ITZ TYHME 2 GO BACK TO TOWNSVILLE!

G'day All,
After a suxcessful trip to Cairns itz now thyme to point the Yot in the opposite direction and head back to "THE YARD".
Richard (our beloved leader) is about to take a 3 month holiday in Canada, Europe and England. While he's away I've promised to help around the yard as best I can, so after my brief visitt to Cairns it was thyme to find a couple of crew and head back.
Meet Brandon and Lorenzo!
Brandon hails from Calgary in Canada ( Noah country) while Lorenzo hails from somewhere in Italy (communication is not his strong point).
"Liguria-La Spezia" Apparently!
With glorious weather taking over from the crap we received while Andrew waz here, we headed straight for the reef.
IT could not get calmer!
I mean glass conditions with visibility as far as you can get for diving. I rang Rob Tindal for advice on the best snorkeling site,it was suggested to head for Briggs Reef. So we did!
This place is postcard perfect, itz the Gr8 Barrier in one location.
We stopped just short of the reef on Sandy Cay for a leisurely swim in the crystal water B4 heading out a further mile or 2 to Briggs.
3 or 4 dives later we were well spent.
Heading South we found ourselves anchored on yet anuther perfect piece of the reef (the name escapes me). We spent the evening with plenty of fish, squid and music just perfect. Everyone was in bed early as the dives had sapped our energy.

Morning brought another clear day but with the prospect of foul weather on the horizon we headed for the sheltered waters of Cardwell and the Hinchinbrook Channel.
However as nite fell it was decided anutha nite on the reef would be just the thing we all wanted with the calm still on us.
So we diverted around 3 pm towards Ellison reef for a nite of Fishing and mayhem.
Mayhem iz the rite word for it, as no sooner had we dropped anchor and set up our fishing lines when my beloved dinghy decided it wanted 2b a submarine!
The sinking itself was less than dramatic with the whole thing over in around 30 seconds.
The recovery phase was where things got interesting with all of us diving into the water in an effort to recover what we could.
Huge losses was still the result with lotz of fishing gear, the Gps and sounder, safety bag and even a washing mashing heading to the bottom. (I'll explain the washing machine later)
We soon had the nose of the dinghy tied firmly to the rear of the Yot "now what?"
Physics 101!
I started Galleycat's engines and slowly towed the dinghy to the surface then came the fun?? part while we were moving I had to go over the back of the dinghy and remove all the rear bungs!
Dangarous!! still, I managed to achieve it some how. After around an hour of bailing and towing we had the dinghy empty and the bungs were replaced.
Thyme to take stock! Itz a total loss!
The whole thing is a disaster with the dinghy still taking on water we replaced the battery and jury rigged a new bilge pump system (this is keeping it afloat just). We are replacing the battery each day in an effort to keep the dinghy above the water but this is taking itz toll on the Yot.
We returned to the spot of the sinking just B4 darkness in an effort to recover the lost items from the bottom around 7 meters below.
We could see the washing machine and various bits on the bottom but it was too dark, so we anchored, and cooked dinner and began to fish.
Expination thyme-
I was given the marine washing machine in Cairns by another Yottie it had a damaged base bearing and he'd purchased a new one. .little research proved that the bearing was a standard double lip seal style worth around $6 so we were bringing the washer back to be repaired at the yard
We fished into the nite only to be absolutely savaged by
 "HUGE" sharks!
A morning dive was not going to happen!
"I love my fishing rods but not that much."
So with heavy hearts and a busted dinghy in tow,we headed South again.
The fishing improved with a big red bass taken then tuna and even a coral trout falling for the lure spread.
However A storm was brewing, the barometer was falling and even the internet was telling us to seek shelter with windz up to 35 knots due for the upcoming week.

 We headed for the safety of
 The Hinchinbrook Channel.
And like all good chefs' when the heart is heavy and the weather foul, you cook!
Up til now I haven't mentioned the food this trip. We sat back last nite trying to remember the meals.(thank the lord for camera's).
Baked Potatoes with all the trimmings.
Thai fish curry.
Ham and cheese croissants.
Mushroom omelete.
Singapore chilli crab.
Fresh tuna sushimi.
Mushroom and parmasean risotto.
Pancakes (2 styles).
Egg,salad and cacciatori sausage wraps.
Homemade salsa and pitta chips.
Cheese and pate platter.
Baked creole chicken with caraway cabbage and sweet potato mash.
Sweetlip meniere' with steamed asparagus.
Fresh homemade fettucini carbonara.
(well not carbonara Lorenzo tells me!)
Flambe' fruits with butterscotch sauce.
Crumbed coral trout and salad.
Scrambled Egg,bacon and french toast.

