Newry Islands

Friday 8^th June 2012

The Newry Islands
20’51.028 S – 148’55.812 E
Cool nights, fresh days with warm sunshine and slight winds – no rain – yeah!

The tide in the Newry’s runs similar to Mackay with a 6mt difference at springs and 4mts at neaps. Plenty of chain needs to be paid out to allow for this.

Anchorage between Newry and Outer Newry Islands

Here we are resting up for a couple of day and taking advantage of the nice weather while it lasts.

The first afternoon in the anchorage between Newry Island and Outer Newry Island MrJ and I did nothing, just sat around with a couple of nice beverages and admired the surrounds and sunset. There were four other boats anchored before us, three local boats (two sail & one motor cat) and our friends Gary and Mercedes on Forever Dreaming.

Wednesday we took our dinghy ashore to the eastern beach on Newry Island just before the top of the tide. This would give us plenty of time to go exploring before the tide was to be running out too far again. The eastern beach on Newry Island is where the ruins of an old resort are found.

Wandering around the well kept ground os the old resort area, now part of the National Park

Rocky outcrops and sandstone cliffs are some of the features of these hilly Newry Islands which lie close to the mainland not too far from Seaforth on the Queensland coast. The islands are mostly covered with eucalypt woodland with patches of lush rainforest growing in sheltered gullies. The rocky headlands are covered with hoop pines.
Brushtail possums, fawn-footed melomys and northern brown bandicoots are among a assortment of animals that inhabit Newry’s forests and grasslands. We did not see any of these but did come across all their signs with heaps of holes and digging to break your ankles on if not treading wearily along the trails.
Surrounding the island, marine habitats such as mangroves, fringing reef and seagrass beds, provide food and shelter to animals including dolphins, dugongs, turtles and crocs. Beside some fish the only other marine animal that I saw was a turtle surface in the channel between Newry and Outer Newry Islands.
Aboriginal people have long had an association with the Newry Islands. The area has provided for hunting and fishing for many thousands of years. They paddled canoes from the mainland and Whitsunday Islands, their movements and whereabouts governed by the availability of food.
The Newry Islands were named in 1879 by Royal Navy Staff Commander EP Bedwell while undertaking coastal surveys.
Coconuts and pineapples were grown on Newry Island and a licensed dugong fishery produced oil for medicinal purposes.

Ruins of the Pebble Cottage, was once part of the resort on Newry Island

A small tourist resort was developed on leasehold land surrounding the eastern side of Newry Island in 1934 only four years before the area was declared a national park. This resort was run by by Fred and Marcelle Wooster who operated it for over twenty years.
The most famous of their regular guests was Marcelle’s sister Annette Kellerman an international swimming star, vaudeville performer, acrobat, actress and women’s rights advocate. Annette was born in Marrickville in Sydney in 1886 and was also known for her attempt to swim the English Channel three times and during her visits to Newry Island she would swim every day to Outer Newry Island and back showing no fear of the sharks or crocodiles in the waters around the Newry Islands. It is said that Annette often swam all the way to Seaforth to bring back supplies by hitching a ride on the return journey. Annette is well known for her role of portraying Esther Williams in the film Million Dollar Mermaid.
Two more lessees ran Newry Island Resort before it finally closed in 2001. It was then taken over by Queensland National Parks and Wildlife, who retained the remnants of the resort for their historical interest. Not so long ago sailors could wander up the beach to socialize over a cold beer but now the art deco bar is gone, replaced by a modern recreational shelter and picnic tables which we used for our own picnic lunch. You are able to wander around the picnic grounds amongst the remains of a once busy island resort, explore the beach front or take the short trails across the island to the western beach overlooking Rabbit Island, the largest island in this group.

Splash and then Sail to the Newry Islands

Tuesday 5^th June 2012

Splash and then Sail to the Newry Islands
20’51.028 S – 148’55.812 E
Cool and dry, fresh SW winds with NE afternoon sea breezes.

MrJ runs around with the final paint touch –ups as AR was being lifted in the slings to be put back in the water. The yard boys made sure everything was a-okay and then AR made her splash. The SW wind was freshening pushing AR onto the lift poles as MrJ backed her out but Ben was there to fend her off.

The jobs finished

Out and away! MrJ and I left Mackay Harbour just after a big ship went out and now the tug was returning to pass us in the harbour entrance. Once clear of the little island (Slade Islet) outside the harbour entrance I turned AR into the wind and MrJ hoisted the sails; both full main and genoa. Our course was set for NW to follow the lie of the mainland up the coast to Port Newry, a small group of island 25n/m NW of Mackay. This area was once under consideration to be made into the main Port before the main Port and new harbour was built at Mackay.


Leaving Mackay Harbor as a tug comes in

We had a good sail this day; making 6 – 8 most of the way except for the wind change to the NE afternoon sea breeze sometime off Cape Hillsborough. The wind was keeping the air in the sail but also keeping the wind chill factor in the air forcing us to keep our winter woollies on all the way.
It felt good to be back on the water again, to be sailing off to some new adventure waiting for us just around the corner.
1615 saw MrJ and me dropping anchor in a little bay between Newry and Outer Newry Islands.
It is well marked on the Alan Lucas Cruising Guide Book, with great information and history about the islands. The Newry Islands are not marked in the 100 Magic Miles Guide Book, I suppose because they are not really into the Whitsundays.
What a pity!


Concerntina Rock on the SE corner of Outer Newry Island

What a beautiful little spot to anchor, so well hidden from the passing traffic outside and from the mainland. The Newry Islands have been reported as being one of the best fishing places around these waters. Maybe they are as we did see several large fishing boats, trawlers, on the way here.
Maybe a good fishing spot for most but I think not for us. Our lines hardly ever get near the water these days. Oh well!

