The Island passages begin

Well it hadn't been for sailing i would never have visited or really even known about the beautiful islands that exist off the Queensland coast and there is no shortage of them.

Great Keppel Island










Instead of stopping at camping destinations we now stop at anchorages at islands. Sailing really is a whole new way of travelling that enables you to access remote destinations.

There are plenty of beautiful mountain ranges that have great anchorages for cruising yachties to stay. Surrounded by natural beauty i couldn't think of a better way to live.

The sunsets each evening and the stars at night are spectacular. Life is simple and the simple things are really full of life.

















Here's an early morning sail the sun has just started rising.

Here's Richard's first experience of fishing on our trip. He was surprised to find these unusual creatures on the end of line, they eventually unhooked themselves. We have no idea what they were.

Three days flying the kite

Recently we had our first spinnaker setting lesson from our friends Kerry and Diane who are travelling in their cat "Nemo". Since our lesson we've used it 3 days in a row and it has helped moved us about 150nm (280km). Its a beautiful looking sail !


The idea of putting it up seemed daunting at first, i knew it was a big sail and it required both of us to get it up but it really is simple to use and doesn't require half as much effort as i thought it might. 


Setting the spinnaker has been another great achievement for us on Ultimate Dream.

Expecting the unexpected

26th April 2010
Well here we are back at Gladstone Marina again, after our busy period in the marina 3 days ago stocking food supplies, doing laundry, cleaning and polishing the boat and changing our anchor chain, doing just afew jobs...ha haa we have returned unexpectedly to attend to an alternator that has worn itself out. Bugger. And as much as Alan Lucas doesn't have much to say for Gladstone the marina's facilities are good and town is close at hand.

We spent two night in the Narrows before returning to Gladstone having a very leisurely sail with Roz and Wayne on Vaya con Dios only to be eaten by sandflies that night, worse than mozzies for sure. Tiny insects that leave you itching long after they've gone.

After deciding to decide to turn around and head back to the marina we hope to have the alternator sorted soon and be on our way again heading to the Keppel islands with 2 engines running smoothly once again and our boat loaded with all the necessities to stay out at the islands. Yeah!