Waiting for Jamie!

12th Jul 2010

While ‘hold up’ in Mackay, we shared the space with a couple of very notable vessels!

Among these was the Young Endeavour; in town for just a few days. When it was opened to the public, we (and couple of sailing colleagues) jumped at the opportunity to have a look on board. Of the visit, I would regard as a highlight; my observation that she had a little rust around her side ports, Why? – Because I seem to be always at Pilgrim to keep such streaks at bay, so now I can feel so much better knowing I share the challenge with such a venerable steel vessel!

Also in town was a private ‘Yank’ mega boat, registered in the Cook Islands and worth a reported $45M to buy and some $20m a year to keep. This was easily the marina’s show stopper. That is, until Jamie Packer’s boat arrived. Perhaps 50% bigger again and gleaming new. I do admit that I really enjoyed the thought that the mega rich yank’s would be most ‘put out’ by being so convincingly usurped by a Aussie.

Now here’s the rub – both Jamie and I needed fuel. Of course, he got in first so I waited and that’s OK as I thought he would probably needs a little more than me. Well, I took on 45 ltrs and judging from the totals on a number of the ‘high flow’ pumps, he took on quite a few thousand litres more than that!!!

Anyway, with full tanks and drizzling rain, we pushed out of the harbour about 09:30 and set off on a ‘headsail only’ run all the way to Goldsmith Island (South of Lindeman Island). We achieved a good 6 kts in a 15 kts following wind and though the seas was a little rolly, the trip was enjoyable and largely without effort.

The anchorage at Goldsmith was typically beautiful but for the low tide mud and the need to dodge the coral outcrops when travelling to shore in the dingy. After beach walk we tried our hand at fishing with no luck and settled into a great meal and a great night before hitting the sack.

The night turned out to be not quite so good as advertised as the SE winds held, feeding us 15 - 20 kts bullets all night and driving a small but crossing swell into the anchorage. For this reason I was up early so took the opportunity for a bit a fishing as the sun came up to reveal another blue sunny day.