Kimberley: Jim's Bay to Osborn Islands

Leaving Glycosmis at first light, to catch the tide over the bar, we sailed up to Jims Bay, a mere 13 miles.  The wind and waves were picking up by the time we turned in and anchored, just in time for morning tea.  Here was a long beach to stretch our legs, with no sign of crocs, for a change.

Working the tides is really important up here as we could have up to 5 knots against us if we miss-time it.  Working out the tides in each place is another challenge.  Skipper Pete managed to time it perfectly when rounding Cape Londonderry and we sailed at 7 – 8 knots on light winds with the help of the 3 knot current.  On the other side of the cape the tide turns and we had 2 knots with us again as we sailed down to Honeymoon Bay.  We first visited 25 years ago, on our honeymoon!  

Kalumburu was still closed to visitors but the caravan park kiosk sells ice creams (compulsory!), some fruit and veg, with which we stocked up.

Picture perfect beaches are dotted all around these islands, some would have seen more crocs than humans.

The Osborn Islands have several rock art sites with many Bradshaws in a series of caves.  The sandstone arches are also spectacular.

Dodging the radar reflectors around the pearl farms, passing the massive red escarpments of Carlia Island, we sailed down to South West Osborn Island for a quiet night.

Just before Davidson Point mobs of little terns and white-winged black terns (which we haven’t seen since Broome many years ago) were diving for fish.  In the middle of the frenzy we caught a giant trevally, sharks following the line in to our stern.  When all calmed down again a pod of 15 or more bottle-nosed dolphins came to play around us, riding the bow waves, cavorting and having fun.