St Kilda Boat Sales -
17 May 2007
Lizard Island aboard Navis II
Read our trip diary aboard Navis II, a 2006 Caribbean 40 Flybridge Cruiser as we journey from Yorkeys Knob Marina in Cairns to Lizard Island via Cooktown and a few uninhabited islands and reef's along the way. We return to Carins six days later, having covered a total trip distance of 280 nautical miles.
Darren & Andrew the Dealer Principals of St Kilda Boat Sales and Service Centre, were invited guests of client Richard Mollard as we fished and explored our way through FNQ and the Great Barrier Reef in rough seas, 30knt SE winds and 2-3 metre swells.
Click here to view the Caribbean 40 Flybridge Cruiser specifciations.
Sunday - Cairns to Cooktown
SE 20nts 2m swell is behind us, as we make our way towards Cooktown some 200kms due North. Enroute, we pass Mission Beach, Palm Cove and Port Douglas. We trek passed the wonderful Cape Tribulation surrounded by the heritage listed Daintree National Park. Following Captain Cook's famous passage in 1770, we navigate the last 2 hours of the voyage on our Raymarine C120 as it's dark and overhead cloud cover prevents ambient light from the moon and stars. We navigate into the well lit shipping channel and head East towards Cooktown along the famous Endevour River.
We arrive into Cooktown, safe and sound at 9pm and quickly make it to the 1770 restaurant for dinner and a cold beer before, heading off to bed aboard our very comfortable Caribbean 40 Flybridge Cruiser.
Monday - Cooktown to Lizard Island
SE 30nts 2-3m swell is behind us again, as we make our way North towards Lizard Island some 45nm. Rain squalls sweep in, stir up the sea and move on...
We set our rods and lures and trawl much of the way. We are in the shipping channel and sometimes get the feeling we are in peak hour traffic back in Melbourne.
We head towards the twins; North & South Direction Islands as we get our first hit on the lines. The reels roar as line peels off and the bugger has got away. This happens again shortly after, much to our dissapointment.
We finally reach our destination and seek protection of Watson Bay at Lizard Island. We find a public mooring buoy and enjoy the sites of the heritage listed National Marine Park.
We use the Davit installed on the vessel to launch our Quicksilver Tender powered by an effective Mercury 8hp and head ashore. The beach is wonderful, the sun is shining and we are in tropical paradise.
We head to the famous (infamous) Marlin Bar that is empty, just Darren, Andrew, Richard and G (Graham aka: Big G, super G, G Banger, Big Fella) our 6'4 New Zealand born decky. On the walls of the bar are the famous catches of Marlins, overhead is a 1,100kg monster, hanging from the ceiling.
Richard explains the history of the region as we visit the last remains of the famous Mrs Watson homestead. Richard is very well-read on this area, and a keen historian. He is like a talking Google, but with loads personality...
Overnight abord the Caribbean 40 offers plenty of room for all of us as we sleep like babies against the gentle lapping of water. How good is this !!!
Click here to view the Caribbean 40 Flybridge Cruiser specifciations.
Tuesday - Lizard Island to Cape Bedford
SE 30kts 2-3m swell again this time we are punching straight into it. Interesting to note that even in these harsh conditions, we were travelling at a brisk, yet comfortable speed of 16kts and averaging only 45L per engine/hour. We make our way South towards the protection of Cape Bedford some 25nm. Rain squalls sweep in, stir up the sea and move on as we punch straight into the slop. Waves constantly break over the Flybridge as we pound South.
We set our rods and lures and trawl much of the way with no success, we make a beeline straight for the protection of the Cape. It seems several other mariners have decided on the same thing as we share the protection of the Cape with a couple of Yachts and a few local Trawlers.
Andrew and Richard launch the Tender and head to shore amongst the Mangroves to catch a Barramundi for dinner. Darren stays onboard with G, as we try to our luck from the comfort of the Caribbean 40 and her enormous cockpit.
