Upstart Bay, 6/8/2016

WE SAILED AGAIN TODAY!

Yes, we left Bowen this morning at 09.30.
Last night we all walked into the town and had an excellent dinner in the Grand Hotel. Whilst there we were told about the filming of "Australia" with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. It's probably the biggest thing to happen in Bowen since it was founded as an export port for all the produce grown here.
We motored out straight into the strong wind, 22+ knots, on the nose until we could turn north westerly and towards our anchorage. We put up the headsail and it powered us along all day, but at about 1.30 we started the engine as the wind was dropping and so was the boat speed.
We passed Abbot Point coal loading terminal, 1 rusty ship there and nothing happening. I suppose no work done at the weekend. One other ship was parked out as well. When Val and I went by 7 years ago we could not believe the number of ships in our way! Times, and the coal industry, change. There are plans to expand this terminal. Just after that a yacht going south passed within about 50 metres of us, it looked like hard work beating into the wind, even reefed down.

At about 4.00 we all complained about the cold today, it felt like about 15 at the most, especially in the wind. Now that we're at anchor it doesn't feel so cold, but it's not the same as the water temperature of 23 degrees. No wonder the whales like it. Speaking of which we saw several more today, lazing around.

Tomorrow we're off to another anchorage at Cape Bowling Green, about 35 miles away.