Hinchinbrook Island cruise - Dungeness to Zoe Bay (Day 2)

 Fri 25 Sept 2020.

To comfortably cruise the East Coast of Hinchinbrook in a small boat requires a good weather window. Even before leaving Townsville, the long range weather forecast was watched carefully..on apps like Seabreeze, Willy weather wind. Mostly for the forecast wind and sea heights, also the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) for synoptic charts which show the isobars and pressure systems affecting wind strengths. September is still middle of the northern dry season so rain was unlikely. Generally SE to NE seabreezes blow most days at 15-20 knots, with winds easing off at night. but passing high pressure systems down south can weaken the winds for a few days.

The wind was forecast light with slight sea for a few days, so decided to visit the east coast first up and hopefully reach the more sheltered waterways off the north coast and Channel before conditions piped up again. Even if daily seabreezes kicked in early they would generally help north bound sailing. but the main problem is finding a calm enough anchorage and not being blown onto a lee shore.

Departed Dungeness early and headed into flat calm conditions under motor. Followed the red nav bouys and fishermen's boats out, then turned and headed past the sugar sheds at 5 knots and followed the 6 km long sugar loading jetty out (as shoal waters closer to the Island) 

Departing Dungeness for Hinchinbrook Island

The channel out of Dungeness

Lucinda sugar sheds, Molasses wharf shed on right

Lucinda sugar jetty

Large Catamaran and powerboat overtake

Lucinda bulk sugar loading terminal, 6 km from land

Set course for Zoe Bay once the shallows were cleared, still flat calm. Had the main up in case any wind came and for awhile a light SW land breeze pushed Teria along silently at 3 knots. The wind shadow of the Island soon had the motor going all the way into Zoe bay.

These videos show the contrast between motoring and sailing. Noisy but fast/reliable vs slow but peaceful.

Anchored off the South Zoe creek entrance and National Park camping ground. Closer than the few cruising catamarans and other yachts.

Took the kayak in and pulled up in the creek near about 4 power boats. Chatted with a bloke in a substantial sized camp, then walked about 1 km through rainforest up to Zoe falls base pool. Then up a steep hillside to the top pools of the falls for great views. A hiking group was up there and had a chat or two, most people like to know where you originated from and how you got there. Solo sailing an 18 fter probably an unusual story. They were on a 5-day trek of the Thonsborne trail, there were quite a few fit middle aged there, so it's not just for the young only. (other groups may have arrived by boat)

Zoe Bay vista

South Zoe falls

Zoe Bay from top of falls lookout

South Zoe creek, camp ground landing

Zoe Bay beach

Motored across the Bay past about 5-6 cruising vessels 30-50 footers, mostly catamarans and one mono hull. The mountain to beach scenery is spectacular, world class. Dropped anchor off North Zoe creek, applied the insect repellent, then explored it with the kayak. It's alot larger than the other creek, with a reasonable tidal entrance for shoal draft boats (has a few scattered coral rocks) bit soon drops into some deep pools among mangroves. 

Met a couple on a Northwind 7 trailer sailer, their boat nestled against the beach. (It's shallower draft than an Investigator, but is a much larger boat at 22 ft loa) they were well prepared for creek anchoring with a pop-top sandfly net (from Canada) and a 12v fan below. Definitely experienced TS cruisers. Their route was similar to my one, anti clockwise out of Dungeness, as the prevailing winds are favorable on the east side and easy to get back against the wind in the sheltered channel. 

Saw a 40 ft Wharram cat anchored further up the creek. A crazy speed boat came out at planning speeds, although the wake was fine in the kayak, it messed with the Northwind TS nosed in on the beach a fair bit with the skipper holding it off while the wake hit them. 

Decided to stay anchored out away from the sandflies. Found the old mosquito net up in the forward locker and draped it over the pop-top. Also lit a mosquito coil in the cabin as usually done and had no problems with the biting insects. 

Mt Bowen, Zoe Bay

North Zoe creek

Regarding boat wakes in anchorages, I've found that the Investigator 563 seems to handle them fairly well and nothing has fallen over dangerously onboard yet (even the lit up Trangia stove, touch wood). Maybe its the permanently low center of gravity of the lead keel of an I 563?