WHITSUNDAY'S AT LAST!!! HEAVEN FOUND.....

MY NEW LIFE HAS BEGUN!!!

WHITSUNDAYS FOUND

G'DAY  ALL!,
I've died and gone to heaven!
Not literally but close enuf of a descriptor.
The trip down here was in a simple word MAGIC!
Gr8 weather, Gr8 Fishing, Gr8 Sailing, Gr8 fun, awesome company and an experience I'll never forget.
We arrived at the reef first night around 1 am, it was thyme 4 sum shut eye before dawn arrived and allowed us to approach Darley Reef in relative safety.

WHITSUNDAYS THROUGH VEGETABLES

The Yot has performed beautifully, using just 35 litres of fuel to get from Townsville to the Darley reef group. Amazing! The new WFT no1 has made a massive difference to the sailing performance of Galleycat.
After a short move onto the reef proper both Lydern and Myself put on the dive gear and leapt ovaboard.
WOW!
Coral everywhere and right under the Yot a pack of squid, So being the fisherman I am I was out again, quick smart, while Lydern prepared the Contour underwater video for the hunt. Amazing footage of the squid playing with then attacking the lure.

SUNRISE TODAY

Squid for lunch, yummy! With a side order of Spanish Mackerel served 3 ways Creole, lemon oil and meniere'.
Thyme for a bourbon! And a relaxing afternoon.
We set up for night squiding and fishing but the wind picked up making it a little uncomfortable.
So with a 15 knot wind behind us and another 60nm to go before we found our destination (wkoa) It was decided to use the wind and "Sail South" ,
Perfection! Fantastic night sail, around 4 knots progress with gr8 music and a very relaxed evening on the bow (front) of the Yot.
Stars, Sailz, Music and efflorescence in the water. Dinner around 1 am was a creamy mushroom pasta that went done very well.

LUNCH ?

About 2.30 am the wind dropped so we started just 1 motor and continued along only not as quietly as B4.
Horbourne Island light was spotted around 3am.
At dawn we were still 36 nm from Bait reef our chosen anchorage for this day, so after altering course back towards the reef we fired the second motor and were soon steaming towards the productive trolling grounds on the inside of The Great Barrier.
Lures out!
Lotz of bird activity!
STRIKE- DOUBLE STRIKE!
12 kg mackerel and around a 6 kg tuna.
Lyderns first big trolled fish was now aboard.

BUTTERFLY BAY

About 8.45 the reel on the port side screamed again this thyme however a magnificent sailfish was leaping out of the water behind the Yot.
Chaos and pandamonium, well panda something ensued. The fish was lost at the back of the boat but that didn't stop us enjoying the moment.
More fish, More strikes and truly amazing conditionz. The end tally for the day was 10 fish Not Bad We kept none, as the fish supply aboard is already at breaking point with the Monster Mack of Day 1.
After a Kevin Bloody Wilson medley that went for around 2 hours we sighted The Whitsundays in the distance. Fresh Sushimi for a snack as we arrived at Bait Reef.

ALWAYS THYME 2 RELAX

This is a very special place which was evident
  even B4 we moored up as fish of every type converged on the Yot hoping for a feed.
Most amazing "The Giant Trevally" these black beauties would have many true fishermen in tears as we set about videoing while we hand fed them.
A few hump headed moari wrasse and even a big coral trout also came to play.
We spent more thyme underwater than aboard.
What a problem to have....

OUR NEW FRIEND

As the evening drew nearer a guy I met in Townsville arrived on his yacht "Mahiti" followed closely behind by the dive charter vessel "Kiana".
A truly spectacular sunset had us boarding the dinghy to try to capture a few sillouette shots of Galleycat.
We bedded down early and dawn arrived 2 soon. However with perfect conditions once again we set off for Hook Island at the top end of the Whitsunday Group.
Bacon and eggs for breakfast as we left Bait Reef behind and set motors (no wind) for a 3 hour trip across towards land and "civilization???"

UNDERNEATH US

Arrival in Butterfly bay around 11am saw us prepare a slow cooked lunch of baked spanish mackerel served with a filled baked potato.
While this was cooking we set off for the most sensational drift dive of my life!
Giant Clams, coral forests and fish everywhere. Unfortunately my video is having a dummy spit but Lydern's is still giving us some amazing footage.

GIANT TREVALLY EVERYWHERE

Back to Galleycat for a very special lunch B4 we set sail again but just  a small hop over to Hayman Island and a quick look at how the other half do it! Float planes and supa yachts.
We then moored Galleycat at Langford Island, while my Ma;ltese friend went chasing turtles with his camera I contacted a few in Perth to let them know we were safe.
This trip has just begun but has already provided more sensational memories than I'd ever hoped for. I'm sure more will follow as the biggest problem we are having is trying to download images onto the puter and deciding just where we will go tomorrow. Itz tough!

AMAZING CORALS

 Life is definitely improving and this week should see lotz of updates as I struggle to relay our journey to you all.
So that's it from GALLEYCAT in THE WHITSUNDAY ISLAND GROUP in TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND!
We made it!
 In a philosophical sense....