After several hours fishing and many bites later, we catch a few small fish including: Reef Shark, Hammerhead Shark and a Sea Gull (that's a funny sight). Richard and Andrew return without dinner, so I guess it's steaks on the BBQ for us all.
Wednesday - Cape Bedford to Hope Island
SE 30kts 2-3m swell and yet again we are punching straight into it. Interesting to note that even in these harsh conditions, we were travelling at a brisk, yet comfortable speed of 16kts and averaging only 45L per engine/hour. Still heading South towards the protection of Hope Island some 30nm. Rain squalls sweep in, stir up the sea and move on as we punch straight into the slop. Waves constantly break over the Flybridge as we pound South.
We set our rods and lures and trawl much of the way via coral reefs, but this time with success !! Andrew fights hard with a 25kg Giant Trevally and lands her. What a huge fish, we take the usual photo's and set her free.
We detour via another reef to bottom bounce, catching loads of nice sized reef fish including: Reef Cod, Red Emperor, Sweet Lip and Coral Trout. We only keep tonights dinner and release safely, the rest to live another day.
We make a beeline strainght for the protection of the uninhabited Hope Island. It seems several other mariners have decided on the same thing as we share the protection of the Island with a couple of Yachts and a few local Trawlers.
We go ashore, Richard has a fish and a snooze, while the rest us have a swim and snorkel in the clear blue waters of this peaceful Island.
Thursday - Hope Island to Low Island
SE 30kts 2-3m swell again, as we make our way South towards the protection of the Low Island group some 30nm. Rain squalls sweep in, stir up the sea and move on as we punch straight into the slop. Waves constantly break over the Flybridge as we pound South.
We set our rods and lures and trawl much of the way via coral reefs, but this time no success !! So we head towards the Bat Reef area, the location of the famous Wildlife Warrior - Steve Irwin's, tragic death.
We bottom bounce for hours, catching loads of nice sized reef fish including: Reef Cod, Red Emperor, Sweet Lip and Coral Trout. We only keep tonights dinner and release safely, the rest to live another day.
Arriving at Low Island at 4pm, we admire the Lighthouse and this picturesque area. G our decky knows the skipper of the Trawler moored nearby and hops in the Tender to visit. G comes back with a bag of fresh Prawns, which make a wonderful appertiser - washed down by the usual quanity of Beer's - at beer o'clock of course.
That evening as we proudly eat our catch, we are entertained by the many reef sharks circulating our Caribbean 40, to fight for our Prawn tails that we are feeding them. What a sight....
Next morning, we vist the Island to explore the Lighthouse and met the Lighthouse Keeper Steve. An interesting guy who lives on the Island, with his wife and very young family and all that serenity!
Friday - Low Island to Carins
SE 30kts 2-3m swell yet again, as we make our way South towards home some 30nm, enough already with the wind... Here we go again...Rain squalls sweep in, stir up the sea and move on as we punch straight into the slop. Waves constantly break over the Flybridge, as we pound South.
A quick detour on our return leg see's us bottom bounce, once again. We are happily catching loads of nice sized reef fish at the beginnig, then she dreid up and without a bite, we decided returned to Cairns and pack up the rods for this trip.
The heavens opened again for yet another Rain squall and we arrived safey back at Yorkies Knob in the afternoon. G washed down the boat whilst the rest of us have a long shower, removing salt form everywhere. Dinner at the marina Friday night, followed by watching the AFL onthe boat Live... What a bonus...
Saturday - Carins
After breakfast on the cosmopilitan esplanade of Cairns, we went shopping for the kids. Jett is really happy with his Forklift, even thought we hunted for hours trying to find a Police Car. The smile on his face was worth the hassle of shopping for toys in Cairns.
Both Andrew and Darren were thrilled by Richard's invitation to join him, Richard is a very succesful businessman and proud Grandfather with a strong Flinders Lane heritage, that he shared with us.
Richard was kind enough to share his boating dream and enjoyment with us. We are stronger for having this journey behind us. We understand first hand the Caribbean 40's wonderful sea-handling capabilities and appreciate the ocean and her powers.
