Itz Friday again,and once again I've returned to Galleycat for some much needed sleep and recuperation(wkoa).1.30 am this morning I/We were 114nm south east of Townsville aboard Weathersfield in the teeth of another Tropical Storm and having a really Gr8 thyme. This storm however was seriously overshadowed by the one 3 days prior.
This photo shows the harbour as we left heading for a casual cruise towards Turtle bay on the southern end of Whitsunday Island (looks quite inviting doesn't it)
This tranquility lasted just a few short hours as a severe tropical storm with strong southerly change
loomed into view just as we passed North Mole Island.This photo does not do this (mini Cyclone) justice as the ability to turn day into night was the second thing that struck me after the 20 degree drop in temperature, just before everything went black. This storm had us bouncing around like a very small cork in a very angry sea for 4-5 very tense hours. We changed course and headed for the relative safety of Nara Inlet just 5nm away. 4 hours later we slid into the inlet to join 40 other boats to sit out the storm and watch the incredible lightning show. Truly amazing! However it soon became apparent that we were the
lucky ones as radio chatter and mobile calls revealing several others did not fare so well and unfortunately in the bay we were heading to "turtle bay", several boats got into SERIOUS trouble with 1 overturning 12 people ending up in the water with 1 Lady losing her life.
Sailing can be very romantic and pleasurable however this shows that no matter how many weather forecasts you get or how prepared you think you are, NATURE is a fickle mistress.
The romance returned the very next morning with us and many others pulling anchor early and heading out into crystal clear conditions. It was now that we decided to head north and out towards the Great Barrier Reef (YES! it does exist! I've actually seen it now) Just 5 short hours later and we tied up to a mooring on Bait Reef. Dropped the dinghy into the water and headed off for a snorkel/swim. AAA Mazing!!!!
I'm not easily impressed by underwater stuff unless you can catch it and eat it. This place however has got to B seen 2B believed. Thousands of fish and colors for as far as you can see.This is of course a highly protected marine green zone,so no anchors or fishing but to hand feed countless giant trevally and maori wrasse plus dolphins and spangled emporer. Even I was putting my fishing gear away.
That doesn't happen very often let me tell you. The water was stunningly clear with coral for as far as the eye can behold, even from a vantage point up the mast the colour stretches endlessly. We spent the next night here with wonderful meal and an early night for the three of us aboard. Early the next morning we set of for Hook reef and the Fantasea Reef Platorm and after navigating our way through a narrow channel between hook and line reefs (not very imaginative with the names R they) We drifted our way across a tropical lagoon full of coral bommies (mushrooms) and yet more color.
There will be more photo's from a much better panorama style camera to follow in the next few days but Noah has already headed to his Yacht for some much needed shut eye. After this nature based experience, it was thyme to do what we really came here for and catch FISH. So we headed North in the general direction of Townsville passing many more reef systems and with the wind dropping to a total calm,we decided another swim (this thyme in an open zoned area "with" speargun) was the order of the day. Not a fish to be seen ! Well not any big enuf to eat anyway, turtles, sharks and lotz of less impessive coral but no big fish. The current was too strong to dive properly so we took the dinghy about half a mile upcurrent of the Yacht and drifted down across arces of coral reef with thousands of small colorful type fishes and obviously cyclone damaged coral beds most of which is recovering well. I can't quite work out how the cyclone damage was not evident at the early reef area's (I smell conspiracy).
We headed back to the Yacht, "fishless" and decided to have a cheese platter instead. Before we could take off for the next reef and hopefully better fishing,the weather godz stepped in again and the wind generator announced the arrival of a stiff southerly wind. So it was decided to take advantage of this favourable change in the weather and pull up all WFT's, we were soon cruising along silently at a good 8 knots. The wind stayed with us until dark so it was decided to sail through the night and further fishing / diving would have to wait until the next trip.
The wind strength steadily increased into the onsetting darkness pushing us along faster and at a much larger "heel" (lean over), unfortunately for us we didn't realize early enough to drop several of the sails,as we still had all four up. Chaos and pandemonium ensued with lots of flapping and loud noises as we struggled to reduce the sail area in the now gale force winds and pitch black.
Still we managed quite well (nobody hurt and nothing broken) after settling the whole yacht down around midnight and a much needed dinner of steak, mushroom sauce and vegies,with fresh apple and pineapple crumble with custard for dessert/breakfast We tried again with just a main sail (big one) still no good the wind was directly behind us and without being able to see which wave was going to hit us next, several dangerous gybes (sudden direction changes in the sail) later. It was decided to start the motor and settle the whole yacht again. The wind didn't let off until about 4am, so with dawn arriving we found ourselves off Cape Bowling Green just 40 miles short of our destination. So over the fishing lines went. About three minutes later, first strike (lure destroyed) followed by the second strike and a nice spanish mackerel came aboard. Several more strikes but no more fish. Still I set out to see THE GREAT BARRIER REEF and catch a fish and both of these were achieved!
It was an amazing trip with my lust for getting Galleycat out on the water only increasing.
Unfortunate circumstances and inexperience on our behalf put us into situations that could of easily turned out very nasty even fatal. We prevailed stronger and I hope wiser from the learning. It won't be long before it'll be Galleycat in the photo's with palm tree's and coral surrounding her.Of course much more fish as I've realized that the reason "yachties don't catch fish!" is very simple- they are not set up for it and don't have a clue. You cannot hope to succeed in the art of fishing without echo sounders and the necessary equipment fitted to both the main yacht and her tender. I tried to use a "standard" tender for our diving / fishing! What a joke. No idea what's below you or which way to head to find the fish, I know it seems an impossible dream to tow a real fishing boat behind my YOT but I'm determined to make it work! I can't say the dinghy would of survived the 'Major Storm" we encountered but I hope I'm smarter now and will try very, very hard not to put myself or Galleycat into that situation.
SO with this updated itz thyme for this little black duck to put his head down and get some much needed zzzzz's !!
Ciao 4 now
Captain Felix
