 @sealink Prepare to embark on an unforgettable dive into the awe-inspiring world of humpback whales that migrate past Magnetic Island. Nestled off the coast of Queensland, Australia, our island paradise sets the stage for a breathtaking spectacle as these gentle giants make their annual journey. Get ready to be enthralled by the exhilarating sights, discover the ecological significance, and learn how to responsibly witness their majestic migration in this special feature. A pit-stop at Magnetic Island A humpback’s migration is the longest on the planet, covering thousands of kilometres from the icy waters of Antarctica to the tropical paradise of the Great Barrier Reef. And guess what? Magnetic Island lies right in their path! Between June and August, these incredible creatures grace the waters with their presence, often with their newborn calves, providing lucky onlookers with front-row seats to an epic show. Every encounter is unique, just like their underwater songs!  @greatbarrierreefaustralia Awe-inspiring displays Brace yourself for an adrenaline rush! Picture this: a colossal, 40 tonne humpback whale breaches the surface, soaring high above the waves before crashing back with an earth-shaking splash. Their jaw-dropping displays of power and grace will leave you in awe. But that is not all! These playful giants are known for tail slapping, spy hopping, and even waving hello with their massive fins. Each encounter is a reminder of just how extraordinary nature can be. Guardians of the reef As we marvel at the splendour of these magnificent creatures, it is important to recognize their vital role in the marine ecosystem, with approximately 7000 Humpback whales migrating through the tropical waters of North Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef. Humpback whales protect the delicate balance of the oceanic world. Their nutrient-rich faecal matter serves as a natural fertiliser, nurturing the growth of phytoplankton, which in turn sustains the entire food chain. Their majestic presence is a clear indicator of a thriving and healthy ecosystem. Protect and Preserve There's something magical about the bond between humans and whales. For centuries, these gentle giants have captured our hearts and imagination. Amazingly, the humpback whale can reach a cruising speed of 10kts (18.5km/hour) - we must respect their space! Remember, watercraft must give at least 100 metres of space, and ensure that no more than three watercraft are within 300 metres of a whale’s path. By respecting their space, we can ensure an unforgettable experience while minimising any disruption to their natural behaviours. Their presence awakens a sense of wonder and connection that transcends language and culture. It reminds us of our responsibility to protect and cherish the natural world that sustains us all.  @greatbarrierreefaustralia
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 @peppers_blue_on_blue Magnetic Island is a tropical paradise located off the coast of Queensland, Australia, known for its beautiful beaches and stunning natural scenery. While the island's natural beauty gives plenty of charm, it's also home to a vibrant food and drink scene in peak season, as well as unique and comfortable places to stay. So, don't miss out on experiencing the best our island has to offer, check out our range of transport options too!
EAT & Drink These are our restaurant recommendations on the island that reflect our personal recommendations and ones which we eat in on a regular basis. NELLY BAY Saltwater Magnetic Island - Modern Australian Seafood restaurant in the heart of Nelly Bay. Open Wednesday’s to Sunday’s. Bookings essential. BYO only. 0414 352 762 Scallywags Cafe - Casual pirate themed cafe which is great for breakfast and does amazing burgers for lunch. Bookings not required. Open 8am to 2pm daily. Granite - Cocktails, tapas and pizzas. A great place to unwind at the end of the day. Bookings recommended. Also during the day they sell great bread, cakes and pies in their kiosk. Stuffed on Seafood - Casual seafood restaurant, Booking not required unless a large group. Licensed. PICNIC BAY: Magnetic Island Brewery - Highly recommended. Great beers with a special one on rotation. Check the days they open. Mamma Roma - fresh and authentic Italian, sometimes have live music playing on the weekends. Check their facebook page for details. BYO. Open from 5pm for dinner. Bookings essential (07) 4778 5456 The Reef Bar Cafe - Great breakfasts and lunches. Tuesday to Sunday from 12 till 2 pm and on Friday night 5.30 till 8 pm.BYO. Bookings recommended. (07) 4758 1477 ARCADIA: Stage Door Theatre Restaurant - Cheesy but brilliant. You'll laugh, you'll sing and you'll have a super fun night out. Three course dinner and a show! Bookings essential. (07) 4778 5448 Aqua in Arcadia- Fantastic restaurant offering breakfast and lunch from Thursday to Sunday. Lovely garden setting with great quality food. (07) 4778 5029 HORSESHOE BAY: The Early Bird - great spot for Breakfast or Lunch next to Horseshoe Bay beach. Bookings not required. Cafe Nourish - healthy breakies and lunches. Bookings not required. Barefoot Art Food Wine - the fine dining option in Horseshoe Bay. Good for lunch or dinner. Combines an art gallery and a restaurant. Bookings recommended. (07) 4758 1170