Richard and G are heading from Cairns to Darwin later in 2007, and we look forward in posting Richard's stories and pictures on our website, for all to share.
Richard, good luck with your journey, may it be safe and filled with joy and satisfaction. Thanks for taking such great care of us.
Safe Boating Always, God Bless You.
PS: It is a real shame you barrack for Collingwood. However, your taste in fine wine and the Montecristo No 3 cigars, will long be remembered !!
Click here to view the Caribbean 40 Flybridge Cruiser specifciations.
Watch our video - coming soon...
The Owner's Perspective.....
Written by Richard Mollard, June 2007
In 1988, I towed an 8m (Flightcraft) Cabin Cruiser to Cairns and went as far North as Portland Roads (approx. 300nm North of Cairns) and spent 3 months between Cairns and Portland Roads. How good was this!!
Since then, I planned to extend my adventure to go far a Darwin and even Broome if I was physically able. Being 69 years old, one needs to take these things into account.
I researched for some time what boat would be ideal for this this maybe crazy adventure, and after much delibertion I purchased a Caribbean 40 Flybridge Cruiser from St Kilda Boat Sales. There were issues that I needed to address, they were:
1> Reliability, the Caribbean 40 as I understandad it has a hull moulded from Bertram's vast experience on the East Coast of American and obviuosly stood the test of time.
2> Support, both in technical and assistance. The team at Caribbean, St Kilda Boat Sales & Cummins have a very good reputation in this area.
3> Economy, most boat owners say if your can't afford the fuel don't buy the boat.... I agree to this principle however, the distances I plan to cover the above needs to be a consideration. On research, my boat fully loaded (water, fuel and a good wine stock) all takes weight. I have found that at 2,100rpm on a relative calm day with 6 persons on board, I can average 20kts and a fuel comsumption of 52L per hour/engine, these Cummins 450hp Turbo Diesels, seem to me to be as economical as any boat.
4> I investigated purchasing other models however, on enquiring as too fitting extra fuel tanks seem to be all too hard for other manufacturers to deal with this issue. However, the team at St Kilda Boat Sales were happy to assist and were able to extend the existing 2000L fuel tank with two additional 300L tanks, giving me a total capacity of 2,600L. Doing between 16-18kts gives me a range in excess of 450nm with a 15% reserve.
I arranged to leave by Cruiser at Yorkey's Knob Marina in Cairns, and have taken family and friends on several trips to lizard Island and return to make sure any hiccup's mechanically or otherwise, were identified before my big trip which is planned for early August 2007.
Apart from a few minor issues, I was delighted with the result. These minor issues were a faulty computer board on the Onan Generator, the support team at Cummins and St Kilda Boat Sales, immediately flew a replacement and it was installed the next day. Also a malfunction in the Raymarine Auto-Pilot, again was replaced overnight (faulty one taken out, new one plugged in) the next day. Stupidly, I didn't read the Caribbean owner's manual as carefully as one should... at 180 hours of usage, I discovered the engine during the settling in period, caused the drive shaft to be slightly out of alignment, on reporting this to International Marine, it was pointed out that this should have been done as per manufacutrer's instructions at 30-50 hours usage. Lesson learn't.... It pays to read and discuss these issues thouroughly, beofre taking on an extended voyage.
Due to the courtesy and assistance of both Dealer Principals at St Kilda Boat Sales, I extended an invitation to both Darren & Andrew to join me on a cruise from Cairns to Lizard Island and back. The above trip diary is self-explanatory. A good trip was had by all. I hope they will join me again, next year.
Should there be anybody with dreams of a similiar nature to mine, who would like to discuss any experiences I have had, please feel free to contact me via St Kilda Boat Sales.
Richard
The picture below is my Caribbean 40 (October 2006) being loaded at Melbourne for the road-trip to Brisbane. From there, I drove her North by sea, to beign my boating adventure.
