We wanted to use the tide to get us up to Grahams Creek, so we planned on leaving at 2pm. We rode our bikes into town for a small amount of provisioning and got Time Flies ready for the short trip. It felt good to be out again. I can get a little too comfortable in a marina and forget how peaceful it is being on anchor.

Coal dock

Once we navigated ourselves around the 3 ships coming into port, we put up our head sail, sailing past the 3 gas plants on Curtis Island. While being built they employed over 3000 people, now they employ less than 1000. It certainly does show in the city of Gladstone with many vacant shops.

 

 

Interesting catamaran

We dropped anchor a little way up Grahams Creek getting protection from the 20-25kn SE winds. We were amongst the mangroves, I put my homemade sand fly repellent on (equal parts Baby Oil, Dettol & Eucalyptus Oil) & set up a mozzie coil just outside the companion way. Fingers crossed they leave me alone this time as I have only just started to recover from the attack I got at Pancake Creek.

 

While we were enjoying the peaceful surrounds another couple of boats came in and anchored at the entrance of the creek. A quick look on Marine traffic showed one boat to be SV Trybooking. This boat was previously owned by a fellow club member at RBYC. Hopefully we can cross paths and get a picture.

11 nm, 2 hr 45 min, avg speed 3.98 kn, total motor sailing 1 hr