Sleep Magnetic Island has a wide range of accommodation to suit any budget and taste. Most are self-catering accommodation with only a couple of the resort style properties with an in-house restaurant. And out of the resort-style properties, Peppers is our pick as it’s in a very convenient location next to the marina, ferry & bus terminal. It has two great pools and a restaurant. Best of Magnetic has the largest portfolio of properties which suit a range of tastes and group sizes. Here are a few of our favourites which are available on Best of Magnetic unless specified. For Large Groups:
For Couples:
Repeat Magnetic Island has 23 bays and beaches to explore and nearly 25 kilometres of walking tracks meandering through the national parks. Listed below are the best methods of transport to ensure you see the best of our Island during your stay By Foot: Select one of the beautiful walking tracks on the island. There are walks of all length and difficulty. Our favourites are The Forts Walk and Hawkins Point. Check out more information on the National Parks website. By Car: Hire a open top car and cruise the island with the wind in your hair. Our recommended car hire companies are Isle Hire, who hire the classy convertible minis and the topless cars or MI Rentals with their funky jeeps and a range of other cars too. By Boat: Obviously our preference! There are many beaches on the island which are only accessible by boat. Pilgrim Sailing and Pilgrim Adventures should have you covered here. Here are some other businesses who offer slightly different experiences on the water: For families with young kids we'd recommend Aquascene. Adam and Steph, the owners have lived on the island over 30 years and know all the special spots. They run half day tours where you can snorkel, fish and explore... For the diving enthusiasts, book in with Adrenalin Dive for a trip to the outer reef for a Dive or a Snorkel. Highlights in the region are the SS Yongala, one of the top 10 dive sites in the world and the new Museum of Underwater Art. The Museum of Underwater Art features a dive site, The Coral Greenhouse and a snorkel site, The Ocean Sentinels. The Coral Greenhouse is a groundbreaking underwater museum at John Brewer Reef, 30 nautical miles north-west of Magnetic island, which was created by Jason deCaires Taylor a world-renowned underwater artist. It combines marine science, coral gardening, and environmental art and architecture to offer a fresh perspective on the Great Barrier Reef and its ecology. In June 2023, a new snorkel trail at the same location featuring Ocean Sentinels, which is a collection of sculptures that blend human figures with natural marine forms. These sculptures represent influential Australians who have made significant contributions to marine science and conservation. If you’re looking for a fishing charter, contact Dom from Horseshoe Bay Fishing Charters. For fast and furious look no further than Jetski Hire Magnetic Island for the largest jet ski area on the east coast of Australia or Magnetic Jet who do guided jetski tours around the island. Alternatively if you’re looking for something a bit slower, jump on a kayak with Magnetic Island Sea Kayaks for a sunset or morning tour. Magnetic Island offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, delicious cuisine, and comfortable accommodation that make for an unforgettable island experience. With so many options for food, drink, and sleep, you can truly indulge in the best that the island has to offer.
 @dji_53_  Welcome to our Discover Blog series, written by our one and only Marine Scientist, Adventures Skipper and Pilgrim Deckie, Bridie Lewis. Make sure you don't miss out on each edition, published regularly, on our social media platforms, providing a one of a kind insight to our marine worlds! Let's dive in to our Island's underwater world'sAs a marine scientist studying the captivating world beneath the waves, Magnetic Island's fringing reefs have become a place of exploration and awe. Join me as I dive into the shallows and uncover what I have had the opportunity to discover and learn from Magnetic Island’s fringing reefs. Magnetic Island, with its sun-kissed beaches and azur waters, beckons visitors to discover the hidden wonderland beneath its surface - the fringing reefs. These coral formations stretch along the island's shoreline, creating a marine paradise for water enthusiasts from around the globe.
