Category Archives: Uncategorized

Meet up with Paul at Ilbillbi Road House. forecast below 5knots until lunch then rising into 8knots NE. Rising tide from 930 on wards so running with the wind so hopefully that will be helpful to a good day. Follow each other in to Green Hill. This trip is a first for both of usContinue reading “Middle Percy Island”

Been waiting for a decent forecast to fall with a tide around noon. Last visit was September 2022 being harried off the island with the falling tide as it was the first time. Planning to arrive anytime around 8.30 giving us about 2.7M of tide. A good chance to check out the lay of theContinue reading “Bushy Atoll 3rd Time”

Arrived Victor Ck, Seaforth at 535 and parked out the way of car park to rig up for launch and waiting on the others. I walk down to check out the ramp and there is Paul & Steve waiting on me on a busy jetty and Dallas and Stacey are launching. Forgot to mention toContinue reading “Proserpine River & Laguna Quays”

Another bucket list item bites the waves. Simon had a surprise for me turning up with a brand new Fishpro. Only 1 hour on the clock of merry go round stuff on the dam. So still running in on this trip. Another surprise to see us off and wish us a safe trip was JasonContinue reading “Mackay Bowen Return”

Sondra, Mornê and Myself going out of Seaforth over to Shaw Island to catch up with Rebbecca, Michael, Brad, Sarah and Harley coming out of Shut Harbour. We get out of the Creek and Estuary into open water by 720. Its looking good and flat making a heading for Hammer Island of the Anchor Isles.Continue reading “Thomas & Shaw Islands via The Anchor Isles”

Combination of several short coastal creek runs due to poor weather over the last month. Thursday 22 December: Jason, Mornê & Myself had decided on a McCready Ck run and I thought Slade Point boat ramp would be suitable. We First take a run to the north and end up in Bucasia Ck. We hadContinue reading “Mackay Creeks and High Sands”

Tide was low around 0730 so most of the morning wasn’t great for getting into bays and beaches. More so for unexplored or inexperienced islands. A long run was looking favorable with the forecast and tides. The 4 skis with 4 POB leaving the harbour just after 0500 we carried a minimum of 100lts each.Continue reading “Whitsunday Island from Mackay”

Forecast had been conflicting and fluctuating all over the place but at least providing a few windows. Like Sunday being borderline and worth a look ? With high tide at around 0900 falling through out the day. I couldn’t bring myself to commit to a group ride. Fortunately Duane had no reservations and had oneContinue reading “Cumberland Group”

This was a weekend of last minute decisions and none were decisive. Forecast playing a big part of Sunday. The 3 of us sketched the idea we would launch out of Seaforth and head north that would give us some protection. Should the forecast stick it would be 13knots SE just off the coast atContinue reading “Shute Harbour”

Seaforth > Anchor Islands > Lindeman Group > Repulse Group 134klms According to willy weather the tide was 2.7m at 715. We still followed the markers except for the very last one. Once in open water it was looking good not flat but good cruising 50k plus with out bone shattering. Party of 5 Simon,Continue reading “Lindeman Group”

Feature photo and all drone/overhead shots compliments of Mornê du Rand. Weather window finally appeared after nearly 2 months to enable a decent trip attempt. The area had been a bucket list item for a while because it spooked me a bit. For a number of idiosyncrasies. Was never going on my own so thanksContinue reading “Beverly Group”

Weather had been so bleak of the last weeks or is that months. Forecast had the wind softening Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We chose Sunday if only to give the sea more of a chance of settling after the blows we had received. Got away at 0700hrs from Mackay Harbour entrance where we could seeContinue reading “Back To Bushy Atoll”

Adventurer’s included Mornê, Rebecca, Michael and Myself. Bushy had been in our sights for a while now. We had been waiting for a break in the weather and just as it appeared we jumped at it. Forecast soured a bit on the day with a chance of a storm. We weren’t to be deterred andContinue reading “Bushy Islet 26 Feb 2022”

Note the chart plot below was planned but not completed. The Repulse Group to the west on return run was missed out. The lump of land above is Cape Conway on the mainland. Decided this was needed for the non-locals. Seaforth is a Coastal Town 30 minutes north of Mackay. Just 5ks out the otherContinue reading “Phantom Cave In The Lindeman Group”

Another bucket list item resolved Calder Island. I have one more Island and that means I have been to every island seen from the Mackay coast. Made it a bit more interesting doing a circuit. Leaving the Harbour with still an hour and a half to the bottom of the tide, need to be mindful.Continue reading “Calder Circuit Solo 150KLMS”

One of our local Jetski facebook pages Mackay Jetski had a group run planned for Saturday. So I tagged along with Morne the organiser and six other Ski’s. Most intros dealt with and trailers parked in overflowing car park. Moved off to wait the final arrivals in the marina. We had a fall at theContinue reading “Five Islands with 8 Ski’s”

Weather windows have hardly existed this year so every opportunity must be taken. I honestly thought we would be turning back. Headed out after a late start, my bad. Sun was shinning so that’s a start and out the harbour. It wasn’t bad picked up a little over the shoals and a bit of easterlyContinue reading “Keswick St Bees”

Tuesday was our first window in the weather since the beginning of the month. Wasn’t convinced forecast would hold so no defined plan. Just headed out to the local Cumberland Group. At the ramp before 6 with a small queue was fellow skier’s Sebastion and Duane who were taking there Skis with another fisherman inContinue reading “Cumberland Group”

