S3 E20 Bushy Island in Queensland
February 12, 2025 · 10 min · 315 views · Bushy Islet
What this video covers
A solo sailor navigates from Middle Percy Island to Bushy Islet in Queensland, Australia, on July 10, utilizing only the jib in steady southeast trade winds.0:25 The transit covers the distance in ten hours, arriving at 07:00.0:41 Bushy Islet features a fringing reef and a shallow lagoon, but lacks a navigable pass for deep-draft vessels.1:54 The sailor spends five hours probing the coral heads at low tide, reporting as little as two feet of clearance under the keel before successfully anchoring.5:13 The area hosts significant marine life, including humpback whales, porpoises, and sea turtles.4:49 The sailor observes a bush stone curlew and a heronry on the island while collecting beach debris.8:03 After waiting for the high tide to access the sandbar, the vessel departs the reef at 13:30 via a deeper, identified path to begin an overnight passage toward the Whitsundays.9:14 Navigating reef-fringed islets requires precise tidal timing and constant visual monitoring of coral heads to avoid grounding.
Boats in this video
More from Hugh Robertson Sailing
From Hugh Robertson Sailing — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.
The Sailing Directory Newsletter
One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.