From a scientist’s perspective, the fringing reefs surrounding Magnetic Island are more than just picturesque seascapes. They are highly biodiverse ecosystems, teeming with marine life that all contribute to intricate ecosystem webs and functional roles that help create such productive ocean ‘hotspots'. Schools of colourful butterfly fish gracefully navigate through the coral maze, while giant clams and sea turtles find refuge within branching corals and large ‘brain like’ coral domes. A map of these snorkel trails can be purchased for five dollars from Fish'n'Fuel in Nelly Bay or Pleasure Divers or the newsagency in Arcadia. Two exceptional snorkel trails, Nelly Bay and Geoffrey Bay, offer immersive encounters with Magnetic Island's fringing reefs. These trails provide a front-row seat to site-seeing our key “reefal” residents. As you glide through the surrounding tropical waters, you'll be greeted by an array of distinctive fish such as the energetic coral trout, territorial wrasses or colourful parrotfish. You’ll discover small rarities such as nudibranchs, and giant 200kg clams that live for 100 years; both of these creatures are unbelievably unique and colourful - a feature to ward off predators and a reminder to keep a distance when snorkelling such treasures.  For those that would like to venture off the beaten-track, the fringing reefs of Arthur and Florence Bay offer an extraordinary underwater voyage. Descending into the bay, you'll witness an entirely different world unfold before your eyes - from the sandy shallows, to the reef ridge and reef flat. The friendly cod and dart fish, ever-curious, may even become your snorkelling companions, following you with boundless curiosity. Currently, the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) is monitoring water quality parameters such as water temperature, salinity, phosphates and nitrates/nitrites for better understanding of fringing reef dynamics in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). You may notice small, square tiles with cylindrical data loggers attached when snorkelling over the reef crest and reef flat which are doing just this! Arthur Bay and Florence Bay offer the perfect setting for ongoing research and monitoring as they are heavily protected green zones. On-going data collection and analysis is collaborative with research labs globally, allowing scientists to do their best to preserve and protect our natural wonders.
In partnership with AIMS and James Cook University (JCU), I have had some incredible opportunities to work with some of the marine life that call Magnetic Island home. My research on green sea turtles to hybrid coral growth, and epaulette sharks has allowed me to understand the crucial importance of these reef habitats and their residence’s, on the wider ocean dynamics. These reefs serve as vital habitats, nurturing a multitude of marine species and playing a crucial role in maintaining the health of the surrounding ocean ecosystem. Regrettably, like their counterparts worldwide, they face threats from climate change, pollution, and overfishing. As stewards of these delicate ecosystems, it is both our responsibility and privilege to safeguard them for future generations to cherish.
So, when you set foot on Magnetic Island, why not take the plunge and immerse yourself in the wonder of our fringing reefs. Explore the vibrant, amorphous coral gardens, whilst watching out for angelic marine life, and witnessing the interdependence that sustains these fringing reefs. Stay tuned for more from your local marine scientist here at Pilgrim Magnetic Island, as there is more to discover and learn about our underwater world, most months with my Discover Blogs! Until next month, Bridie Lewis Shark Physiologist & Marine Scientist 
Our restaurant recommendationsThese are our recommendations on the island and reflect our personal preference and only mention ones we eat in regularly.
NELLY BAY: Saltwater Magnetic Island - Modern Australian, Asian Fusion restaurant in the heart of Nelly Bay. Open Wednesday’s to Sunday’s. Bookings essential. BYO only. 0414 352 762 Scallywags Cafe - Casual pirate themed cafe which is great for breakfast and does amazing burgers for lunch/dinner. Look out to see if they have a Fire-show, Live Music or Flea Circus while you're here - well worth booking one of those. Great entertainment for kids and adults! Bookings essential for any evening where there is a show. 0458 492 452 Granite - Cocktails, tapas and pizzas. A great place to unwind at the end of the day. Bookings recommended. Also during the day they sell great bread, cakes and pies in their kiosk. Stuffed on Seafood - Casual seafood restaurant, Booking not required unless a large group. Licensed. Thai Again - good authentic Thai. Bookings essential. Licensed or BYO. (07) 4758 1659 PICNIC BAY: Magnetic Island Brewery - Highly recommended. Great beers with a special one on rotation. Delicious good quality bar food. Check the days they open. Mamma Roma - fresh and authentic Italian, sometimes have live music playing on the weekends. Check their facebook page for details. BYO. Open from 5pm for dinner. Bookings essential (07) 4778 5456 The Reef Bar Cafe - Great breakfasts and lunches. Tuesday to Sunday from 12 till 2 pm and on Friday night 5.30 till 8 pm.BYO. Bookings recommended. (07) 4758 1477 ARCADIA: Stage Door Theatre Restaurant - Cheesy but brilliant. You'll laugh, you'll sing and you'll have a super fun night out. Three course dinner and a show! Bookings essential. (07) 4778 5448 HORSESHOE BAY: The Early Bird - great spot for Breakfast or Lunch next to Horseshoe Bay beach. Bookings not required. Cafe Nourish - healthy breakkies and lunches. Bookings not required. Sandis on Magnetic Island - good for lunch or dinner with steaks and great seafood. Casual. Licensed. Live music sometimes. (07) 4758 1673 Barefoot Art Food Wine - the fine dining option in Horseshoe Bay. Good for lunch or dinner. Combines an art gallery and a restaurant. Bookings recommended. (07) 4758 1170 Adeles - great gelato!  