Gus had been planning this trip for a couple of years and asked me along thankfully. Not certain but we could be one of the first Jet Ski’s to do this trip. Aligning the elements for this trip is a must including tide times and height that isn’t big out there and a 100 mmContinue reading “Hardy Reef from Airlie”

Feature image is Brampton Island. We had a unusual day with the weather. I heard a boat report that he was out in a north easterly with the wind coming out of the south. (having a go at the forecast) Once heading for Cockermouth we noticed the sea picking up and decided to make ourContinue reading “Beyond Brampton Aborted”

Lee Roy and myself 04 June 2021 from Mackay Harbour Here is a link to all my videos were you should be free to view without being controlled by WordPress. Feel free to download any of the files as a .mp4 file to do as you wish without any controls from any entity outside ofContinue reading “Brampton & Keswick Islands”

The weather has been unfriendly of late and Wednesday / Thursday were the options. I opted for Thursday, forecast chopped and changed the last 24hrs. Had to be the worst forecast I have gone ahead on. Leam and his partner still keen as so off we go. Forecast being a good morning with freshening fromContinue reading “Scawfell island”

Wind had been around for what seemed like and may of been weeks. A window was appearing in the forecast and Friday was the day. Unable to find company for a ride, I saddled up in preparation of a big one should conditions allow. The feature image is Happy Bay, Long Island. Used 2 imagesContinue reading “Airlie Return Mackay, Solo”

We left the Harbour 0500 to a breaking overcast morning. Conditions were good with a spaced lump as we left the Harbour and improved as the day wore on. Our first leg was Brampton/Carlisle, 34klms Nth of Mackay Harbour. Ross had his first encounter with a flying fish, that he was delighted to tell meContinue reading “Seven Island Circuit Cruise”

First solo trip since the shark encounter and was a little shaky on it in the preparation. Decision to go was made at 0700, probably gave me less time to think about it. Not like 2 Fridays prior, 0530 at the boat ramp full of nerves I pulled the rear door of the van downContinue reading “Solo Brampton, Keswick & River”

Possibly my last whale sighting for this year. September has been a month of wind, barely a day under 15 knots for any period. A window appeared this week and I have taken advantage of it twice. Rolly was company for this trip and wasn’t sure of his ski’s economy and wanted to test it.Continue reading “Whale Season Farewell”

Wind was easing this week for the first time this month. Late decision to go for a quick run and have a go at driving the ski off trailer at launching. This was such a simple process off and back on. Will need to see how it goes at the river ramp with plenty currentContinue reading “Carcass”

Daydream, Nth Mole, Whitsunday, Hamilton Island & More My first Whitsunday’s trip. WOW this is a boaters paradise and jet skiers Shangri-la. There are plenty of boats around the popular spots. Should you end up in the water there’s more chance you get run over before you drowned. I had no plan for this spareContinue reading “Whitsunday Islands”

Put in at Mackay Pioneer River Ramp. Planned loop was Baileys Islet > Scawfell Island > St Bees/Keswick Islands > Home. We headed out through Eastern Pt bar (that had enough water to pass over). Sea was a gentle swell in a rippled surface with a breaking overcast sky. After about 10ks, was unable toContinue reading “Keswick, Scawfell & St Bees”

Plan was a round robin trip Bailey Islet – Scawfell – St Bees – Harbour. Not to be, after 11ks into the 33ks to Bailey Islet 77° out of Mackay Harbour. That heading is + 5° of the sun rising that day at 72°, so had a pretty good marker. Fog wall and dark, couldn’tContinue reading “Fog, Fog, Hay Point, Fog”

Started the day in full wet suit and rain coat and stayed that way, the temperature was 8° felt like 5° and never above 20° for the morning. Going to go into the Pioneer River, to give the sun a chance to get up a bit. I have always taken the long way around FlatContinue reading “Dalrymlpe Bay”

We launched Shoal Point, Mackay using Shaun’s 4WD. Shaun has a Seadoo GTR IS 255 2009 that is super charged. It also has suspension were the top of the ski above the hull is suspended to afford some comfort. He also made his own mounted esky with carry alls attached either side that carry aContinue reading “Shoal Point – Brampton & Beyond”

8.00 21/06/20 High tide 1040 4.35m Lee, Kawasaki. Peter, Seadoo GTR 300 super charged Am writing this at a later time and some details may be a bit vague. We had a quick look out the mouth probably to kill a bit of time to allow the tide to rise. Then up river under ForganContinue reading “Pioneer River & Creeks”

I was around the river mouth and the bar out the front, tide was down a bit to expose plenty of the bar. Practised anchoring from a beach or bar in this case. This ski is really piss poor for cleats. I assume all ski’s to be the same ? The GTX is a touringContinue reading “River Mouth & Sand Bar 20 June”

Baby steps at this stage, put in at the River St ramp. Weather was crap and overcast, pocked around the river mouth that was not looking to inviting. Kept in the river up to Ron Camm bridge and back to ramp a couple of times. Exhilarating, wet and cold air born a couple of timesContinue reading “River run 17 June”

Seadoo 2019 GTX155 New on trailer with Rego $18000, Picked up 11 June out of town