Townsville 28th September 2019

[Geof Marsh]

G'day! My wife and I will be on Magnetic Island until Saturday 28th September and are looking for ideas to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary on the 1st October. Possibilities at this stage include cruising to the Whitsundays or New Caledonia, flying home from Hamilton Island or Noumea.

[Simi 60]

[Geof Marsh]

Thank you Simi 60. You're saying you can't get a yacht into Townsville?

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by Geof Marsh

Thank you Simi 60. You're saying you can't get a yacht into Townsville?

Am I ?

Are you on magnetic or are you on a yacht at magnetic?

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by Geof Marsh

G'day! My wife and I will be on Magnetic Island until Saturday 28th September and are looking for ideas to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary on the 1st October. Possibilities at this stage include cruising to the Whitsundays or New Caledonia, flying home from Hamilton Island or Noumea.

September is right in the trade wind season. Going from Magnetic island to either Hamilton island or Noumea would involve going against the trade winds, or waiting for a weather window, which could be weeks. Not many people would choose to leave from Townsville for Noumea.

A better option might be to sail north to Cairns. North of Magnetic there are some great places. There's Orpheus island and the Palm group, Hinchinbrook island, and the barrier reef gets quite close to the mainland north of Hinchinbrook.

It's one of the best bits of the Aus coast, IMO.

[Geof Marsh]

Thank you 44'cruisingcat. North it is! I don't suppose the 'IMO' is the International Maritime Organisation?

[Reefmagnet]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

September is right in the trade wind season. Going from Magnetic island to either Hamilton island or Noumea would involve going against the trade winds, or waiting for a weather window, which could be weeks. Not many people would choose to leave from Townsville for Noumea.

A better option might be to sail north to Cairns. North of Magnetic there are some great places. There's Orpheus island and the Palm group, Hinchinbrook island, and the barrier reef gets quite close to the mainland north of Hinchinbrook.

It's one of the best bits of the Aus coast, IMO.

It's actually at the tail of the trade wind season. You'll get some easterlies and North easterlies action starting to happen come September, and improving as the month progresses, but expect to beat.

http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/climat...location=32040

[Geof Marsh]

Thank you Reefmagnet, and also for the link to the BoM wind speed and direction rose.

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by Reefmagnet

It's actually at the tail of the trade wind season. You'll get some easterlies and North easterlies action starting to happen come September, and improving as the month progresses, but expect to beat.

Bureau of Meteorology - Wind Roses

To me that wind rose shows predominantly SE and E, neither of which makes for particularly easy sail going SE (or ESE to Noumea)

We've sailed down the coast in late September, and you still need to be patient, or prepared to bash.

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by Geof Marsh

Thank you 44'cruisingcat. North it is! I don't suppose the 'IMO' is the International Maritime Organisation?

In My Opinion, north from Magnetic island is some of the best cruising on the East coast.

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by Reefmagnet

It's actually at the tail of the trade wind season. You'll get some easterlies and North easterlies action starting to happen come September, and improving as the month progresses, but expect to beat.

Bureau of Meteorology - Wind Roses

On reflection, we're really talking about October, and the opportunities to sail south are better, but you still wouldn't want to be on a timetable.

[Reefmagnet]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

On reflection, we're really talking about October, and the opportunities to sail south are better, but you still wouldn't want to be on a timetable.

Definitely not, but it's doable if required. September onwards can also be plagued by light winds so it can be hard to run to a schedule in any direction.

[jasonleeau]

My votes with 44'Cruising cat. Last year we sailed from Townsville up into Palm Islands, explored Orpheus Island (stay a night for your anniversary-$1600/night),Ephraim Island and Hinchinbrook. A truly beautiful area. Put your name down on Crewbay. You may find someone up in that area willing to take you for a sail. Having said that Gloucester Eco Resort down south and the Bowen area is beautiful also. You can sail to the Whitsundays from Magnetic in 2 days.......if the wind is right!
Happy Anniversary!!

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by Geof Marsh

G'day! My wife and I will be on Magnetic Island until Saturday 28th September and are looking for ideas to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary on the 1st October. Possibilities at this stage include cruising to the Whitsundays or New Caledonia, flying home from Hamilton Island or Noumea.

Glad you're getting some answers.
I read it as you are ...
1) on magnetic, so staying in a hotel
2) looking for one way charter to New Cal or Whitsundays
3) wanting to then fly home

Hence, my initial response.

FWIW I agree with go North