For those of you who ordered the Sunset at Home hamper to get you through the coronavirus isolation, we hope you are enjoying it! We've pulled together a few ideas of different ways to serve it so you get to enjoy it to it's full potential!! It is far more versatile than just a dollop on a cheese platter, although of course that is our favourite! #1. The Classic - Served on your Cheese Platter It would be remiss not to include this one. We recommend the pumpkin chutney with a classic aged cheddar or a creamy brie on a jatz or a wafer cracker. #2. The Lunch - Delicious Ploughman's Lunch A British classic:
I love to make my own bread when doing a ploughman's lunch and see below for a recipe for a super-easy, no-knead wholemeal bread. (It doesn't keep for long so either freeze any you don't eat on the day and use it for toast) #3. The Beer Snack Are you looking for some nibbles to serve with your beer? Try some mini poppadoms with condiments such as lime pickle, a cucumber raita (see recipe below) and of course some pumpkin chutney The poppadoms are super easy to make in the microwave. I do three at a time on the highest setting for 40 seconds. Perfecto! The next couple of ideas have come from one of our favourite restaurants on Magnetic Island: Saltwater Magnetic Island. [Put it on your list of places to eat when you visit the island!]  #4. Scrummy Curry
Along a similar theme as the beer snack...but by jazzing up the pumpkin chutney it is the perfect condiment to a spicy curry. Fold the pumpkin chutney through some natural yogurt, add sliced dates or nuts like almonds, a pinch of cinnamon and season. To intensify the flavour add some hot chilli or dried chilli. #5. Morning Tea - Treat yourself to a Savoury Scone Serve a savoury scone with some butter, pumpkin chutney and a dollop of sour cream (or creme fraiche, my favourite!). See below for a delicious savoury scone recipe. A big thank you to Jen & Dan from Saltwater for their suggestions. We hope you've enjoyed these suggestions and please share any ideas you have in a comment below!!  How to Make the Perfect Cheese Platter "Pilgrim Style": Our Pilgrim Sailing sunset cruises are one of our most popular things to do onboard. On every trip, we not only go sailing, but we serve unlimited Tamburlaine Organic Wines, and local beers and every group are served their own personal cheese platter. Although I certainly wouldn't call myself an expert, I have made a lot of cheese platters over the past ten years, and have enjoyed refining it as I go along! So, how do I do it? Firstly, The Cheese: I always select three kinds of cheese to go on my cheese board, unless catering for a large group of people when you may need to add a couple of extras. My platter includes: 1. A hard cheese, generally a good quality cheddar which has some bite. 2. A soft cheese, generally a brie, camembert or similar 3. An interesting cheese. Our absolute favourite is the Gallo Dairyland macadamia nut cheese. It is to die for. Alternatively, you could choose a washed rind or a blue cheese. How much cheese per person? As a rule of thumb, you're looking for 25-30 g per cheese per person assuming you have three kinds of cheese on the platter for an entree or dessert. Secondly, is the crackers: I also like to serve three types of crackers, but this may be over the top and two would be sufficient. 1. Jatz or Savoys - ok, controversial, I know. A little bit basic, but everyone loves them. Paul wouldn't let me put a cheese platter out at home without a Jatz featured, so I apply that principle on board too. Side note: The importance of the Jatz cracker was confirmed by one of our regular guests onboard Pilgrim. Just before I brought out the cheese platter, he proudly announced that one of the favourite things about our sunset cruises was that we always served Jatz on the cheese platter. You can imagine how hard it was to tell him that due to an oversight on my part, we had run out on that day. Note, I have not run out again since!!! 2. Some plain crackers - water biscuits or wafers. If you're buying wafer crackers, make sure you don't buy a cheap brand as they go stale very quickly once exposed to the air. Top tip: if you don't finish a whole packet keep them in a plastic container in the fridge. They'll last much longer. 3. Some interesting crackers. This could be a bark style cracker or OB Finest - Goji Berry and Coconut is my favourite. [OB Finest, is my go-to brand on Pilgrim] Another alternative is Janet's sesame crispbread. Here's the recipe: x
JANET'S SESAME CRISPBREAD INGREDIENTS 1 cup sesame seeds 1/4 cup flax seed 1/4 LSA mix 3 desert spoons ground psyllium husk 2 oz finely grated Parmesan Large pinch Malden salt Water, (about 1/2 cup) 1 beaten egg METHOD
