TODAY IS DAYTOO !!!

NICE PHISH!

GR8 BARRIER PARADISE!!!

 G'day all,
                And really big welcome to
         "Life on the Reef".
The wind is up a bit but so is the fishing, music and scenic value.

• BREAKFAST: Eggz Galleycat
• LUNCH: Sesame crusted spanish wrapps with special coriander mayo.
• DINNER: Singapore Chilli Crab          
• DESSERT: Tropical Fruit Compote     with frozen vanilla yohgurt.All this and Big Ash is on a Diet.

He's also having trouble seeing anything with a bad case of conjunctivitus giving him grief.
Itz funny each thyme I sceam "Fish On" and watch him try to open his eyes with his fingers.
The fishing has been "Out of Control" so much so we've given up keeping tally and also given up keeping fish with our freezer capacity maxxed out on day 2.
"Itz truly a 1derful thyme to be on the Cat."
Itz morning on Day 3 now and we've decided on a day of rest with and afternoon of "off the hook" fishing with our target species Spangled Emporer.
There are sum unstoppables here with 10 meters of water below and a 25 meter drop off just behind us.
Breakfast waz a fantastic spanish style omelete.
B4 we decided on a dive of our little piece of paradise.
The tide was neutral so in we went.
That was until the "Powerdive Unit" wouldn't work! Bugger!
I got straight on the email to Powerdive in Perth, No joy there.
So I had a quick look at the unit and remembered them telling me about a carbon brush issue they'd had.
I removed the carbon brush cover plate and cleaned the brush face B4 re assembling the brush.
BINGO !, it fired up straight away.
Thyme 4 a quick dive !
Into the water and straight into a GT (giant trevally) , a heap of corals and even a Maori Wrasse decided to say hello.
I took the new dive camera for a spin.
When we got back to the cat I noticed itz lens was a little fogged over so it won't be until I download the film that I'll know how much was recorded.
Still once I've got the new editing software up and running I should finally be able to give you all some video to watch.
It  waz thyme 4 lunch! We both new we wanted STEAK but what to have with it caused much disscusion.
In the end we decided JUST STEAK!
So 2 huge T bones were  put to death on the B.B.Q  then after a suitable rest period they were consumed with a pint of Bourbon.

Then the "task" of  fishing began again.
What a day Huge spangles, coral trout, chinaman cod and all varieties of cods and emporers fell victim to our cunningly set trrapz.
Several trophy fish made the camera but otherwise they were released to fight again anutha day.
Considering the idea waz 2  have a rest we are doing really well!
The best fights have been on the lighter gear with Big Ash doing battle with a very hard fighting chinaman.
with the prospect of a windy evening ahead we decided to leave Heaven and place ourselves in a slightly safer anchorage.

I mean we were parked hard up against the inside edge of Broadhurst Reef!
Just outside the reef we found a ledge that came from 42 meters up to the surface.
So we placed the reef pick on the top and let out enuf rope to hold us in around 25 meters.
And the battle continued only this place was alot "sharkier".
Still a few more red throats and spangles made the deck.
The wind has continued to build with a steady 15/ 20 knots giving us the perfect opportunity to set sail in the morning.
We have caught more than we can count and we'll use the wind 2 full advantage on the return voyage.
     SPANISH FESTIVAL!
We are half way back to  Townsville and the mornings' sail has turned into a spanish mackeral "free 4 all!"
Once again we've lost count with 4 specimens not being nice enuf to allow us to release them.
Halco red & white laser unbelievable!
Now itz every lure  in the water thatz getting smashed!
The only down side is a persistent floor leak on the main cabin floor and a persistent blood leak on the rear platform!
Oh and of course Ash's eyes!
Never a finer Birthday waz 2B had!, Plenty of fishes,Gr8 food and above average company.
Itz now thyme to turn the whole Yot back 2wards the Reef again with my good mate Hanni due in just a few dayz.
Until then I've begun fixing the few small items that caused grief over the past week.
The batteries have been sent away 2B checked and I've begun to fit the Dinghy loading gantry to the rear deck.
That'll just about end what has been a memorable Blog entry.
Live Long and Prosper, or something meaningful like that!
Captain Felix.

NOT A BAD FIRST COUPLE OF DAYZ

WHAT A WEIGH 2 FINNISH(not spanish) A TRIP!

ITZ MY BIRTHDAY AND I'LL SEW IF I WANT 2 !!!

 G'day All,
Itz my "36th" and it was thyme to learn to sew!
I organised for the best sewing instructor I know to come for a sail and show me how to sow on the Janome unit I bought last year.
So once Mum had arrived in Townsville we set about readying The Yot for sea.
As is usual with this boat we didn't have enuf water 2 float! So I prepared dinner while the Air was filled with a combin8tion of Blackhawk and Chinook helichoppers.
Several Fellixers were consumed, a flash dinner waz cooked  and we waited until the next high tide.
The fishing has dropped to non existent with 2 livebaits being reeled in in the morning and set free after failing to raise a predator, even the crabs have buggered off.
This is all cool! because the following evening I had a full livebait tank and we set off for the top of Magnetic Island .
A pleasant evening sail up Clevland Bay had us arriving at West Point just after dark.
Priority 1 get the fishing lines in the water!
It seems the same malady has befallen at the island with nothin bigga than a garfish being seen or caught all night.
Even the squid came in miniature sizes  with 3 squid caught not any longer than a clothes peg.
Still the music was good, the food was gr8 and the company was even better.
We talked  all afternoon and well into the evening until it waz thyme for shut eye, with the only light being the millions of stars!
Following morn was my actual Birthday and under my system I'm 36 this year!
So a special Brekkie was the first order of the day.
Then it was back to skool thyme, as the sewing machine made itz appearance.
We had cut a heap of heavy vinyl the day B4 and these were sewn into blinds and awnings during the lesson.
Then it was thyme 4 a sail!
I had this insane wish to fly the spinnaker!, so we got ourselves clear of the shelter of Magnetic and begun the task of working out the tecknique of just how to get this sail to work.
Several aborted attempts later it was sorted and the spinnaker was filled with breeze, we were off!
There was only one thing that could spoil this party!
The wind died!
BUGGER ME !
Still it beats working on your birthday.
I've got a good mate in W.A who shares a consecutive Birthday after mine.
When I rang Big Ash he was installing pool fencing in the pouring rain.
Like I said the sailing could of been worse!
G'day All, Itz 36 hours later and the Cat is out of the bag! and out of sight of Australia!
Big Ash is now on this side of the Island while Mum haz moved to the Bottom windier colder part of the island.
I knew big Ash waz due 2 arrive only he didn't! So I could not let the preverbial Genie out of the bottle until now.
We are just about to go out of range of land for 6 glorious dayz parked out on the Gr8 Barrier.
This is the best Birthday eva!
A few dayz with me Mum then a solid week of fishing with my sleepy friend in the front cabin.
We are 20nm off shore heading 2wards Broadhurst reef with the only capture so far  being a 5ft sea snake!
Itz the end of day 1 We're just at the top of Broadhurst Reef with more phish than we can count.
Spaniards, Yellowfin Tuna, Coral Trout, Spangles, and the occasional Shark.
We're both shattered but the music's on the bourbons a welcome accompaniment to the grilled coral trout and mixed salad.
I'm goin 2 close this entry here as the Camera is getting full of fishy fotoz.
2morrow is shallow dive and filming.
Life is defin8ly 4 Living!
Captain Felix