Encouraged by the success of our cruise to the Whitsundays in 2008, we’re now planning a similar trip in the late autumn of 2009, again aiming to leave the boat in Airlie/Mackay during winter.

The plan is to leave Sydney on a southerly change somewhere around mid to late May 2009 (the target date is Friday 22 May, but this is weather dependent), riding it as far north as we can in 2 to 3 weeks. I will try to get to Mooloolaba at least, but potentially all the way to Airlie Beach if conditions are favourable.

Sydney to Mooloolaba (we may stop at Southport rather than Mooloolaba to pick up crew) is likely to be a non-stop 4-5 day passage. Assuming a 5 knot average speed (not unreasonable with a southerly blowing), we should make Mooloolaba by Tuesday 26 May if we get away early on the 22nd.

Mooloolaba to Airlie Beach will be an island-hopping cruise with a couple of days at anchor. We will probably take the Great Sandy Strait inside Fraser Island, stoping at Tin Can Bay, Rooney Point and Lady Musgrave Island before re-provisioning at Keppel Bay Marina. From there, things are pretty flexible, but I’d probably stop at Pearl Bay, Pine Peak Island and Scawfell Island, final destination Airlie Beach.

Assuming we get away from Mooloolaba no later than 31 May 2009, I would aim to be in Airlie Beach by no later than Monday 15 June 2009. That gives us an easy two weeks of island hopping, during which we need to do eight day-sailing legs (i.e eight to twelve hours of trade wind sailing between anchorages). We could spend four to six days at anchor at that rate, enough time for snorkelling, fishing, dozing… Can’t wait!