Thursday 19 April 2012

Pancake Creek lat. 24 degrees 01S long. 151 degrees 44E

After heaving to last night we got going again at first light (around 0530) and headed for the Pancake Creek entrance 11 miles away. It was beautiful morning albeit a little cold. We were both feeling somewhat jaded after standing watches last night - not used to it! We found the entrance with no bother thanks to our new chartplotter and cruising guide to the Coral Coast and came inside through the entrance which is very narrow but no dramas. However, the channel is very tortuous once inside and unforgivingly shallow should one stray from the beaten path. We passed 3 boats we had previously met at Bundaberg as they left when we were on our way in - Dutch, Channel Islands and American.
We anchored in what seemed a promising spot but when we checked the tide tables in detail we realised that we would be on the bottom at low tide as currently there is a tidal range here of about 3 metres. So we moved closer to the entrance where we had more water. We've spent a very peaceful day catching up on sleep and having some of our beautiful fresh fruit from the Bundaberg market for breakfast - custard apples, passion fruit, pineapple and plums.
Enjoyed a couple of Laphroaigs (Dennis brought a bottle) and about to have steak for dinner.
Dennis was so used to the boat from his past ownership that he badly injured his little toe on the staysail sheet leads which have since been mounted on deck. However, after quite a bit of blood we fixed it all up and had another Laphroaig which cemented the cure!! Dennis is a dab hand in the galley!!
Hummocky Island tomorrow (north of Gladstone) and after that Gt. Keppel. Good weather forecast so should be a good sail.
Watch this space.............................

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