ST21 'Skinnydip' build, and boating adventures, Noosa, Australia

[glossieblack]

Yesterday we motor-sailed in light and variable breezes from Shute Harbour to Airlie Beach for fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy and breads.

We dropped the pick amongst the craft permanently moored on buoys, and tendered into the Whitsunday Yacht Club’s small boat harbour (left hand of pic) to lunch then shop. Great dining deck, great lunch.

Airlie Beach Lat 20.12.23 S, Lng 148.39.32 .

[Jeff]

Beautiful place GB!! You guys have fun!!! Jeff

[Fuzz]

Once again a beautiful place! It is easy to see why you love the area.
Two things I noticed in the picture. First all the boats in the mooring field look to have sticks poking up on them
Second: Even in this sort of remote area I note that all the buildings/homes seem to be packed close together. I have seen this in other pictures you have posted. Is there a reason for this

[BarraMan]

Once again a beautiful place! It is easy to see why you love the area.
Two things I noticed in the picture. First all the boats in the mooring field look to have sticks poking up on them
Second: Even in this sort of remote area I note that all the buildings/homes seem to be packed close together. I have seen this in other pictures you have posted. Is there a reason for this

Fuzz, Glossie lives in a holiday hotspot (Noosa) and when he goes cruising he visits other holiday hotspots (like Airlie Beach).
The accommodation at these sorts of places is dominated by high density apartments etc because mere mortals cannot afford acreage homesites or even the more common 1/4 acre block in such places. You can see from the pic of Airlie Beach that flat coastal land is scarce and often backed by hills!.

Airlie Beach is interesting - very little beach, lots of backpackers, sharks, stingers and the occasional croc - but scenery to die for!

[Fuzz]

Just wondering about the close living. I have been in other countries where despite having vast tracks of open land the people live in very densely packed areas. Sometimes because all land was government controlled or at times it was energy and time efficient to live that way.

[TomW1]

Just wondering about the close living. I have been in other countries where despite having vast tracks of open land the people live in very densely packed areas. Sometimes because all land was government controlled or at times it was energy and time efficient to live that way.

Fuzz you go to any of our resort cities or any Mediterranean resort city the housing will be the same, lots of rentals and condos, but the boats will include large motor yachts. At least from what I have seen. The Navy ship I was on pulled into Monte Carlo one year and was that a thrill. Got my suite on and headed to the Grand Casino with a few other officers. It was a small harbor surrounded by high rises on the hills around it.

Tom

[glossieblack]

Fuzz, our usual preference is for beautiful wilderness anchorages without a single house or road for miles. When we need to provision, we prefer ducking into funky resort towns, as they have an interesting mix of people, restaurants, bars, bookshops, foreshores, and are compact enough to walk. Airlie Beach is such a place. Like Noosa it is ringed by and footprint-constrained by National Park.

Yesterday we had a delightful two hour close hauled sail from Airlie Beach to Hook Island's Stonehaven anchorage. Lat 20.06.00 S, Lng 148.54.43 E - pic below. Secure SE to NE anchorage with interesting snorkelling. We're still here today.

[TomW1]

Fuzz, our usual preference is for beautiful wilderness anchorages without a single house or road for miles. When we need to provision, we prefer ducking into funky resort towns, as they have an interesting mix of people, restaurants, bars, bookshops, foreshores, and are compact enough to walk. Airlie Beach is such a place. Like Noosa it is ringed by and footprint-constrained by National Park.

Yesterday we had a delightful two hour close hauled sail from Airlie Beach to Hook Island's Stonehaven anchorage. Lat 20.06.00 S, Lng 148.54.43 E - pic below. Secure SE to NE anchorage with interesting snorkelling. We're still here today.

Now that is real pretty. GB I have never asked before but do you ever catch your own fish or is it to much effort.

Tom

[glossieblack]

We rarely fish Tom. Too lazy and impatient.

Not even a zephyr of breeze this morning, so we went motor-exploring to charge up the battery bank.

As we were passing Hook Island's iconic Refuge Cove anchorage we were astonished to see it deserted. Did a U turn and dropped the pick, intending to move on when a boat arrived. Didn't happen. Perfect.

Pic heading in.

[TomW1]

Beautiful spot GB.

Tom