Add different toppings: herbs, rosemary, chilli, seaweed salt. For variation. Next, on the perfect cheese platter is the Condiment:
This one is a no-brainer on Pilgrim: Clare's famous Pumpkin Chutney. This is now available for sale, or if you want to give it a go yourself, here's the recipe. Then, comes the Fruit: The most obvious being grapes, I like to use red and white for the colour. But out of season grapes are either terrible quality or very expensive! So my advice is to look for something in season, colourful and reasonably priced. Some of my favourites are passion fruit (picked straight off our vine at home), kiwi fruit, strawberries or figs. Now, the olives: Olives can be a personal thing - black, green, whole, pitted, stuffed etc. My personal favourite is the almond stuffed olives from Stubborn Olives (a Sydney based company). I'm currently searching for a Queensland olive producer, ideally from North Queensland, but so far my research has not delivered. Please get in touch with any recommendations! Finally, the sprinkle or the gap filler: I use nuts or blueberries to fill up the cheese platter and make sure it looks pretty and there are no gaps, that is until someone takes the first bite. To conclude on my take of the perfect cheese platter: By no means is this the only formula for a delicious cheese platter but it's one which has helped me over the years and takes the thinking out of it every time. The three overarching principles I apply to every cheese platter, whether at home or on Pilgrim: - Support local producers, wherever possible - Choose seasonal ingredients - they taste better and are generally cheaper - Don't skimp on quality I hope you enjoy serving you your next cheese platter! Clare Check out our favourite places to eat near Rose Bay. Pilgrim Sailing has just arrived back in Sydney for our ninth year of operation on Sydney Harbour! You can jump on board for a range of activities, specialising in Twilight Racing, Sunset Cruises and Private Charters. Generally, we pick up and drop off guests from Rose Bay and often get asked for recommendations of places to eat in the area either before or after a charter or while they are visiting the area. Here are our favourites: Our number one recommendation is the Empire Lounge at the Sydney Seaplanes Terminal. Why?
You can check out the food and beverage menu here. Because we love it so much, we have arranged a dinner package for our Sip&Sail Twilight Cruise guests after the twilight cruise. For an additional $56 per person, you'll be able to select one main dish, one side dish to share, a dessert and one glass of house wine or beer. OPENING HOURS: THURSDAY – SUNDAY OPEN FROM 12:00 PM TILL LATE | SERVING LUNCH AND DINNER
Photos sourced from Instagram : @empireloungesydney But don't look past some of our other favourites, which come HIGHLY RECOMMENDED too: An easy walking distance from Rose Bay Wharf: Jezve Coffee Great place for breakfast, lunch, coffee. Located in the middle of Lyne Park. One of our favourite spots for brekkie! Opening hours: Monday to Friday 6 am till 5 pm Sat to Sun 6 am till 6 pm Jewel on the Bay An excellent Indian restaurant, only a few minutes walk from the wharf. It has a great atmosphere and fantastic food. Bookings recommended. Opening hours: 7 Days | breakfast & lunch 7 am to 3 pm | Dinner from 5 pm to 10 pm Hachi Bei A Japanese tapas bistro - we enjoy coming here. There are some interesting items on the menu which you don't find in every Japanese restaurant. Opening hours: Tuesday - Sunday from 5 pm to 9 pm Mangia e Bevi - This is a nice Italian restaurant in Rose Bay. This one is a little walk away (approximately 10 minutes), but the pizzas and pasta are delicious, and they always have a good specials board. Good for bigger groups. For that extra special occasion, there are two restaurants within walking distance of the Rose Bay Wharf - the Good Food Guide's, one hatted, Catalina and Regatta Rose Bay. Both have great views of Sydney Harbour and serve fantastic food, although they come with the Sydney price tag!!! A little bit further afield by a short bus ride or taxi/uber ride is Double Bay (approximately 5-10 minutes in car/bus or 20 minute walk) Here are our absolute favourite restaurants in Double Bay: Spice Market - a fantastic Thai, very reasonable with long bench tables. Casual with excellent food. We have been visiting Anthony, the owner, at Spice Market for over ten years! If you visit, tell him we sent you!! [BYO] Chinta Ketchil - delicious Malaysian food in a cosy, quirky restaurant. [BYO]  Quirky and delicious! @chinta_ketchil Arte Bianca - authentic Italian food - you have to try the pizzas! 18 Footers League Club - GREAT for a sundowner with views overlooking Double Bay and Pilgrim on her mooring! A little bit further afield again, opposite Edgecliff station (but if you're in a taxi what does it matter), is our favourite Japanese in Sydney - Makizo. We LOVE IT, as do many locals in the area. Note to readers: All of these restaurants (except for Regatta and Catalina), we frequent regularly and can 100% vouch for the quality of food and service. On the other hand, we have not been to all the restaurants in the area, so there may be some others worth a mention, which we haven't tried. Feel free to comment below if there is somewhere, we should try and potentially add to the list!!
