Has anyone in the group been to Cato Reef?
If so, can I have some feedback please?
Would be more appealing to those that scuba or snorkel.
Maybe, Brisbane, Cato, Bundy and back via the Sandy Straights.

How big is your shark cage.

Thanks Lydia. Re the sharks? Is that from personal experience?

It is a long way out. What is the attraction with Cato?
I have anchored overnight off NorthWest Island and off Heron island. Northwest was magical.

Just a family topic of discussion MorningBird. We have an offshore capable yacht and as a family we often set ourselves targets.
I suppose it started when we found a short video of our yacht at Mellish Reef. It looked wonderful, but Mellish is a long way away.
We are also mad keen snorkelers or divers, so that adds a bit as well. It could be, for various reasons one of those events that takes on a life of it's own.

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SailMark said..
Just a family topic of discussion MorningBird. We have an offshore capable yacht and as a family we often set ourselves targets.
I suppose it started when we found a short video of our yacht at Mellish Reef. It looked wonderful, but Mellish is a long way away.
We are also mad keen snorkelers or divers, so that adds a bit as well. It could be, for various reasons one of those events that takes on a life of it's own.

I know what you mean. Lord Howe was mine, sailed there 3 times now and flew once with my wife.
I have snorkeled in many places, Lord Howe lagoon is by far the best. Balls Pyramid has been judged the best diving in the world. If I get there this year it is on my list of things to do.

Just googled Balls Pyramid...Wow, that must be incredible!

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shoodbegood said..
Just googled Balls Pyramid...Wow, that must be incredible!

A spectacular place. A prick of a passage but it is like running a marathon, you know you have achieved something when you get onto a mooring in the lagoon.
An annual yachtie and locals bbq is held in Neds Beach on the 3rd Tuesday of November. I plan to take MB again this year.

Look up the barefoot captain on you tube . Son of Ben cropp. And jack and Jude covers the outer reefs etc.there is also a blog from Sv Lorelei that has some anchorages

I sailed from Gladstone t0 Honiara last week and was looking at places to stop off along the way. Cato was on my list but would have needed southerlies for the first 2 days. only had east winds so didn't got hat way.
I stopped at Frederick Reef and Mellish Reef.
Frederick was amazing and very easy to find an anchorage, hardly any bommies. Sweet was rolling round the top into the bay though so at hight tide it was not fun and I ended up leaving at 8pm.
Mellish was harder, many many bommies! But a much calmer anchorage in general and much more interesting as the island is much bigger. Super clear water and a huge amount of fish and bird life. It felt like I was the first person to ever step foot there.

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SailMark said..
Thanks Lydia. Re the sharks? Is that from personal experience?

Not at Cato but the other eastern reefs and the back of the Swains.

I have sailed to both Elisabeth and Middleton. Amazing to be 200 miles off shore and anchored behind a reef. I sailed in December with settled northerlies then onto Lord Howe before the next southerly change. Makes you think about safety out there - heading downwind in a dingy could be disastrous - we carried an epirb for all excursions. I snorkeled Middleton and dived at Elisabeth. Lots of very curious Galapagos sharks. We had the same snorkelling balls pyramid.
I have been keen to get to Cato one day. The only info I have found is some fishos smashing gt's anchored off the reef.
I believe that Lord Howe, Elisabeth, Middleton and Cato are on the same volcanic ridge.

This is middleton. Taken circa 2005 no permit required then.