Sailing Log Week 3 – Sailing to South Molle Island

Sailing Log Week 3 – Sailing to South Molle Island

This sailing week we spent a few more days at Airlie Beach and sailed to South Molle Island.

Airlie Beach

The first few days of sailing this week saw little of the above. But with the great anchorage and onshore facilities we weren't complaining.

While I waited at Airlie Beach for Haylea to arrive, I was able to make the most of the anchorage on the mainland before sailing to the islands. This provided opportunities for morning runs and lap swimming at Airlie Lagoon, a freshwater swimming pool on the shore.

Living on a boat also means you never miss a sunrise or sunset. This week we were lucky enough to witness some absolute beauties.
alt=“sunsets on the water at Airlie Beach “>
alt="whitsundays sailing with dog">

Sailing to South Molle Island

With work done for the week, we were ready for island life again. We decided to start the trip with a trip to South Molle Island, a beautiful island that we luckily had all to ourselves for a few days.
alt="Anchorage of the South Island Molle">
For those sailing to South Molle Island, the north end, known as Bauer Bay, offers the best anchorage in developed southeast trade winds.

On the east side of the bay are several buoys that were formerly used for visitors to the resort. However, anchoring right next to them is a good choice for protection and good footing.
alt="bauer bay south molle island anchorage sunset">
alt="South Molle Island Viewpoint">

South Molle Island Abandoned Resort

The main anchorage on South Molle Island is just outside a once-bustling beach resort.

Unfortunately, this resort was completely destroyed during a cyclone in 2016. I'm sure the new owners weren't too happy about it, especially considering they had bought it just a few months earlier for $25 million.
alt="South Molle Island abandoned resort">

READ MORE: Exploring South Molle Island, Whitsundays

Hiking and bushwalk trails on South Molle Island

It seems that not many make the choice to sail to South Molle Island, meaning you will likely have the entire island to yourself if you decide to stop.

There are several hiking trails maintained by QLD National Parks. I'm not sure how regularly they do this, but after hiking most of the open trails, it's clear that they must do it quite often.
alt="South Molle Island Abandoned resort in Bauer Bay Whitsundays">
alt="Hiking on South Molle Island">
alt=“Sailing to South Molle Island”>Malaika is the only ship anchored on South Molle Island
There are several island walks and viewpoints to explore, the best of which is Spion Kop on the northeast corner. The walk takes approximately an hour and a half from Bauer Bay beach, with winding grassy hills and spectacular views over the Whitsunday Islands and Daydream Island.
alt="Daydream Island view from South Molle Island">

Sunsets on the South Island of Molle

Having an entire island to ourselves was too good to pass up. So we decided to spend the rest of the week relaxing and exploring the island.

True to Whitsunday fame, the islands offered some incredible sunrises and sunsets, which I was able to capture with the drone.
old=““>
alt="Bauer Bay Sunrise">
alt=“North Island Molle”>Neighboring island North Molle
alt="Nordmolle Island Sunset">
alt="South Molle Island Drone">

Back to Airlie

After sailing to South Molle Island and exploring the area, we returned to Airlie to work and resupply for a few days.
alt="Malaika at Airlie Beach">

Up the mast

Due to a stubborn anemometer, I had to scale up the front mast a total of four times in one week.

It offered some pretty decent views of Airlie Beach.
alt=“mast climbing”>
After soldering on a new battery, playing around with channel settings, and reconnecting a misplaced wire, we learned the valuable lesson of testing something before mounting it to the masthead.

On Hamilton Island

Plans for next week are to pick up Haylea who will fly to Hamilton Island and join us on our trip to the Daintree.

We will also go to Whitsunday Island and check out the number one beach in the world.
alt="Airlie Beach Sunrise">
alt="South Molle Island in the Whitsundays, Queensland">
alt="Whitsunday Drones">
alt="Whitsunday Drone">
alt="Whitsunday Drone ">
alt="South Molle Island Beach">
alt="Bauer Bay Anchorage">

alt="Sailing log sails to South Molle Island, Queensland ">
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