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| TRANQUILITY |
G'day All,
If there's one thing I hate more than painting itz "WAITING"!
With my current deckhand Alasdair having to complete a trip to Lockhart River with Gary before boarding Galleycat I was basically killing thyme in the islands until he was ready to return.
That thyme has finally arrived!
So Nathan has returned to Kiwi land and Alasdair (Scottish yeti) has taken his place aboard.
No thyme has been lost since then with the Powerdive unit now working overthyme.
We also have a "Go Pro" aboard again to get some amazing underwater photography!
We are yet to crack the video editing and uploading but itz defin8ly getting closer.
The weather has been absolutely spectacular with glass calm conditionz and crystal clear dive visibility.
Even the odd clown fish around to brighton anybodies dai.
This week see'z a dramatic spike in the wind strength so we have had 2 set sail back towards land.
There's very little as far as maintenance issues aboard, so the yot is performing as expected.
I did destroy the spinnacker on the 3rd trip into Cardwell-dungeoness. This has now been repaired and put back into service.
It was a toss up whether to head into Mourylian or point Galleycat North towards Cairns.
In the end Cairns won out and we are now parked roughly where we were 2 years ago.
The concept of not visiting land for 2 or 3 weex at a thyme is working really well and I'm finding the annoyance value of "land " haz increased 10 fold.I've been here just 15 hours and I already cannot wait to leave.
With the demise of V8 supercars as my major reason to return to land each fortnight I am now a true waterborn entity.
Alasdair has already seen far more of the far north coast than I, so I'm gleaning every piece of useful info I can before he moves on.
Gary too has also provided heapz of info.
Andy and Jemma aboard Paws are due to leave Townsville in around a month so I'll be in or around the Cairns area for a few weex at least. But definately out on the reef rather than in town.
With the Reef within a spitting distance it becomes far easier to visit the special places I've already discovered.
Sudbury Cay proved an unxpected gold mine with shallow coral beds and marine life just perfect for foto ography.
Then the special place that is Turtle Bay also was re-visited for several days.
I ended up leaving Townsville on a 2 week round trip and now find myself 4 weeks later in Cairns far from my planned destination.
The South Easterly trade winds are building in frequency so heading Southward again is looking far less likely although I still yearn for the Whitsundays and have not yet ruled out returning to those magical islandz B4 I get too far away.
I can always come back but itz a long way around this island.
With the windz increasing to an average of 25 knots the only "nice" place to spend any thyme is definately Turtle Bay, So we've placed a Gumtree add in the hope of finding a few like minded souls to spend a couple of days on the sandy beach just chilling out.
We also discovered another freshwater spring on the last trip, that makes 3! So fresh water isn't a problem.
The markets of Cairns have been put 2 good use so the Larder is stocked with fresh fruit and vege. I've even managed to procure a few of my favourite "in you face" style of T shirts.
We have a small circle of friends growing and a B.B.Q on the Esplanade turned into a very Big Friday Nite.
With the obligatory hang-over the following day.Never again!
My eyes are already turning Northward with the Great Barrier only getting better the further I travel. The mystical Ribbon Reef system is within range now and I'm just waiting for the breeze to let up B4 visiting this place I've seen only in the Biggest Fishing Adventures
A Big marlin from a yot would truly be one for the trophy books!.
With the wind continuing to blow a consistent 25 knots for the upcoming week plans a being formulated to set sail Northwards again.
The Daintree Rainforrest is just a short hop up the coast with the river winding itz way inland it loox like the ideal place to shelter from the breeze.
The jury is out but itz gaining promise.
-----------------------------
The weather is still fowl (dead chook) !
Unfortunately 4 me, the Flu grabbed me by the throat a week ago!
So itz just now I'm getting any life back.
I might even stomach a bourbon, that will tell you how crook I've been.
The weathers clearing around the same rate as the Flu, so who knows in a few days I should be setting off for the reef again!
Turtle Bay is nice until you spend a week there.
The sheer noise of Cairns is proving 2 much so we are searching for a new base!
I'll keep you posted!
Captain Felix
.
Even the odd clown fish around to brighton anybodies dai.
This week see'z a dramatic spike in the wind strength so we have had 2 set sail back towards land.
There's very little as far as maintenance issues aboard, so the yot is performing as expected.
I did destroy the spinnacker on the 3rd trip into Cardwell-dungeoness. This has now been repaired and put back into service.
It was a toss up whether to head into Mourylian or point Galleycat North towards Cairns.
