Hexham Island



As the sun rises over Pearl Bay, the crew emerge.

Pearl Bay was still suffering some easterly swell after the prolonged spell of strong winds, so shortly after dawn on Friday 23rd May, we hauled up anchor and sailed offshore towards Hexham Island, a small dot on the map towards the southern end of the Northumberland Group. We were logged on with V.M.R. Keppel Sands the previous day for the trip from Port Clinton to Pearl Bay, however Pearl Bay was hemmed in by high hills and we hadn't been able to radio them in the afternoon. Fortunately we were soon able to re-establish radio contact once we headed east out of Pearl Bay, hopefully avoiding any search parties being launched.

Hexham Island anchorage - South Percy Island in the distance

The journey of about 30 nautical miles took us past the entrance to Island Head Creek, Cape Townshend and Shoalwater Bay. As we headed away from the coast it soon became apparent that there were islands dotted about everywhere, although only a few that provide reasonable anchorages.

 

Hexham lies in a small group with Alnwick and Shields Islands. Like Pearl Bay, it is an anchorage that can be troubled with swell. However the passage between Hexham and Alnwick Islands was  supposed to be quite beautiful and the plan was that if the anchorage was too uncomfortable we would continue on to the Percy Islands. By the time we arrived at Hexham though, the light wind and any residual swell had completely died down and we were able to have a very peaceful night in the small inlet next to the imposing Cathedral rock formation.

Arjuna nestles next to Cathedral Rock

The crew decided that Hexham was so fantastic that they wouldn't mind moving in permanently. The Ship's Monkey proposed that we immediately look into buying the island and building a tree house in one of the pine trees on the eastern hill with a flying fox across the beach and into the bay.

 

The First Mate had to break the bad news to the crew that the island is unlikely to be on the market anytime soon and has been preserved for the benefit of all, as part of Broad Sound National Park.

 

But for at least one day it was all ours, and after the only other yacht left early the next morning we were able to indulge the fantasy of living on our very own speck in the Coral Sea.

The thrill seekers went kayaking . . .

through "The Macerator" . . .

 The geologists discovered rocks and other untold treasures in the rock pools . . .

The cartographers mapped the unnamed islet to the north of Hexham . . .

And the photographers went hunting for that elusive butterfly money shot.