Queensland Cruise 2023

With long-distance cruising possible again, I prepared Malua for a voyage north from Bermagui to Queensland. The archive follows the preparations, the passages up the coast, the reefs and islands farther north, time in the Whitsundays, and the journey home.

North from Bermagui

Jim G and I departed with full fuel and water tanks and prepared meals aboard. We worked up the New South Wales coast, using the inshore counter-current where it helped. A north-westerly rose sharply near Jervis Bay, and later a northerly forced us to seek shelter in Sydney Harbour before continuing north.

Reefs and Whitsundays

After reprovisioning in Bundaberg I sailed to Lady Musgrave Island, then Fitzroy Reef and on towards Mackay. Denny joined Malua there. We visited Brampton Island, remembering a flying holiday there in 1972, and day-sailed north through the island chain towards Airlie Beach. Dinghy and outboard troubles became an unexpected part of the Whitsunday cruise.

Homeward bound

The original account continues through the southbound passages and the changing weather on the familiar Australian coast. My return was a series of coastal decisions rather than one uninterrupted passage.

Read the voyage in order