In the end Cairns won out and we are now parked roughly where we were 2 years ago.The concept of not visiting land for 2 or 3 weex at a thyme is working really well and I'm finding the annoyance value of "land " haz increased 10 fold.I've been here just 15 hours and I already cannot wait to leave.
With the demise of V8 supercars as my major reason to return to land each fortnight I am now a true waterborn entity.
Alasdair has already seen far more of the far north coast than I, so I'm gleaning every piece of useful info I can before he moves on.
Gary too has also provided heapz of info.
Andy and Jemma aboard Paws are due to leave Townsville in around a month so I'll be in or around the Cairns area for a few weex at least. But definately out on the reef rather than in town.
With the Reef within a spitting distance it becomes far easier to visit the special places I've already discovered.Sudbury Cay proved an unxpected gold mine with shallow coral beds and marine life just perfect for foto ography.
Then the special place that is Turtle Bay also was re-visited for several days.
I ended up leaving Townsville on a 2 week round trip and now find myself 4 weeks later in Cairns far from my planned destination.
The South Easterly trade winds are building in frequency so heading Southward again is looking far less likely although I still yearn for the Whitsundays and have not yet ruled out returning to those magical islandz B4 I get too far away.
I can always come back but itz a long way around this island.
We also discovered another freshwater spring on the last trip, that makes 3! So fresh water isn't a problem.
The markets of Cairns have been put 2 good use so the Larder is stocked with fresh fruit and vege. I've even managed to procure a few of my favourite "in you face" style of T shirts.
We have a small circle of friends growing and a B.B.Q on the Esplanade turned into a very Big Friday Nite.
With the obligatory hang-over the following day.Never again!
My eyes are already turning Northward with the Great Barrier only getting better the further I travel. The mystical Ribbon Reef system is within range now and I'm just waiting for the breeze to let up B4 visiting this place I've seen only in the Biggest Fishing Adventures
A Big marlin from a yot would truly be one for the trophy books!.
With the wind continuing to blow a consistent 25 knots for the upcoming week plans a being formulated to set sail Northwards again.
The Daintree Rainforrest is just a short hop up the coast with the river winding itz way inland it loox like the ideal place to shelter from the breeze.The jury is out but itz gaining promise.
-----------------------------
The weather is still fowl (dead chook) !
Unfortunately 4 me, the Flu grabbed me by the throat a week ago!
So itz just now I'm getting any life back.
I might even stomach a bourbon, that will tell you how crook I've been.The weathers clearing around the same rate as the Flu, so who knows in a few days I should be setting off for the reef again!
Turtle Bay is nice until you spend a week there.
The sheer noise of Cairns is proving 2 much so we are searching for a new base!
I'll keep you posted!
Captain Felix.
Ahoy CF
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What SPECTACULAR photos, and I'm glad to hear the sailing is going well, with a range of passengers.
Will write more later - this is just to let you know we've seen the update and were glad to hear from you.
Love
Mum
Ahoy Cptn Felix
ReplyDeleteThe YOT is looking fantastic. And the pics from the GoPro are something to behold. Looks like I need to save up and get you one of those for your birthday!! Finally got my new house in Maida Vale and after a few renovations it will be a very nice place to live and hopefully I can get Emily over to stay. I think the Holdsworth roots are starting to show as I plan to build a big veggie garden and have a few chooks out the back. What's the use of 1000m2 if you can't grow shit?? All that being said, I would love to just shut down for a few weeks and jump aboard the cat for some down time. Especially in those waters. Looks so inviting compared to the cold Perth weather and long list of things to do here. Anyway, hope the winds are fair and the YOT continues to live up to expectations with its new colours and graphics. Enjoy the simple things and let the overpaid fatcats worry about the other crap. Cheers for now Brother Mark
Ahoy Cptn Felix
ReplyDeleteLooks like the weather is going to be crap for the next 65m2. Nothing for it but to visit your old stomping ground to assist your baby brother lay a tile or 200. Hopefully this time tomorrow all the demolition will be finished and we can start the construction phase with new toilet, shower and modified laundry all on the reno block. Then painting and polishing floors before new kitchen goes in and the electrician can finish things off. Can't wait to get the place livable and start working on the yard and veggie gardens. True to Grandpa H's style the back yard will be 50% veggie gardens with every thing under the sun growing to provide much of the fresh requirements. That will hopefully take some of the strain off the budget and also provide better quality and taste to the finished meals. I figure if you can grow these things in the middle of the ocean I should be able to do it in fertile soil. Anyway if you feel like the sailing needs a break for a week or 2 let me know and I will get you on a plane to WA. Cheers for Now. Brother Mark