It's update thyme and the biggest news is a return to blue skies, calm winds and Whitehaven Beach.
I spent many months this past year believing that I wouldn't make it back here.
That fear has now been put to rest, with a return trip to the spectacular white sands.
The visit itself was a short one but a long thyme coming.
Very low tides and Cyclone Dylan have totally removed any possibility of parking inside Hill Inlet for a few days, so we split the anchorages between Windy Harbour and a beach landing on Chalky's beach.
The comparison between the 2 beaches is very similar my personal choice this thyme was Chalkies. We spent the day beach walking, snorkeling, cooking and a bit of Yot maintenance.
An absolutely spectacular sunset was our reward for spending the day on this piece of paradise.
Whitehaven itself yielded many fantastic experiences in the short thyme we were there.Incredible armies of soldier crabs had taken over the shaded area's of the beach and when you approach them they would form into a marching mass that got smaller and smaller as the middle of the mass dug themselves into the sand and disappeared.
Once we re-floated at Whitehaven it was just a short trip across to Windy Harbour as our nite thyme anchorage.
Here we bottomed out again only this thyme on rock and coral which made it very uncomfortable as the tide rose around midnite.
At dawn I moved the Yot around to the bottom of the island to Chalkies Beach. Where we all had a snorkel and swim B4 the Yot was parked on the beach to inspect the hull for damage. None was found much 2 my relief.
Lots of slime and baby barnicles were found, so we donned exfoliating gloves and wiped them away.
Charlotte- our visitor from France, found the concept of eating, diving, swimming then eating again all too much and settled down to "read her book".
Not much reading got done from my view point.
The Powerdive unit developed a small glitch with the mouthpieces (regulators) both developing a slow leak.
We managed to adjust them B4 a test dive over the coral at low tide. No more leaks!
Several snorkelling trips later everyone was tired and the camera memory cards were full so we retired to the Yot and prepared for a Nite thyme sail back to Airlie Beach.
Fantastic sailing conditions and a favourable tide had us rounding the bottom of Whitsunday Island and heading towards Hamilton Island in no thyme at all.While nite sailing is fun itz not that good when everyone around you is asleep, so near 10pm I turned the Yot towards Gulnare inlet and dropped the anchor to join those in slumber land.
We awoke to a spectacular sight. WOW!
This little slice of paradise is definitely on the re-visit list.A full cooked breakfast made up for the lack of dinner the nite B4.
Once we were full and organised the sails were lifted again and we set off towards Airlie once more, arriving just after lunch.
We bid farewell to Charlotte and settled down for a rest nite.
Early the next morning I'd had enuf of Airlie already so we made the decision to visit Grassy Island for a few days.
Chris a backpacker from England joined us at the last minute and we were off again towards one of Kenny's old haunts. (pineapple hunting).
A rocking nite with a flowing dinner of Huge Oysters Kilpatrick, chilli squid stir fry and rice and ending with a fresh sashimi.
A few phish were caught with yet anuthu red emperor coming from the very shallow waters behind the island.
Tomorrow is all about the diving so we'll set sail for Armit Island (a whole 1 1/2 miles away).
This is a totally protected "green" zone and I've dived here last year so I know it's a gr8 dive site.
The visibility for our dive was terrible so we made a small but still illegal fire on the sand (below high tide mark) and cooked a camp oven chook with all the vegies.
An early nite for all.
Morning dive was on the agenda but the weather has turned sensational so we've up anchor for a qwik trip back to Airlie to refuel and food B4 a monumental trip out to The Gr8 Barrier Reef.We have chosen a group of coral atoll's on the outer edge of the reef system, about 20 miles south of Airlie Beach. We figure this patch of reef is less likely to be over fished and hopefully less cyclone damage as well.
Chris has fitted really well into the Yot routine with a keenness reminiscent of Lydern's enthusiasm.
Last minute issues arose with our reef trip ie the fuel jetty was closed!
So we spent the nite in Airlie Beach again.
Mick, Annalie and Kane (the dog) payed us a visit . Lotz of alcohol was consumed while a feed of fresh red emperor fillets were crumbed with a herb crumb B4 being panfried and served with a feed of extra crispy chips.
Around 9.30 we made contact with Daisy from England and Lucie from Germany who agreed to meet up with us first thing in the morn.
So we continued to drink and chat til the wee hours of the morn.The food over the past few days has returned to the core concept of GALLEYCAT with a good portion of each day dedic8ed to collecting and preparing the freshest ingredients we can from the ocean and gardens to make some amazing dishes.
If we eat any more oysters we'll all start to grow shells. While the fish we catch are keeping us eating in style along side dishes of fresh squid as well.
Some of the oysters have to be seen 2B believed! While more than enough sweetlip and red emperor is being caught by all on board.
I'm beginning to find a sense of achievement with the way the Yot is functioning.
Our trip out wide to the reef has had a small set back with Daisy and Lucy enjoying a nite aboard B4 deciding not to continue to the reef.
So with mixed emotion I turned the Yot around and headed back towards Airlie.
A full blown thunderstorm was our reward during the return journey with thousands of lightening bolts but very little wind to speak of.
Once we reached Airlie around midnight it was thyme for a much needed sleep B4 a full cooked breakfast for all on board plus Mick and Annalie as well.
Decisions were made and the girls both left the Yot along with Torsten who is heading back to Townsville and his other life.
While Chris and I refuelled and resupplied the Yot with the basics B4 setting of for Bait Reef.
And thus a new adventure begins.
Captain Felix
