can we help
+44(0)1983 296060
+1 757-788-8872
tell me moreJoin a rally

Menu

Firefly - Duck Billed Platypus at Eungella National Park



Firefly moored up to the Q dock in Mackay on Wednesday 22nd July at 2000. Aretha had arrived a couple of hours before and a few hours after us, Garlix and Hugur also came in. Despite being advised against any boat to boat social interactions while waiting on the customs dock - an impromptu party was started on Aretha, with Dagmar from German yacht Garlix providing each of us with a cup of hot 'Grog'. Apart from a clear interlude after our passage through the Great Barrier Reef and partway across the lagoon to Mackay the weather had continued to be quite bad with rain, although the wind had moderated - 'Grog' was definately appropriate.

The 100 mile passage across the lagoon was great as there was no longer any swell once inside the reef and we were eating as much of the fresh food that Aussie Biosecurity would be taking away if it was just left in the ship's stores. NZ crew member Mike prepared some superb omelets that we washed down with a beer to celebrate a wonderful encounter with a pod of Humpbacks. About 8 whales were seen, initially quite close to Firefly with quite a lot of activity going on such as tail slapping.

After the first night on the customs dock we had a very thorough inspection by customs, immigration and bio security - all done in a very friendly manner. Mike our excellent crew member left to head back to NZ and we then had 5 more nights in Mackay, moored on the pontoons at the excellent marina. This was our first visit to Australia and we found Mackay surprisingly green and lush and clearly very prosperous. This is despite a downturn in the amount of locally mined high quality coal being exported to China and other Asian countries. The 5 days in Mackay were very hectic with several trips to see the local attractions, plus the need for re provisioning, hooking onto the internet and lots of socialising.

All the World ARC legs are run as a race and although informal they do get the fleet off together at the start and it does tend to keep the crew somewhat focused on making the boat sail fast and avoid using the engine unless there really is no wind. Firefly had crossed the start line first outside Port Vila and the downwind conditions with big waves had suited her well. When the waves are bigger, the higher performance light weight smaller yachts (like Firefly) are more able to keep up with the bigger heavier displacement boats as they are able to surf down the front of the waves, going faster than the displacement hull speeds that normally limit them. Based on the handicaps, that also take account of how much motoring was done, we were pleased to get 2nd place on this leg to Australia and were awarded with a bottle of wine at the welcome dinner.

The guided tour of the Botanical Gardens at Mackay was a good introduction to the town as we learned a lot about the history of the town as well as about the flora and fauna. The birdlife in the gardens was also prolific and we saw Spoonbill, Ibis, Honeyeater, Whistling Ducks, Magpie Geese, 'Willy' Warblers and a Kingfisher. Early the next morning we embarked on a World ARC tour to Cape Hillsborough to see Kangaroo and Wallaby on the beach at dawn. It was a beautiful day and well worth the early start, the Kangaroos and Wallaby coming to eat salt crystals.


Yesterday was the principal World ARC trip to Eungella National Park, about 1.5 hours from Mackay. Its a lush, rain forested upland region and we had a sunny still day to enjoy it on. The highlight of the Eungella trip was wildlife related too - at Broken River we were able to see Duck Billed Platypus in several of the slow moving sections of water. About 4 or 5 appeared, their behavior seemingly similar to that of an otter - the animal spending about 20 seconds on the surface before diving to the bottom and re appearing about one minute later. The Platypus is extremely rare and is an unusual mammal, the only one that lays eggs but then suckles its young. Also unusual was that at the gift shop, Paul bought Susie a Platypus 'cuddly toy', now named 'Percy' who has joined 'Grateful the Parrot' for the rest of the circumnavigation on Firefly.


Today is Tuesday 28th July and as forecast the light wind conditions of the last few days were replaced by a strong south easterly trade wind. The wind was howling through the marina and the 4 World ARC boats that were planning to leave this morning, including Firefly and Brizo were a little reluctant to leave. The forecast was for winds up to 30 knots and a strong wind warning was in place. However, the windy period is set to last for about 3 days and the Whitsunday Islands were beckoning, about 40 miles to the north. We therefore left the marina very carefully, reefed down whilst still inside the breakwater before a very fast run to Shaw Island - the conditions were in fact fine and it was a great sail. Its a very protected anchorage behind the 250 meter high island, flat water but with very strong down drafts of wind and of course, its stunningly beautiful!


Paul and Susie

Previous | Next