PUZZLE ON PASSAGE May to September 2025

Puzzle at Peel. Photo by Robert Balch 

Watermaker installation completed and it was time to Return to Albany 

Watermaker

At the end of February our new house build in Albany commenced. We stayed in touch with the building by phone and photo. By the time we returned at the end of March, footings and ground works were complete. During the next 3 months work went ahead at quite a pace. By July framing and roofing were well advanced when we headed back to Manly. 

While we were away Puzzle was left in the very capable hands of Pam and Jon TWEED our very good Manly friends. She was under the very scrupulous eye of Jon who ran engines and repaired locks and made sure she was clean and dry and in perfect condition when we returned. We were eternally grateful and so lucky to have such good cruising mates right there!

Excited by a visit from our wonderful
friend Maree of Red Roo fame

 When we arrived we spent a few weeks in the Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club Marina while David installed new house batteries. Weather permitting, we spent several days at a time out on the Bay, always keeping an eye open for calm weather in order not to embarrass ourselves berthing when we returned.

In horseshoe Bay Peel Island we. cought 
up with Robert on Taipan. Was just great 
to have both boats side by side on anchor

We were lucky to come across an excellent electrician during the battery job as a few unusual issues surfaced during that process. Puzzle strikes again!!  Clint from ADL Electrical went above and beyond, interrupting his busy schedule to get us back out on the water. 

 By August Puzzle was ready to go. We had decided to head north to the Whitsundays and leave Puzzle in a pen in Mackay under the sharp eyes of another cruising friend. Having already aborted the first attempt to head north at Mooloolaba a couple of weeks earlier because of another battery issue (main starting batteries) we elected to do another shake down in the bay before the next attempt.  

Bit of weather. coming at Caniper

Leaving Manly, we went down into the Bay checked out systems on anchor, sat out a bit of a storm and then headed to Bribie Island from where, next morning, we left for Mooloolaba. It was a good run with lovely weather and whales for company. After couple of nights in Mooloolaba to stock up on oysters, and in perfect conditions, we made a 2.00am start to head straight to Wide Bay Bar. Always a little  daunting and never taken for granted, bars need to be crossed with high tide, little wind and as little current in or out as possible. Waves can build alarmingly when there is wind against current and a big following sea is pretty alarming in a shallow draft boat without a big rudder. Remembering that we're only and 8 to 9 knot boat, it's important to get it right. And we did. 

Wide Bay Bar

Once inside Fraser Island we motored up to a lovely anchorage called Gary's Anchorage where we spent a comfortable night catching up on lost sleep and congratulating ourselves on getting the first leg north done and dusted. We were out in unprotected waters for the first time in Puzzle.

Gary's Anchorage

The next challenge was Sheridan Flats which, at low tide, dries completely. Once again accurate tide charts and perfect timing are critical. In somewhat overcast conditions but with little wind the Flats were negotiated successfully and along with several other boats we continued north to anchor at Big Woody Island. Towards the end of that leg we were treated to a display of breaching and slapping at close quarters by two whales. 

 The season for these leviathans is well underway and the something like  40,000 whales which make the journey north and south up the coast every year both surprise and delight sailors and stink boat drivers pretty regularly. Big  sailing races have been having trouble getting insurance during the migration season as whales are now so prevalent and do pose quite a danger to fast moving vessels and to all vessels at night.

This this coastal passage is not new to us having traversed this coast at least 5 times in Taipan but a shallower draft vessel, and motoring, is a new experience. There are more doors open, in that more distance can be travelled in daylight because were reliably faster, and more predictable arrival times are possible.

Next stop, Burnett River, Bundaberg. After a long bumpy day we arrived in the river anchorage adjacent to the marina and enjoyed another good night's sleep at anchor. With the weather still holding, we carried on next morning for Pancake Creek, a long day with roughly 60nm to cover. Good following wind and reasonable sea state meant another good day and and early arrival. That entrance is bared and we crossed at low but there is sufficient water on that one. 

Gladstone YC

From Pancake Creek we headed to Gladstone and getting the tide right here makes a big difference to the trip, An incoming tide carried us the 65 nm into the Gladstone Marina where we intended to top up the fuel and do a couple of days catching up with some friends we'd met in the Bay earlier in the year. Brian and Eva on Zofia were also headed south with the boat sold, subject to survey they had a deadline. It was great to touch base and Gladstone marinas facilities make dining at the cruisers facilities very pleasant. This plan was somewhat extended as a southerly system came through locking us down in the marina for 10 days. With very friendly marina staff and great facilities, we spent some time with walks, trips to town and to the Yacht Club for dinners. Gladstone, once the largest sugar port in Australia is now a big coal exporting port and instead of sugar, its molasses which is shipped out.

