Keppel Bay Marina - Gladstone

Alexis at the masthead

Nice timing!

Just arrived, strolling along the Keppel Bay Marina pontoon to berth Blue 69, and there was Harlequin drifting into place!

Good to see Alexis & Carolle again, and to meet Loic & Anouk for the first time - now all thoroughly experienced sailors aboard Harlequin after their trip down from Mackay with Captain Steve.


Masthead view

Didn't take long to get the handover from Steve, before he had to head off to Rockhampton airport to return the hire car and overnight back to Hong Kong. Felt for him - he very obviously wanted to stay on for a few days more.

Having discovered that Bundaberg Port Marina were not taking bookings due to an expected influx of boats from the Vanuatu Port-2-Port Rally (wonder if they found any cocaine this year...) our new target was Gladstone, which gave us more time to kick back and enjoy shorter daily passages. Starting with... bugger it - let's stay here tonight!

Guijons of Tuna

Dinner was thus rustled up on the spot, with more Clean Skin wine (our favourite local 'chateau') and we put off the bulk of the jobs until morning. This included sending Alexis up the mast. Forget why, but it seemed like a good idea at the time...



Allez...

-oop!

Then off on a short 12 nm leg to anchor with about a dozen other boats (the most we've seen anywhere outside the Whitsundays) north side of Great Keppel Island, off Second Beach. Snug as a bug, and a great spot for star watching, with moon-rise not 'til after midnight. The water was cold, though - the first time we've noticed this on our cruise south.

Forever flexible, the forecast of a moderate-strong SE'ly for the next few days altered our plans yet again. Out went the route via North West Island which (would have been nice), and In came the more direct Hummocky Island for lunch then Cape Capricorn overnight for the planned Tropic of Capricorn Party.

Named by Cook himself in 1770 (the cape, not the party - although, you never know...), we thought it would be the perfect spot to celebrate reaching as far South of the equator as we had been North, before departing Hong Kong way back in February.



Sunset at Gt Keppel Is

Barely had the anchor taken, but the guitar & harmonica were out. Oh, and Square Bear of course (Bundaberg rum - we are now officially out of Tanduay), which proved an effective lubricant as the crew belted out a string of French numbers, led very sweetly by Loic & Anouk. In harmony, no less.



More fish!

Even after hours of this, the three neighbouring boats hadn't sent anyone over to complain, so we assumed they wanted more. Which is what they got...


[Narrative break for some pretty piccies]

French lookout

Crash positions...

Tropic crossing

Loic & Anouk

Le Vent Nous Portera

Gettin' fuzzy...

Next morning was an early, if painful start, bound for Gladstone via the North Channel. Timing the flood, we expected at least 2 m under the keel at the shallows, which proved the case - right up to mark N6 when we ground to a slow but undignified halt. Ooo-kay. Obviously haven't dredged much around here recently...

Ready about...

Backing the main and full reverse took us straight back off again, but it did focus the attention somewhat! See pic (below) as we approach the very spot...

Safely through, we were soon alongside at Gladstone marina and relaxing in the airless heat over lunch (you really miss the breeze), before setting to on the usual round of jobs & cleaning.




Northern approach

The plan of fish & chips for dinner had to be abandoned as we missed the closing time of 8PM (how barbaric), but that gave us an excuse to enjoy Alexis' famous Carbonara one last time. And how good it was!

Looks shallow...

The party ended with sad farewells, as Jim was stepping ashore at 0520 for an 0645 flight. Alexis bravely volunteered to act as taxi with their van, but I'm sure he went back to his bunk straight after.

Hopefully not the last we've seen of our famous French crew (maybe they can return next month?) but safe to say that we have thoroughly enjoyed having them all aboard. Good food, good humour, good company.

Bonne chance et bonne journee mes ami!