 Image courtesy of Tourism & Events Townsville Find out what Kate Symons in the Virgin inflight magazine, had to say about Magnetic Island. We think she pretty much nailed it - "Magnetic Island is one of Queensland's hidden gems". Read the full article below or jump on a plane and come and see for yourself!!  
 Sails Magazine showcases the Townsville region in a fantastic article by Scott Alle (Apr/May 2019). The article explores the region from Townsville (including Magnetic Island) to Cairns and gives cruising sailors a great insight into what to expect from the region. It's well worth a read but more importantly the regions is definitely worth a visit!! There are so many reasons to come here. It provides the perfect climate to escape the cold from the southern states winter, the sailing is excellent, there are heaps of islands to visit and of course we have the Great Barrier Reef on our doorstep! If you're visiting the region in late August/early September and are keen on sailing, do yourself a favour and jump on board one of the racing yachts at Magnetic Island Race Week hosted by the Townsville Yacht Club. In our humble opinion it's the best of the Queensland regattas offering a very relaxed vibe where crews mingle and socialise both on and off the water. Time for a visit!!
Check out a snapshot of all the fun we've had at Magnetic Island over winter this year!
 We have had a fantastic summer with over 700 guests jumping on board for a range of sailing experiences - Twilight racing, #Sip&Sail with Tamburlaine Organic Wines, Private charters, Charity regattas to name a few.
A big highlight was coming second in the RANSA Twilight Series so a big thank you to our regular crew who helped us to victory and also made all the guests on board feel at home and welcome! We've loved sharing Pilgrim and Sydney Harbour with everyone: check out a little recap of all the fun we had this season. But all good things have to come to an end....on 24th March we left Sydney for our trip North to Magnetic Island for winter...we're looking forward to meeting new people, discovering new places and again sharing the fun of Pilgrim and sailing with anyone that come on board! Before we get there we're going to enjoy the "Pilgrimage" up the coast and enjoy cruising and exploring for a while.....  Launching our first ever Sip & Sail with Tamburlaine Organic Wines A couple of wonderful evenings sailing around Sydney Harbour enjoying the sights while sipping a range of Tamburlaine's wines and enjoying Woombye Cheeses....
 How do you provision a boat for Cruising?
Provisioning (i.e. shopping) for several weeks cruising offshore is a very different from your weekly shop at the local supermarket, when you can pop back if you forget the butter. After over six months of living on board we learnt a little bit about the dos and don'ts of provisioning. Often the hard way. So when we were asked by our friends from Pilgrim's bestie "Wine-Dark Sea" to give a talk at the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron to their cruising members about provisioning for cruising, we welcomed the opportunity to share what our tips. You can see all recommendations in the link to the presentation below.  Time to head south to Sydney for the summer season. On 25th September 2015 - Pete and Sarah joined us at Keppel Bay Marina, Rosslyn Bay for the journey south to Sydney. A trip to Rosslyn Bay is not complete without a trip to the Fishermans Market or the Capricornia Cruising Yacht Club First stop, when the wind eased, was Great Keppel Island where we showed Sa & Pete the cruising way with sundowners on the beach with all the other cruising sailors. After that we were heading for the reef - after lots of local advice we settled on North West Island for our first reef experience (on this leg of the trip) and it didn't let us down. On the sail from Great Keppel to North West Island we were blessed with heaps of sea-pets to keep us company - whales, dolphins and a shark. With the recent siting of the shark our senses were heightened and when we arrived at North West Island desperate for a swim in the clear blue waters we paused to identify some unknown creatures in the water which looked scarely close to the fins of sharks, but they weren't moving in quite the right way. We paused for lunch to assess the situation and finally figured out they were manta rays. Suddenly everyone wanted to jump in again! We went for a budgie ride to get to the reef and then went for a snorkel in. Pete was lucky enough to swim with the manta rays a little bit later. All very special. We settled in for the night enjoying celebratory champagne for arriving in paradise with a spectacular sunset followed by a full moon rise. Perfection - with very few boats around us. The next day we left for Fitzroy Reef and went via Heron Island and Wistari Reef. There was a nice wide channel between the two with incredible green waters showing us where the reef was. Again dolphins and whales to great our arrival at Fitzroy Reef. The channel to get into the lagoon was terrifyingly narrow with a strong current but very deep so we were all stationed to a position - bow and at the shrouds - to assist Paul