Whitsunday's trip

[Halcyon]

My first mate has finally agreed to a trip to the Whitsundays - late June & July. It's only taken seven years, but that's another story.

Over the years, several Macs would go as a group under the guidance of Phil King. Does anyone know if that is happening this year? There are no posts on the subject that I can find.

For anyone who has gone, I have a couple of questions. I've heard some folk say, launch at Mackay - but where at Mackay and where do you park the car and trailer for a couple of weeks. The alternative that I can find is to launch at Shute Harbour where a secure parking area is available, but it's not cheap.

Really looking forward to the trip so would apprecicate any help.

[Boblee]

I would contact Phil to see whats happening.
We launched at Mackay Marina and took the trailers up to Airlie Beach and left them at a caravan park just out of town, can't remember name but if you can't get onto Phil, think I still have the itinery here somewhere, would be better if you went with someone who knows but certainly not essential it is pretty safe.
You need to work out the tides a bit so you can skip over the reefs onto the beach on the outgoing tide and leave on the incoming at places like Brampton and Hills Inlet also dont think you will be able to book ahead if you are planning on a night at Hamilton marina but a couple of reasonable anchorages nearby if you miss out.
Just watch out with wind against tide round some of the islands (especially top east side of Hook) it can chop up and quick, you certainly won't regret it and it really is magic, need at least three weeks but more would be better as there is heaps to do if you really want to see it properly.
A trip across to Bowen would be good to, too many people there but the Macs ability to get out of the way like Hill inlet is good though.

[Halcyon]

Thanks,

I know Phil recommeds lauching at Mackay and having the trailers taken to Airlie, but we don't have that option. Thanks also for the idea of a visit to Bowen. I hadn't thougth of that one.

Do I need a tender? Haven't needed one so far and with the Mac's ability to get to the beach I'm undecided whether to take the plundge and buy one. I'm already in trouble for buying a fridge and the solar panel.

[Boblee]

I towed the dinghy up there, mainly because I wanted to fish and explore but most didn't have one.
Would be handy for going ashore in a few places without beaching but even a little blow up would do certainly could get by without though.
Even visiting Hamilton for supplies if you can't berth at the marina you could anchor out and motor in.

[Mac26Mpaul]

We are planning on getting up there, but dont even have an appropriate tow vehicle yet and will probably wait 2 more years for the kids to get old enough to enjoy it a bit more.

Slightly off tops but as to dinghies, I was told you pretty much do need one in the Whitsundays even if you're cruising in a Ts. I'm not a fan of inflatables after mine blew out at a seam a while back with my young children onboard. Since asking around, I have had advice from others that inflatables no matter what the brand are pretty useless in the tropics.. One of the guys on TSP and my next door neighbour both had Zodiacs that fell apart in the heat while cruising in the Whitsundays.

I bought a small 6 foot fibreglass dinghy which can be towed but importantly will fit on deck on the Mac. (Should be able to trailer with it tied in the cockpit too I reckon). I bought it for 125 bucks on Fleabay. It looked pretty horrible when I got it. I have fixed her all up now with a coupla fibreglass patches and new paint and she is good as new. So for a cheap dinghy,just do what I did, set up a search on fleabay for "Tender" and "dinghy" and it sends you emails when new stuff is listed. If your lucky a bargain will come up sooner or later.

[Boblee]

When we were there one of the other blokes decided to fish so as his little fibreglass dinghy didn't have an anchor he tied up to us, when he finally hooked up to a good fish, his boat took off with him yelling until it came to the end of the rope and then his line on the reel.
We got back over to where the rest of the flotilla were and they they were intrigued by the screams and laughter (which went much longer) so guess the moral is don't fish out of a little dinghy or if you do either don't tie up or have a motor so you can chase the fish.
Can still see that little boat spinning and bobbing about.
Had a young couple with us and think they had three young kids who had an absolute ball and they towed with a VW van.