June trip - Day 3. Horseshoe Bay, Cape Cleveland and Townsville Duckpond

Horseshoe Bay sunrise and a Wharram cat

Anchored near shore, Horseshoe Bay.

Slipped away quietly under sail at 10am. The wind was weak, so hoisted the main at anchor, weighed anchor and ran downwind about along Horseshoe Bay beach (but outside the yellow shark control bouys) until clear of the anchorage area, then Gybed and headed seawards, in clear wind well away from the lee of the hills.

10/6/24, Day 3. It was a nice close haul on starboard tack into a 10 knot South west land breeze. Course was for Cape Cleveland, with a plan to gain southerly miles until the wind backed to the SE late morning as predicted, then sail for Townsville on port tack.

Clouds form out to sea over the great barrier reef

However nature doesn't always follow the "windy app" prediction. Instead the land breeze lasted hours longer, so just kept heading south. Which was easy because George was helming and the course was steady. 

Teria was only a mile from the Cape's lighthouse when the predicted wind shift happened, and it backed so it was right on the nose. Motored into it for 10 minutes and anchored in Redrock Bay for lunch. 

I had skipped brekfast and was ravenous, sandwiches and fruit never tasted so good.

Set off for Townsville at 2pm on a dead run with a 15 knot tail wind. The ST1000 was ok while the waves were slight for just the first mile or so. As fetch increased waves were formed, and George couldn't hold course, so I hand-steered for port at an easy 5 knots.

ST1000 steering Teria away from Cape Cleveland

I was getting a bit weary and didn't relish doing ramp haulout late afternoon. So called QF8 Townsville Coast Guard on the VHF and extended the trip plan by another 24 hours (They update the "Tripwatch" app and send a link to your mobile, the app shows you and others at home your current and past track on google maps). 

Now the time-pressure was off it was a nice sail and anchored in the Duckpond's flat waters for the night.