in the navigation of the channel. We could all breathe again once we'd anchored clear of bommies and could see the anchor on the bottom in 9m of water. Incredible. Lunch then a snorkel was the plan, which wasn't as successful as we'd hoped - suffice to say our trip to Fitzroy Reef was cut short with a little accident which required Paul to get medical assistance. Crew stepped into action promptly and in text book fashion with the medical kit followed by a pan pan. Thankfully we were assisted by an incredible boat called "Hooked on Two" from Hooked on 1770 Fishing Charters who came to our assistance and took Paul to 1770 for onward transfer to Bundaberg Hospital. Pete, Sarah and I sailed the boat overnight to Bundaberg where we caught up with Paul - who seemed very happy to be surrounded by attentive nurses! After 24 hours and safe in the knowledge that Paul was being looked after in hospital we continue the journey south to make the tide window to go through the Great Sandy Strait. The plan was for Paul to meet us in Southport of Tin Can Bay. We stopped the night at Kingfisher Resort before embarking on the 3.5 hour trip through the shallow and very shallow waters of the inside passage. A nerve-wracking experience but after 3 touches we were safely through and quickly made the call that we were NOT crossing Wide Bay Bar without Paul, especially as on the outside strong winds were forecast for 24 hours. Tin Can Bay was a little piece of heaven and the yacht club seemed the right place for dinner! The next day Paul returned to the boat with 28 stitches in this knee for day late birthday celebrations. Thankfully the rest of the trip was less eventful - crossing Wide Bay Bar was still hair-raising but with the co-ordinates from VMR Tin Can Bay and watchful eyes on the leads, chart and the breaking waves we crossed it with no issues. We were on a deadline to get to Coffs to avoid a strong southerly that was forecast to come in at 1pm in two days time. We smoked down the coast, surrounded by heaps of whales (one breached so close to the boat much to Sarah's delight & fright!) and arrived at 7am - right on cue at 1pm with tripled up mooring lines we watched Pilgrim tack in the berth as 55 knots howled around us. Glad we weren't outside!! On 9th October it was time for the penultimate trip south to Pittwater for a few days refuge before the final sail through Sydney Heads on 15th October. What a trip!!!! For more details on this trip you can read it on Wine Dark Sea's blog (Sarah & Pete's blog).  A thoroughly enjoyable few days with the Waplings on board Pilgrim. We packed in sailing, fishing, snorkelling, paddle boarding, relaxing, exploring, swimming into 4 days! There was plenty to keep the kids entertained and Budgie the dinghy was a hit! Itinerary this time was: Hamilton Island to Nara Inlet via a swim and prawn lunch at Henning Island. Nara Inlet there were paddle-board v budgie races, exploring on the beach and a new bait recipe was put to the test by the boys. Next day we took advantage of the glorious weather and headed to Hill Inlet for the walk to the lookout before heading down to Chalkies. Lee, Sarah and the kids hung out on the beach for hours only radio-ing back for refreshments to be sent over by paddle-board as the afternoon sun started to set! We weren't sure if Chalkies could be beaten but gave it a go the next day and headed to Whitehaven. Another success but it was time to head to Sawmill Bay for the night to allow for an easy trip the next day to Airlie Beach. The time flew by but we squeezed plenty into the short trip...please come back again - we loved having you on board!  Geoff, Helen and Nicola joined us for 6 nights of exploring the Whitsundays. The itinerary was based on the weather and the limitations of having little Nicola at 10 months old on board. Depart Hamilton Island Marina on 6th September - head straight to Whitehaven Beach 7th September - Motored to Chalkies for some fishing (Helen) and snorkelling around the reef (Geoff & Helen) - beautiful anchorage and less rolly than Whitehaven. 8th September - Sailed to Butterfly Bay. When Nicola was having her lunchtime nap - Mum and Dad went for a little snorkel. 9th September - with strong winds forecast in couple of days time we decided to find shelter in Nara Inlet for the night. On the way there we stopped at Blue Pearl Bay for a snorkel and then headed to Nara. The aboriginal cave paintings were a great family trip before Helen took to the fishing rod again! 10th September - a windy ride to Sawmill Bay to seek shelter for the last two nights. We tried our luck at crabbing but sadly only small ones so they were returned to nature. Despite the weather we were very protected so there was more fishing, walking and exploring to be done. A lovely few days with the Saxby's - Nicola took it all in her stride and seemed to love the experience! Let's hope next time she'll be pulling ropes!! Pilgrim Sailing's first Sealink Magnetic Island Race Week and it certainly won't be the last. We had core crew of four - Paul, Clare, Micko and Sandy with extras joining us along the week either for the day or those who got hooked kept coming back for more...Ken!!
