Sailing in Crocodile Country - Hinchinbrook Island

 

Watch the video HERE

We've just published our latest video where we spend a week deep in crocodile country as we sheltered from a strong weather system whipping up big winds and high seas right along the Australian East Coast. We were very well protected in the waters of the Hinchinbrook Channel running between the World Heritage listed Hinchinbrook Island and the mangroves of the mainland.

Surrounded by its pristine wilderness, we may have been safe from the weather but protecting ourselves from the mosquitos, midges and other winged aggressors was another thing. We were also ever mindful of the very real threat posed by the large numbers of huge crocodiles surrounding us.

We visited rock fish traps constructed hundreds of years ago by the area’s indigenous people and marvelled at how they thrived in such a hostile environment. We hope you can have a look.

A Day in the life of a Cruising Couple – Hinchinbrook Island - Ep 23

 

In this episode of Dreamtime Sail on YouTube, we do all the important stuff in sailing cruisers lives. We leave a beautiful anchorage at Orpheus Island, catch fish, clean fish, enjoy a fantastic downwind sail, pass closely by the 6 kilometre long, Lucinda Jetty and into the Hinchinbrook Channel, catch more fish, clean more fish, anchor up, fix broken stuff on the boat, have friends on board for sundowner drinks, and share the fish we caught for dinner. Just a typical day aboard Our Dreamtime really.

And in Our Galley Karen shows an easy option for serving dinner for six in the cockpit.

Click on the image above or HERE to see the full Episode

We sailed to an island of giant clams

We sailed 'Our Dreamtime' north from Townsville to Orpheus Island and witnessed one of the Great Barrier Reef's most amazing sights when hundreds of giant clams squirt high in the air as the tide recedes. This is a short clip from the 'Dreamtime Sail' Episode we've just posted on YouTube.

Moored in crystal clear waters beside a very exclusive resort, (read expensive), we enjoyed the glorious beaches, underwater delights and spectacular sunsets FREE. That’s the cruising life for you.

In the 'Our Galley' segment, Karen shows how to whip up an easy to make but very tasty Pad Thai. Hope you can click across and check it all out. Cheers!

See more clam footage in the full video here and let us know what you think of the island in the comments.

A Coral Garden of Giant Clams - Orpheus Island - Episode 22 - YouTube

A Place Too Cool to Have Winter – Exploring Townsville - Episode 21

 

After a great stay at Magnetic Island, we sail across Cleveland Bay to spend a week in Breakwater Marina exploring Townsville, a city too cool to bother with having winter. The early August weather in this tropical city is glorious as we take a walking tour of beautifully preserved colonial buildings and discover a treasure trove of history in the Maritime Museum including a brilliant exhibition about the wreck of the SS Yongala which foundered in a cyclone off Cape Bowling Green in 1911. We stretch our legs in the sunshine along the Strand and enjoy the quirky installation art, beautiful parklands, golden beaches and military history of Kissing Point. New friends take us up to the summit of Castle Hill for a spectacular sunset.

In Our Galley Karen shows a quick and easy way to bake tasty fresh bread on board.

Watch the video HERE

The Dreamtime Sail Team receive Life Changing News.

 

Watch our video for the full story - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK0VANlN500

A lot has been happening for the Dreamtime Sail crew since we returned from tropical North Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef to safely sit out the cyclone season in Brisbane. This includes launching then abandoning our container house project which has raised a lot of questions from friends and followers. Like many YouTube Channels, there’s a considerable delay between when we live our sailing adventures and they appear on screen. However, in the video we've just posted we bring you an up to the minute update on what’s been going on in our world and an unexpected challenge we’re facing. Rob has been diagnosed with cancer. He will be undergoing surgery next month and then face an extended period of recovery and further treatment. Sadly it will prevent us heading back to the reef and islands this year but while it may delay us, we will not let this thing end our sailing dreams. Please click across to the video to see the full story. We’d like to say a huge thank you for all the support we have received from our family, friends and fellow cruisers. In particular a huge thankyou goes out to all the members of the Shag Islet Cruising Yacht Club who have done so much to raise funds for Prostate Research and Support Services.

Whales, Wind, Waves and a Galley Disaster Averted.