Living in the Work Yard

Monday 4^th June 2012

Living in the Work Yard

A foggy sunrise

All you seem to do is work...!!!

Is that’s why they call it a work yard?

Wash the hulls, rub back the old paint, apply the new stuff, sand this, polish that, clean the inside, clean the decks........................on and on and on...................!!!

Then there is the climbing up and down the ladder whenever you need to get onto the boat or off the boat. Especially at some ungodly hour to run to the loo....!!!!!

MrJ painting

Your clothes get filthy, your hands and feet get filthy, your hair gets filthy, your whole body gets filthy and then you have to climb down the ladder to go to the shower which is either in the “men’s” or half a mile away in the ladies at the marina. You would think that there would be at least one shower in the ladies at the work yard! Do they not think that women are working on boats in the yard?

Oh that shower; oh so heavenly.............................washing away all that dirt!

Me sanding back the props

Up and down the ladder, up and down the ladder; wash, clean, polish, sand, shower, day in day out for days at a time with one day off to race to town to get supplies. The best part about working in the yard is when the end of the day comes, you have had that wonderful shower and you are sitting and watch the setting sun with a nice cold glass of beer or Gin & Tonic. Now is the time you can look at your work and say - Well Done!

Haulout Day - Mackay

Friday 1^st June 2012

Haulout Day - Mackay
Still raining on and off throughout the days and nights – less wind



In the slings

MrJ picked a good morning to make the haulout; the wind has dropped considerably and is more easterly which made the manoeuvrer of AR into the haulout slings much easier if not a tad on the fast side with wind and tide. Shelly and Ric and their friend Wayne were on board to lend a hand and the fellers from the yard were at their best, as usual.



Up in the air

Ben the crane driver had AR in the sling in lightning speed with the help of his offsider Toto who helped with the manoeuvring from a pontoon alongside the haulout area with lines and a long boat hook. The skipper stood by watching very nervously. There was a bit of a discussion between the fellers and the skipper as to the positioning of the front sling. Even though the fellers are very good and knowledgeable at their job the final decision always falls on the skipper of the boat. It was after this that MrJ (the skipper) signed the dotted line on the haulout contract. All that sorted and AR was lifted out of the water, up into the air and transported into the yard where Toto gave her hulls a pressure wash before would sit her down somewhere along the fence in the work yard.

The wash down

The helping crew went home to start their days work on Neriki and MrJ and I went to the cafe to hastily gobble down a cheese and bacon burger for breakfast. When we arrived back in the yard AR was being set down in her “spot”. Good timing?

It was raining again and my first job once the ladder had been put up to enable MrJ and I to climb up to our “out of the water” home was to put the side covers down and then put some old towels on the back steps and along the back deck to try and keep the black yard dirt out. It doesn’t really work that well but one has to try. Next I hung up the wet jackets, other towels and things; everything was so wet and I hate wet feet or wet things left lying around. I packed up the good floor mats, inside too, into the washing bags and replaced them with old towels. Tomorrows washing!

MrJ had already gathered up all his bits and pieces to start the rubbing back of AR’s hulls and was busy at work. My next job was to cart some bits of wood, blocks and planks, to make a couple of small table benches under AR. I also roll a rather heavy block of wood over to be used as a seat when doing those low jobs. I was the first to use my wooden seat, to sit and scrub and sand back both props. I don’t know which job is more back breaking, leaning into the sanding using the long pole apparatus or sitting and leaning forward. No good complaining, the job has to be done!

Ben and MrJ

By midafternoon I was ready for a long hot shower and a sit down. MrJ finished for the day not long after when a down pour of rain put a halt to the works and went for his shower. That night MrJ and I had been invited over to Neriki for a baked dinner. How could I not! Thank you Shelly and Ric!

Will tell you another time what it is like living in a work yard.

In Mackay Marina

Wednesday 30^th May 2012

In Mackay Marina

MrJ and I were able to hire a car, an older style station wagon, from the marina office for $39 for a half a day. This was to be able to get into town where we bought the antifouling paint and other work supplies for the haul-out on Friday.

Mackay Marina

The feller, the manger Paul Curson,  at the Altex company was such a pleasant man and a great help with all our needs, spun the tins of paint for us, gave us some great advice on how, when and how much paint to apply and gave a free paint gauge. This is great service that you don’t see too often these days.

And there is more!

Paul will even arrange for delivery of your paint tins and supplies out to the marina for you or help with delivery or arrange with another outlet where ever you are.

Paul Curson (Manager)

ALTEX COATINGS
Industrial & Marine
24 Prospect Street
Mackay, QLD, 4740, Australia
Ph: 07 49142557
Fax: 07 49531101
Mob: 0414248717
Email: mackayshop@altexcoatings.com.au
Web: www.altexcoatings.com.au

Thursday 31^st May 2012

There is still a cold wind blowing and it is raining.

MrJ and I did not venture out all morning. How lazy is that? We did manage to catch up with our blog writing and photos.

Wet day at the marina shop and nobody about

After lunch was a different story when I lugged our dirty clothes up to the marina laundry, up the steep ramp from the marina fingers to the path that goes past the office. It was low tide and there is a 5mt difference between high and low tide right now. Lugging the clean washing back was all downhill!

Yesterday afternoon I had cleaned all three heads/ensuites on board AR. Might as well used the marina water supply while I can and I do know that I will not be able to do such chores once AR had been hauled out onto the hard stand in the marina yard. Their rule is hard and fast about NO discharge of any kind from your boat while on the hard.

Such an exciting day!