Keswick and St Bees

We'd missed these Islands on our way north and we were intrigued by their geography. Two Islands separated by a narrow channel and unlike most of the other Islands, not 100% National Park or Resort Islands. Knowing it might get a bit chirpy, the sound of a couple of public moorings in the current-prone channel sounded interesting. As it turned out however, conditions were more than chirpy, the channel was a no-go zone and we'd actually be ducking for cover from an aggressive 25kn northerly delivery even on the southern side of Keswick Island.

Our anchorage of choice was in the wide bay on the bottom right side of Keswick. The St Bee's anchorages were badly effected by 'bullets' - accelerated wind bursting off higher ground.

En route, we had communicated with SV Sandsara and they decided that the might attempt to connect with us. We went through the channel while they reached the southerly anchorage by motor-sailing round the bottom of Keswick Island. We converged at the bottom and decided to scout out the best anchoring possibility. We went one way and they the other.

Sandsara with Rom and Basia aboard. Last seen in the Clarence River

Other yachts hugging the cliffs around the corner in St Bees

Sunrise silhouetting pine trees that look like the wind often goes berserk

Dawn sunlight illuminating cliffs on the Eastern side of St Bees

A few days after leaving Keswick for a couple of lovey days at Scawfell Island we had to return to position ourselves for impending strong Northerlies. Throughout the Islands in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park there are very few places to hide from a Northerly. Arriving back in beautiful weather and ahead of the change we had the opportunity of anchoring in Homestead Bay for lunch and get a better view of the channel and airstrip which runs along the waters edge. We stayed until the tide had run out so much that we needed to be on our way or be left high and dry 'on the tiles'.

Palms at the Keswick airstrip "terminal".

Another in a list of terrifying places to land.

View up the channel. Airstrip in the left!
We were joined in our hiding place that we'd recently 'tested', by Barrenjoey Light (an RPAYC - Pittwater  crew we knew) but once again there would be no visiting as the tenders remained harnessed aboard both boats. Although we were anchored on a very rough bottom (the anchor chain transmits a rumbling at the roller) our anchor was set as if in araldite. Not so, Barrenjoey Light. Right on dusk they began to drag.

Anchor games on Barrenjoey Light

Rather than play games like "You are the one dragging, you need to re-anchor" we shifted pretty smartly, leaving them to deal with their situation and re-settled for the night and for the thunderstorm which came soon enough.