The racing was great fun and competitive mainly around Cleveland Bay with the Round the Island Race on Saturday was, of course, the day with the least wind! MIRW is a stark contrast to Hamilton Island Race Week in its relaxed and easy feel. All the accommodation, boats and Race HQ are a stones throw apart. WE LOVED Magnetic Island Race Week and will be back next year with bells on for the 10th annual regatta! Who's coming with us?  From 15th - 22nd August Pilgrim race at Hamilton Island Race Week. The crew were Paul Ley, Clare Ley, Matt Wenke (tactician), Chris Brooks, Dave Hodgson, Liz Blackford, Sandy Garrie, Michael Sugg, Ben Feeney, John Dooley, Nick Atwell and Christian Becerra with a few guest appearances along the way. It was a great race week - plenty of breeze to test the crew and plenty of Tamburlaine wine to get the party going after the race. Layday was a chill out day with hammocks, bubbles and a visit to our neighbour the Police Boat for a tour! Overall we came mid fleet which was a respectable result based on all the super new carbon "cruisers" around us! We'll be back next year...!  Sailing from Townsville to Orpheus Island. Our next guests arrived for a long weekend on Pilgrim, sailing from Townsville Yacht Club to Orpheus Island Resort. We spotted our first whale of the season, discovered some beautiful new anchor spots off the beaten track, snorkelled, sailed, explored and relaxed! With a commitment to meet the Magnetic Island Race Week organisers and the local press we had no time to waste on our trip up to Townsville. With stops only at Woodwark Bay (again), Gloucester Island, Cape Upstart we arrived with a couple of days up our sleeve to explore Magnetic Island. What a heavenly place it is. More photos when we have more time here....maybe next winter...stay tuned?!?!   Time to share all we've discovered in the Whitsundays with our first charter guests up here - tailoring the itinerary to the weather and Martin & Chris's interests: Day 1 - Hamilton Island to Sawmill Bay (strong wind forecasts - again!) Day 2 - Walk to the top of Whitsunday Peak for stunning 360 degree views over the Whitsundays followed by a sail to Stonehaven anchorage for sundowners Day 3 - Sail to Blue Pearl Bay, Hayman Island for some sensational snorkelling followed by a motor sail to Nara Inlet to explore the aboriginal cave paintings. Day 4 - Time to blow away the cobwebs and get some steering practice in. A good windy day for a sail in the Whitsunday Passage before returning to Sawmill Bay for a paddle board and a swim. Day 5 - The Grand Finale - wind obliged by abating in time for the trip to Whitehaven Beach & Hill Inlet. We dropped the boys off at Chance Bay for a snorkel and then a walk across the headland to Whitehaven while we brought the boat round meeting them on Whitehaven Beach. Stunning day - white sands, crystal waters - lived up to all expectations! Last stop for the day was a visit to Hill Inlet - picture postcard stuff! Day 6 - Time to head back to Hamilton Island to catch the flight back to the chilly Sydney winter! All in all a great trip with heaps packed into six days! A great little spot 6 miles north of Airlie Beach is the exclusive resort of Woodwark Bay. It has a lovely little beach with a creek which treated us with our second mud crab. A little nerve-wracking when we find out after exploring in the creek that it's home to a croc!
During June we've been exploring the Whitsundays - unfortunately a bit of rain and strong winds means we've been staying mainly on the western side of Whitsunday and Hook Islands - with our favourite anchorage being Sawmill Bay with great sunsets and rainbows. Another glorious spot - can't believe the resort isn't in operation. It's a beautiful island with great opportunities but seems it has been closed for several years. Well worth a visit if it ever re-opens or if you're sailing by!
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