway. The 100 Magic miles is also fantastic and I still use it a lot.
I suggest you ask around for these books in anchorages and check Marina laundries and you will probably pick them up S/H. If you were up here (Cairns) I have a couple of spares I could pass on.

Al the best on your trip Jacko
Ps I always enjoy your contributions to CF

[Duncanson34]

Hi GILOW,
I am based on Hindmarsh Island but keep the boat (and books) at Wirrina and have (older) copies of both that you could borrow and check them out.
My first trip up there was 30 years ago and most recent 6-7 years ago. We have sailed Cairns to Adelaide twice and found both books well worthwhile.
Peter

[ozsailer]

Hi GILow, ring around or visit your nearest second hand book shop. I would be surprised if they do not have an older copy hiding there somewhere. We have the issue before the last one. Most of the informatioin on the older copies is still relevant. Things that we have noticed that has changed are resorts (now closed) and there are far more moorings now.
We are in the area now and this is what we are noticing.



Greg H
Lagoon 440.

[chrisr]

to diverge a little bit (it wouldn't be C/F if somebody didn't go off topic...)

next trip north we are planning to spend much more time (like all of it) out on the reef rather than on the coast

lucas et al do not talk much about the offshore reefs and islands

does anybody know of a good guide to this area ?

thanks !

cheers,