We have had a one sixth share in a Seawind 1160 called Antidote since January 2022. It has been a good experience, and we have got to cruise the East Coast of Queensland, as we had previously in Sahula and Nimrod (which was also a Seawind 1160). But a few months ago we agreed to 'swallow the anchor' and sell our share. We found a buyer pretty easily, choosing from a list of five keen couples. Our final cruise is a five week trip starting in Townsville on July 12th, and finishing in Cairns on August 15th. The new owner of our share takes possession the following day.
The start went badly. There was trackwork on the railway line from our home to Brisbane Airport. Because we had quite a bit of luggage, the unpleasant prospect of taking a train, then a bus, then another train, then the plane, was such that we booked a driver to take us. The driver got a better offer and pulled out, a fact we only discovered while standing in the drive expecting him to arrive. Then an Uber driver was all lined up, but also pulled out, leaving us in danger of missing the flight.
So we piled into George's car and headed for the airport, trying to organise a 5 week park on the way.
We pulled that off, but narrowly missed losing my laptop in the security check zone. George had to hold the plane while I raced back to find it. Just made the plane before it taxied out!
A late arrival in Townsville and then extensive provisioning in a local Coles. A catch-up with some old friends in the Ardo restaurant which had amazing views.
View from Ardo Hotel rooftop bar
Banyan Tree
Lucy
Mal
Monday July 14th we set off for Magnetic Island.
Maggie Island rocks
George getting into holiday mode
Thursday 17th, the weather was looking benign, so we made an early start to sail out to Keeper Reef. It's always best to arrive on a coral-strewn shore with the sun high, the better to see bommies.
We caught a nice 4kg Bonito which provided some beautiful sashimi.
A track from the OpenCPN navigation software, showing the bommies clearly with MBTiles, a great revolution in satellite navigation. See an earlier blog of mine: OpenCPN with satellite imagery
There are two public moorings. Keeper Reef public mooring map
It was lovely out there, all alone on a peaceful beautiful reef.
Staghorn coral
Parrotfish
Friday 18th, on to Lodestone Reef.
Somewhat similar. It also has a couple of moorings; both were free. Lodestone Reef public mooring map
Easy to pick our way through the bommies to the buoy with good light, George up on the roof wearing polarized sunglasses, and the trusty OpenCPN.
Saturday 19th, we decided to head back to the land and access to the internet. A brisk reach at about 8 knots nearly as far as Pelorus Island, when the wind died and we motored up the Hinchinbrook Channel from Lucinda. We passed close to a mother humpback whale and her calf, flapping their flippers. We also caught a small Spanish Mackerel.
The southern end of Hinchinbrook Channel
Sun setting over the Cardwell Range
Sunday 20th. Rain, and no crabs. Hunker down, then motor up the Channel, partly to charge the batteries and heat water, and also for a change of scene. We stopped at Paluma Creek.
Mount Diamantina through the cloud
Hinchinbrook mountains from Paluma Creek
Paluma Creek
Rainy & glassy: Missionary Bay
Hinchinbrook Channel to Missionary Bay.
Too wet for a walk on the Thorsborne Trail, so we motored up to Dunk Island.
Purtaboi Island from Dunk Island
Glamping tents. The island is being refurbished by Annie Cannon-Brookes.
Dunk Island jetty
Ruined resort
The newly refurbished Dunk Island Spit Restaurant
Hinchinbrook Island, Dunk Island, and Mourilyan Harbour
Pirate in Mourilyan Harbour
Barracuda. There is a concern about barracuda, in that they might carry ciguatera toxin. Discussion of the risk here. Sydney Fish Market Seafood Handling Guidelines 2025
From Mourilyan Harbour, where we caught a nice couple of mud-crabs, we went on to Russell Island, Fitzroy Island and then Cairns.
Mourilyan Harbour, Russell Island, Fitzroy Island and Cairns.
View north from Russell Island
Sunset from Fitzroy Island
Trinity Inlet. The river by Cairns with the mountains behind.
Walking in Cairns under the lit-up trees
The Esplanade
Seafood outlet
A US warship entering Cairns after Exercise Talisman Sabre
Preparation blog: Cairns and North.
Cairns, Michaelmas Cay, Opal Reef, Low Islets and Port Douglas.
Picking our way through the bommies to get to Michaelmas Cay
Lots of birds
Male Brown Booby in flight
Brown Booby pair. The male has the blue face.
Moored off Michaelmas Cay
The catamaran Sv Anui produces an excellent blog which is very helpful when cruising around the reef.
Antidote anchored at Opal Reef
George snorkelling
Neon Damselfish and leather coral
Two Blue-Green Chromis, a Black Surgeonfish and brain coral
Royal Gramma
Shipping lane
Port Douglas
Yoga
Antidote
Port Douglas Yacht Club
Port Douglas, Low Islets, Double Island, Green Island, Yorkeys Knob and Cairns.
Batfish
Low Islet lighthouse
Low Islet sunrise
Double Island
Double Island.
Double Island from Palm Cove
Great Egret at Yorkeys Knob
Plenty colourfully painted toilets round here
The weather was a a bit inclement, so we decided to anchor up the Cairns river (known as Trinity Inlet), and have a bit of land-time with a rental car.
Barron Falls
There are bitter-sweet feelings about ending our cruising career, perhaps resonating with this famous painting 'The Fighting Temeraire'. It shows one of the last major sailing warships being towed off by a steam-driven tug.
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