Stewart Island and Pelican Bay

 We anchored at 1

We left Garry’s Anchorage at 6:15 Saturday morning to make sure we avoided the Bay to Bay racing fleet. A number of larger boats arrived at Garry’s late on Friday afternoon. Many of these acted as mother ships to the trailer sailers as they do not carry dinghys and have very basic facilities. The afternoon sunset at Garry’s was beautiful. Like Crockett Park at Woody Point, there are several places in the Straits where you can see the sunset over the land from the water.

 Sunset at Garry's Anchorage

The evening before the big race at Garry's

The Stewart Island anchorage was only a mile away. At low tide we walked on the sandbanks which were extensive.  It is full moon and there is a 3 metre tidal range which restricts movement at low tide. 

 Stewart Island Anchorage

Late in the afternoon, 4 trailer sailers who had finished the race, rafted up close to Stewart Island and had a BBQ on shore. The raftees would have dried out on the early morning low tide. The raft up may have been also to stop them leaning over when they dried out. We would have loved to see it!!

On Sunday morning around 6:45am we were awoken by the sound of outboards. The Sunday leg to Urangan of the race was to start north of Stewart Island and the whole fleet of about 150 boats and the support boats and the official race boats came past us. We got out the deck chairs, made a coffee and enjoyed the spectacle as they passed by. This took about an hour.

 Bay to Bay Trailer Boat Race

The Bay to Bay Trailer Sailer boat race is now 32 years old.  Robyn competed in races 1 and 2 in 1980 and 1981. Her boat was the 19 ft Nomad Trailer Sailer, Delphinus. Today, swimming in all that nostalgia, she got excited when she saw this yellow boat. It is Pride of Maryborough, Coast Guard Sandy Straits primary vessel. She just had to tell them she was a member of Coast Guard too.

Pride of Maryborough

Then we had breakfast. Our friend Ori always takes photos of her meals. We are her humble apprentices.

 Sunday Breakfast

Garry’s Anchorage was almost empty again.

 Garry's Anchorage after the fleet had left

At 10am we up anchored and motored with the tide, south to Pelican Bay. Pelican Bay is just inside the Straits close to Inskip Point and the Wide Bay Bar.

 Pelican Bay Anchorage

 Today, the Sunset and Moonrise both occurred at 17:14. They were both magnificent and we felt so privileged to observe this in such a wonderful spot.

Sunset at Pelican Bay

 Moonrise at Pelican Bay

At about 17:50 our feelings of bliss were shattered when the Fraser Island Manta Ray barge, returning to its overnight base, passed within 15 metres of Maripi. It passed between us and the yacht in front in the sunset photos. 15 metres is too close for a 60 odd metre boat.

Just this afternoon Robyn said in an email sent to Sue: ”Mostly we are very relaxed.  Every now and then there is something that concentrates our focus and gets the adrenalin going – and then it is calm again. “ This was one of those moments!