From Bundaberg I sailed to Lady Musgrave Island and anchored inside the reef among scattered coral bommies. Another boat struck one while leaving; I eased Malua carefully back through the entrance. Fitzroy Reef came next, with its narrow entrance and a quiet anchorage.
The route continued via Hummocky Island, Great Keppel, Port Clinton and Pearl Bay. Each anchorage had its own tide, wind and depth to consider. At Percy Island I joined cruisers at the beach and walked to the homestead, then shifted to Rescue Bay to wait out a northerly. Whales passed the anchorage.
Curlew Island made a final stop before Mackay. With little wind, I motored over a flat sea into the marina where Denny would join me for the next part of the cruise.