Early start

The next leg ment some research and decent up to date charts. After  agonising over the options we decided to do the infamous “Narrows". This route cuts of a fairly significant distance but navigation is tricky and once again the timing is critical. There’s a 5NM section of this route which dries out completely on every tide. Many years ago we did this route in Taipan (draft 2.2m) from North to South so we knew that with Puzzles much reduced keel depth (1.4m) and the correct tide we could make it through.

Just another beautiful morning at anchor

We must have had a good high tide when we came through with Taipan because we only had 600mm under the keel on Puzzle as we crossed the shallow section, It was a very well marked Chanel and easy to follow. No real page turners here! 

Underway, Photo by Petra Hughes

Carrying on to Great Keppel Island, and with the weather remaining remarkably cold, the temptation to keep going north after the delay in Gladstone was too strong so with good following sea and light wind, we kept going north the next morning.  Another 70nm had us safely tucked up in Island Head Creek. We had looked into Pearl Bay enroute but it looked a little rolly so we continued. 1770, another anchorage en route, is apparently not that well charted with a very shallow bar so we also passed that one by as well.

Curlew Island next day is a pretty spot and we had it all to ourselves this time. Onto the southernmost island, Keswick Island Whitsunday next day. Here we had arranged to meet Ase and Mike on the catamaran Thor. We'd had many lovely social interactions with them in the Bay previously. Dinner aboard Puzzle became quite unexpedly eventful when, at about 10pm, there was a lot of loud roaring and splashing. Noises we've never before heard from whales, for whales were what was making that racket. They sounded like scrub bulls. This commotion took place within 50 meters of Puzzle and Thor was anchored about 50m behind Puzzle. It was decided it would be prudent to drink some more red wine and take stock... the wine stock ... to allow the whales time to move on. This waiting/drinking, stretched out into the wee small hours with Mike and Ase meandering home at about 3am. It was a late start the next day for Thor and sad farewell as they were heading south and we were heading north. Ships in the night!!

From Keswick we went to Mackay Marina to organise the pen for Summer. Whilst there, some anchor windlass work was accomplished. We'd been having issues with the chain not breaking when the clutch was tightened and after much deliberation and lengthy calls to Maxwell in Capalaba it was revealed that several parts were actually absent... not there ... missing... from the windlass!!! It always helps to have all the bits properly installed and this usually means making sure you do it yourself! Ultimatly a $6.00 part!! caused us to have to wait about an extra 4 days because of a stuff up by Australia post. In spite of paying overnight. It did completely fix the problem however so that was some consolation.

Shaggers.

Our next destination was Gloucester passage and the Shaggers Annual Reunion. This event takes place at a small resort every year and is very well attended by cruisers. There were over 100 boats on the anchorage. We arrived early and had a good spot partaking in daily events and socializing. Weather was spectacular for the most part. Some windy afternoons did prove to us that the access to Puzzles Duckboard can become hazardous from the dinghy in decent swell. We made sure to get aboard before it got too rough. Another learning curve and another puzzle to solve. 

Walking trail at Sawmill
Beach 

The rest of the season was spent in the Whitsunday Island group where lots of anchorages with good shelter are available. Weather had warmed  up and  PUZZLE was fulfilling our expectations. We'd done approximately 700nm up the Queensland coast without incident and using less fuel than we’d calculated. Average speed was round 7+ knots at 17/1800rpm so there were still more horses if we needed them. 

Sawmill beach

Port Newry

At the beginning of October with Puzzle securely tucked away in Mackay Marina for cyclone season, we returned home to Albany to check on building progress. Most of the internal framing was up and external wrap secured. The roof was on, with most flashing, painted eaves and guttering finished. 

Since  returning there have been lots of building decisions to make and some gardening etc to fill in the time. Presently we have the build at lock up and look forward to some rapid progress over the coming months The plan is to get back to Puzzle in May/June. 

Most recently a cyclone crossed the coast not far north of Mackay. We left Taipan pretty much stripped of clears and covers and with lots of doubled lines and fenders. She fared the assault in fine style thanks to the sharp eyed Peter, our very good friend, boat minder and slip owner. Indebted again. More cartons of red wine on order!!! Puzzles second Cyclone in less than 2 years!! Is she a secret cyclone magnet?? Go puzzle!

Thats it from Team Puzzle for now.

All the Best to everyone for 2026