KEPPEL ISLAND REPORT by Ian Bennett

SEPTEMBER SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
19TH. SEPTEMBER 2008. (Photos)

The outing to the Keppel Islands was agreed as a great success by all attending.
Four member boats arrived on the Friday night and eight boats were at anchor at Long Beach on the south west corner of Great Keppel Island by Saturday night.

Activities included whale watching with some spectacular breaching, fishing (with mixed results), exploring the spectacular scenery of this rocky outcrop of islands, beach exploring and oyster gathering.

Members gathered on the beach at sunset each night for wine and nibbles using a ring of rubber duckies as seating. Many a tale was told of exploits of the day and other assorted fishing tales. It is interesting that the tide change variation was up to 4 metres so there was plenty of beach to gather on. We had several quite new members, with one travelling from NSW and three from the local area. It was good to support these members who would find it difficult to travel south to our “normal” outings.

There were many and assorted boats, being school holidays. There were several small tents on the beach with people beach fishing. It was interesting to see them catch beach worms for whiting fishing from the beach.

The weather was very good to us with a morning glass-out, a north east sea breeze from late morning and into the night. There were a few clouds about but generally perfect conditions. Each night was anchor up in the lea of the weather on Long Beach and was quite comfortable with a cool breeze and not much rock.

Unfortunately one member had a significant water leak and had to make a dash for harbour in the middle of the night with support from the coast guard standing by in case of assistance. Seems there was a leak from a fitting that was not properly applied. Not sure of further detail at this time. Apart from an anchor chain around the prop of another (un-named) boat, the weekend was a great success. Most boats left by Monday with several staying on. The weather report for into the week was not ideal.

I found the time ideal for reading that book that has escaped me for some time.

Of interest was a private trip Jenny & I took before the members gathered. We left on the previous Tuesday and travelled north to Island Head. The trip was just over 100 Km up, calling in at Pearl Bay, a very favoured over night anchorage for boaties. We caught some very welcome fish inside Island Head Creek and returned to Pearl Bay at night to anchor. This area of the world is spectacular with very high cliffs of sheer rock with deep water up to the cliff face and many rock islands scattered along the coast. It is inside the military training area and was under restriction from after the day we left for bombing practice in Shoal Water Bay, just around the corner. This was by far our most favoured outing ever. The distance was within our reach and with whales and fishing and scenery making it just #1. Our round trip was over 300 Km with almost ten hours of travel. The sea had a short swell as it does inside the reef with wind from the north east at 10-15 by late morning and the boat performed exceedingly well.

Jenny & Ian Bennett – “Alveno”