Cruising guide book - "Cruising the Coral coast"

A great cruising guide book is "Cruising the coral coast" by Alan Lucas. This is an authoritative cruisers' guide to the Queensland coast which first came out in 1968 has been reprinted many time since and can be found on the book shelves of many boating supply stores in Queensland.  Second hand copies still work ok for budget minded but best to get the latest edition.

It has many illustrations - maps of good anchorages, photos and practical descriptions about many things along the way. Alan sure knows his stuff from practical experience. There is priceless information that can save allot of money, avoid trouble or prepare for what's ahead.

My editions 1988, pretty old, but i will still use it awhile as Island geography etc doesn't change much over time, perhaps the then developed sailing centers have expanded further, the original facilities are often still there. I bought the guide to sail Pablo, an Endeavor 24 sloop, up the coast but only used pages 233- 292 on the Townsville to Port Douglas stretch in 1989, we sailed outside Hinchinbrook Island on that cruise.

Currently reading up on Hinchinbrook Channel, as thinking about sailing Teria there soon. An excerpt  .."the most scenic, calm waterway on the east coast of Australia having the spectacular peaks of Hinchinbrook Island to the east and the rugged Cardwell range to the west".."there are vast areas of wetlands which create a maze of secondary channels and creeks as well as dry land where shore access is possible". It's an almost uninhabited 26 nautical mile stretch of water between Cardwell and Port Lucinda.