Sailing Cape Upstart to Magnetic Island

See our video here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgdPouEWof0

We use every sail on board in tricky wind conditions heading north from Cape Upstart and along the way some friendly whales put on a great show for us. We usually bypass Cape Bowling Green due to its rolly reputation but with a reasonable weather forecast we decided to anchor for the night. But of course, the forecast proves to be wrong and we have a very lumpy time on anchor then a rough sail to Magnetic Island.

And just to cap things off, Karen saves the day with great meal totally out of the pantry after a disaster in Our Galley

We Sail to a Stunning Mainland National Park only reached by Sea

 

In our latest video, https://youtu.be/i_yyWulVFlI

After 10 glorious days at gorgeous Cape Gloucester and Shag Islet, we sail north to Cape Upstart. Although on the mainland, this magnificent National Park area has no road access and can only be reached by sea. Featuring numerous small bays with magnificent sand beaches, the anchorage is well sheltered from prevailing winds. There are a few holiday shacks and homes at the Cape and we even picked out where we want ours to be. We happily wiled away a few days strolling the sand and eating huge fresh oysters off the stunning granite boulders lining the shore. Take a look at this rarely seen piece of Australia.

In the Our Galley, Karen shows how to bake a scrumptious apple and cinnamon cake. Guaranteed to get the taste buds going.

Please enjoy our video. Cheers!

We visit the spiritual home of the Shag Islet Cruising Yacht Club - Cape Gloucester

 

Watch Episode 17 HERE

In this video on our Dreamtime Sail YouTube Channel n our latest video we finally leave Airlie Beach and sail further north through the great Barrier Reef to spend a few days at gorgeous Cape Gloucester and visit the spiritual home of the Shag Islet Cruising Yacht Club.

The SICYC now boats over 7,000 members making it the largest cruising club in Australia. More commonly known as “Shaggers” these members all enjoy the exclusive title of ‘Vice Commodore” in a deliberately non-exclusive way. The light hearted fun of the shaggers underpins their awesome charity work with just over $654,000 (AUD) having been raised by SICYC and its members to aid Prostate Cancer Research and Awareness.

During our time at Cape Gloucester we get into some more beach combing, a fishing challenge with fellow cruisers and enjoy the resort facilities and some great company. We live the cruisers life - which of course means fixing things in exotic locations. And in the Our Galley segment Karen talks about how her Shuttle Chef thermos slow cooks a tasty casserole for six hours using no gas or electricity and why she loves it so much.

For information on the Shag Islet Cruising Yacht Club and the great work their 7,000+ Vice-Commodores do raising money for Prostate Cancer go to SICYC – Shag Islet Cruising Yacht Club – Exclusively Non – Exclusive

Beach Bumming & Feasting on Fish in the Whitsundays

 

Watch the video on YouTube HERE

In our latest Dreamtime Sail video we were hanging around waiting for our watermaker to return from being repaired but after a week at Airlie Beach we decide it’s time to get out in the beautiful Whitsunday Islands and find our way to Marcona Inlet on Hook Island for some crabbing and beach bumming. We have a great sail over and catch some good sized mackerel along the way.

All sails set doing 6.5 knots towards Hook Island.

 

We picked up two good spotty mackerel on our trip over.

The sail from Airlie Beach to Marcona Inlet was very pleasant in light conditions.

We had Marcona Inlet all to ourselves for the afternoon.

One of a number of nice beaches in Marcona Inlet.

AN OUR GALLEY SEGMENT NOT TO BE MISSED

ROB THINKS THIS IS THE BEST FISH DISH EVER.- In the ‘Our Galley’ segment, Karen poaches beautiful deep sea Nannygai fillets in delicious spices and coconut cream to produce what Rob described as “One of THE tastiest fish dishes ever. The recipe would be great with any firm white fish species. DON’T MISS THIS ONE.

 

Simple ingredients add firm flesh fish fillets and follow the simple recipe for a feast.

Ready for 15-20 minutes in the oven.

Rob thinks this Thai poached Nannygai is THE BEST fish dish Karen's ever cooked
Check it out in the video.

