This was our second day in a row of calm winds holding high expectations after a quick run out yesterday solo in a superb sea. Mick, Anthony making up the group with Fox joining us for the run out and heading off to do some fishing.
Getting out of the Harbour at 9.15 we head for St Bees in flat conditions. Small chop appearing around the shoals with a little white cap about generally good. Not as good as yesterday that surprised me. Mainly overcast expected to clear and didn’t much that was a little disappointing.
We made for Joseph Bay around the bottom of St Bees.
I had a meter of water under me close to beach (Mackay Harbour tide at 10 was 2.4M). I wouldn’t leave it much lower than this to plan to get off on a falling tide. A fisherman here held up a good size squid to show me.
Note; This is a screen shot for St Bees I mentioned earlier Tide Times for Mackay because that is were most people would use. The difference 100mm and I prefer to use this method. Calculates the same as long as you dont mix them, use one or the other. Mackay 2.4M I have 1M. St Bees 2.5M I have 1M. Point of reference is the only change. (exaggerated example) If it was 10M at 1000hrs in Derby WA I still had 1M under me at St Bees.
Leaving Joseph Bay we go back around Mackay Pt to Egremont Passage. Quick look at the Coral Gardens. Where Fox departs for Cockermouth Island to start his fishing. We weren’t decided what to do at this point until we come out the northern end of the passage to a flat sea. Lets see if we can see the Cremer Wreck and on the way we stop of at a beach in Turtle Bay. Having passed this bay a number of times and never stopping. This was a good time to check it out with the rising tide.
I then discover water hole that the the bigger tides would make brackish if not salt water. The extent of it surprised me I walked just under 100M and it kept going. This would flush fresh after rains and may have holes further up holding fresh.
We mount up and head for the western side of Cockermouth. We had noticed what seemed to be fog hanging around Scawfell Island. Then we go across the northern end and over to Carlilse and Brampton. I was like Merekat diligently watching for whales after seeing so many the day before. Not a sign of them this far I spot a whale leaping and splashing around over towards The Smith Group maybe near Coffin Island.
Attacking Brampton from the East and crossing the bar with plenty of water. Anthony and I had quick look at Sandy Pt on Carlisle Island opposite Brampton’s old resort nothing much to report there.
Caught up with Mick over at Brampton threw anchor and had lunch. It wasn’t warm felt like a slight chill in the air maybe of that fog.
We decide to go home around the top of Brampton another out of the ordinary track back to the Harbour. Maybe visit Western Bay on the way through. Once on the water and traveling I was feeling cold. Arriving out from Western Bay we decide to go straight back to the Harbour on glass most of the way and finally the sun shinning.
My expectations of
1: Weather were a slight let down with the overcast nearly all morning.
2: Bugger all whales. (Plenty yesterday ?)
This was made up with a couple of Gems discovered under my nose. A dedicated explore closer to home is in order.
Jet Ski North Queensland 