So as you can tell the chow on this tub is up to itz usual "terrible" standard.
Lets hope we can find a Mcdonalds soon for some real food, NOT!
Itz not all bad though with Lorenzo catching a lovely barramundi which was baked whole for lunch. Plus we are starting to resemble Mudcrabs (if you are what you eat).
Itz now a few days later we are sheltering behind Pelorous island in the Palm Island group.
My beloved dinghy is "no longer" finally diving under last nite between  Orpheous and Pelorous.
 May she rest in peace! She has been my faithful Tinny for at least 12 years and it saddens me to see her finish this way. I would of loved to donate her to a kindergarten or playgroup.
I'll publish an ode' to the tinny in the coming days.
The weather has indeed turned foul as predicted with the winds hovering between 25 - 30 knots.
We are on a mooring and perfectly safe and propose to wait it out.
The squid are keeping my guests entertained while the winds are keeping me alert with hourly checks of the Yot .
The V8's just finished in Tassie with Scott Pye's smash an eyeopener for my visitors.

We are now safely hunkered down at the bottom end of the Palm group in Juno Bay on Fantome Island.
The weather hasn't improved any!
Luckily we have the local seafood to keep us entertained with plenty of squid coming aboard but the fish are proving a little scarce.
I've turned back to culinary pursuits to keep me entertained with a fresh pesto pasta for lunch then we set about making a tim tam cheesecake for 2 nites dessert.
We are just 28 miles from Townsville now but the Godz that decide these things are determined to keep us away with 25 - 30 knot winds predicted for the next 3 days at least.
We will try a hop to Havannah Island tomorrow or if we can down to Herald Island (big IF).
The dinghy's use of our battery power has taken a severe toll on the Yot's power reserves with next to no sunlight for the solar panels and a damaged wind generator I'm having to rely on the genset to charge the batteries but even that doesn't get us through the nite with power failing around midnite last nite.
Hopefully 2nite will be better!
Update thyme!
We are still sheltering from the winds with 37 knots recorded last nite and no improvement in the near future, however we have made our way relatively safely to Magnetic Island just short of our final destination.
We are resigned to wait out the worst of the weather safely moored in Horseshoe Bay.
Our trip has certainly put the Yot through itz paces with an overall thumbs up. There are of course many negatives as well but considering the conditions we've had thrown at us I'm very please with the way Galleycat has performed.
The seals to the interior need a definite upgrade as water seems to have made itz way into every compartment, the refrigeration is definitely first on the agenda for upgrade if we ever make it back to Townsville.
The really big positive is the Artificial Turf carpeting. this stuff is just the dux nutz when it comes to a flooring material. It gets wet and dries immediately and is so easy to clean. I'll definitely be using more of it throughout the interior if i can get a different color.
The batteries look like they have recovered from the "dinghy draining" with power levels back to normal and I'm only having to use the genset for hot water and the oven. It helps having 30 knot winds to keep the wind generator spinning off itz head.
For now we just sit and wait for the winds to abate and watch videos and cook yet more food.
IT'Z NOW OFFICIAL
We've made it back into Townsville arriving just in thyme for Friday lunch.(B.B.Q) The trip back was not the calmest I've ever been in but still we made it safely.Only minor damage and lotz of water leex.
Now the mammoth task of kleening , drying and sorting the 30 or so compartments that make up the sub floor of Galleycat. We'll have a rest day on Saturday B4 starting the job and look to have it completed be the thyme the V8's set off around Pukakoe NZ.
I now have a solid period of reflection to Thunk about the trip and The Yot, how She handled the RUFF and just what I need to improve,Upgrade to make the whole experience more pleasurable.
Obviously there is much room 4 improvement and with a 3 month break while Richard heads to England should give me enuf thyme to to make the neccessary changes B4 Galleycat setz off on her Big journey across the Top End of OZ!
Already the post trip "blues" have begun so keep your eye on the blog I'm sure I'll bounce out the uther side of my depression very soon and be full off joyful news.
Until then this little rain soaked Black duck simply needs to rest!
enjoy yourselves
Captain Felix