D3, are you in WA still? I will lend you my Alan Lucas book and the Rob Someone passage planer if you like and have a beer or two and chat about what I would do. I went from Brisbane to Perth last year,

But for me, I would say after spending some time in the Whitsunday area (including Cape Gloucester if you want to go there)
1. Scawfell Island
2. Middle Percy (in my opinion a must)
3. Pearl Bay
4. Rosslyn Bay if you need to stop for some supplies otherwise just spend some time at Kepple.
5. Straight down into the Sandy Straights or Hervey Bay if you need.

I personally do not know why anyone would be bothered with the Narrows and Pancake Creek. I realise it seems to be the pilgrimage route but I don't see the attraction (for me the Narrows were too shallow anyway).

6. There were a few nice anchorages in the Sandy Straights with Garys being the most popular it seems and Tin Can Bay was a nice little marina too.

I went direct from the Redcliffe area (Jode5, where did I leave from????) to Tin Can Bay so I can't help south of there but you do have Mooloolaba along the way.

For me, I am deadset going to retire at Roslyn Bay. Percy, Pearl Keppel area to me was magic.

Check out the comprehensive guidance on marine sewage in qld here :

www.msq.qld.gov.au/Marine-pollution/Sewage.aspx

One thing to note is that, if you have a fixed marine toilet you MUST have a macerator fitted, even if the toilet is never used.

Other than that, there are then restrictions on where you can discharge.

We simply fitted a macerating toilet when we got to the Gold Coast. Never inspected, but felt more relaxed. The output from a macerator is certainly less obvious!

Cheers

Bristol

D3, I can also lend you the Magic 100 Miles. As Cisco mentioned, the Beacon to Beacon is a good source if only for its simplicity, but from memory is only good from Gladstone to the Tweed (so yeah, covers most of your trip). But in any case, IIRC, it's free off the net.

Kankama is spot on here.
if its not fresh from the SE then keep moving coz it can blow for a month solid 25 knots SE. It seems you get more east and northeasterlies once you get past the Percys but ive been stuck for 6 weeks before trying to get out of the Whitties before.

Thanks Gents,

The common guidance seems to be to make sure that I keep the long term outlook of where I need to be, don't be afraid to motor to make more ground if the wind is looking like it will hold me back.

Toph - I'm down in Rockingham and would definitely like to take you up on our kind offer of borrowing some books.

Cisco - We'll be on a Jarkan 925, I'm looking at lashing a few extra jerry cans to the deck as well as picking up a porta-potti.

Bristol - Thanks for the link, someone had sent me a PDF that was not very clear. That page laid it out clearly and has useful maps.

Kankama - Thanks for the tips. If I can expect mostly strong winds from the South, I figure I'll come up with a list of contingency stopover points. ie- If i need to make the most of a window to get south, skip Middle Percy and aim for Island head creek or even down towards Gladstone.
I will definitely be reading up on some of these guides. While we will be doing a couple of overnight passages, I would like to avoid having to be sailing every night of each leg if I can avoid it. so maybe getting some miles in early and then staying longer a day or so out of the final destination is probably a better option.

I've got a bit of extra time for the leg from Airlie to Mackay, I will try visit a few islands. It will be the next two legs that I will really need to pay attention to the forecasts and try to get ahead as needed. Having alternative stopovers will be the key.

Any one have any nice locations in the Whitsundays they want to share?

Much obliged,

Any one have any nice locations in the Whitsundays they want to share?

Nara Inlet, Macona Inlet, Butterfly Bay. Someone further up mentioned the 100 Magic Miles book, it's well worth a read.