You can also find Karen's recipes and tips from Our Galley including this “Thai Poached Nannygai” at the Our Galley Blog 

About Nannygai

Members of the Litjanus family, the Small Mouth Nannygai and the Large Mouth Nannygai are two very similar fish that complete the trio more commonly just called “reds”, along with the Red Emperor.

The fish can be identified by the mouth shape and size as their common name implies. Large mouth are considered the better eating of the two and will grow to a larger size, fish to 30 lb (13.6 kg) are common. The small mouth can obtain a weight of 22 lb (10 kg) and both fish can be pulled from the same school.

More readily caught during the cooler months and at night from the deep water, 30 -60 metres, these fish fight all the way to the boat. During day light hours only those very experienced of fisherman know their haunts and try extensively to guard their secret location. The advent of quality sounders and GPS technology proving nothing is sacred anymore.

Techniques identical to that required for Red Emperor, heavy gear / hand lines / sturdy rod and the standard dropper rig works best and once fish have been hooked the school can be kept in the area.

Value for $ or Rip Off - We give our verdict on the Queensland Coast’s Most Expensive Marina

 

You can see the video on YouTube HERE

75 days after leaving the dock to isolate afloat away from Covid our provisions were holding out but our watermaker needed attention so we set sail to Karen’s home town of Airlie Beach and take a berth in a marina for the first time since heading to sea. The Coral Sea Marina is well known as the priciest on the Queensland Coast but is it worth the money or just a rip off. We give our opinion and would love to hear yours.

 

Our Dreamtime in her berth at Coral Sea Marina

In Airlie Beach, Karen introduces Rob to some of the adventure grounds of her high school years with walks to a favourite swimming hole and one of the Whitsunday’s most spectacular lookouts.

 

Karen taking a break on the Airlie Creek Track

The foreshore redevelopment at Cannonvale has been very well done.

The view from the top of the Honeyeater Trail is spectacular

Make sure watch to the end where in ‘Our Galley’ Karen provides a quick tip on how she keeps coming up with tasty treats long after fresh supplies are gone.

Anchored in Happy Bay with Happy Wife & Happy Life. What could be better?

 You can watch the video on YouTube HERE

Join in this episode as we rock and roll on our Whitby 42 Ketch from Goldsmith Island to Long Island in the heart of the Whitsunday Group on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. We anchor off the mothballed Happy Bay Resort with excellent protection from the approaching strong south easterly winds. Karen spent many fun filled days here as a child growing up on her parents Game Fishing Charter boat in nearby Shute Harbour.  She really enjoyed the memories rekindled during our visit.

Sailing downwind wing on wing

About 40 years separates these two photos of Karen taken at Happy bay

We also got amongst the rainforest on another great National Parks Trail and spent some time trying to rediscover Karen’s childhood pirate cave.

Some exploring at low tide

The Whitsunday Passage

Happy Bay Resort now

Happy Bay Resort in the 70s

 In Our Galley Karen invents a new fish dish so different it hasn’t even got a name yet but it’s so tasty it really deserves a great one.  

 

Island Love & Boat Life - 2020 Ep 13 - Watermaker Woes in Paradise - YouTube

 

You can see the video on YouTube HERE

Sailing north through Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Islands, we discover a new ‘to us’ anchorage that very quickly becomes a candidate for the ‘Our Favourite Island’ title. Yes OK.  It’s hard to stick with one favourite when the Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over almost 1,300 nautical miles (2,300 kilometres) but for at least the time we spent anchored in spectacular Roylen Bay on Goldsmith Island it was our latest love. With tropical sunshine, golden sand, crystal clear waters and tasty fresh fish on the table, what’s not to like? Apart from our new watermaker failing that is. Make sure you watch to the end where Karen’s show’s how easy it is to spice up fish fillets in the scrumptious flavours of North Africa. Please leave us a comment on what you thought about the video. We LOVE your feedback to improve our channel. Cheers!

Here’s a few shots from our latest video to whet the appetite.

Roylen Bay on Goldsmith Island is stunning in the sunshine

Having a tropical island beach all to ourselves is hard to beat

Chasing fish on the way Goldsmith Island

Karen on the helm

Our Dreamtime under sail 

The wild life was fantastic to watch

Make sure you watch to the end where Karen’s show’s how easy it is to spice up fish fillets in the scrumptious flavours of North Africa