CULTURAL EXPERIENCE!

Potato salad with a side order of coral

G'day All,
               Hanni and his Brotherhood have come and gone and Galleycat is back in Townsville.
To say the weather was perfect was an understatement!
Between glass calm oceans, lunar eclipses and far off thunder and lightning storms the world put on an amazing four days.
The guy's all swore "Alah" was responsible I'm sure someone higher than myself was responsible.
To share The yot with 4 devout Muslims was a true experience.
Between the total faith displayed or the style of foods for me this was a real treat.
As with any merging of cultures there were differences of opinions but there was no way I was giving up my Bourbon.
We left Townsville and steamed through the afternoon and evening arriving at Davies Reef around 11pm.
Then it was thyme for sleep before a " "perfect" dawn greeted us.
We anchored the Yot close to some amazing corals and it was thyme to hit the water.
With crystal clear visibility it wasn't long before everyone was snorkeling or diving.
That all changed when "princess" spotted his first white tip reef shark.
"he was out of the water like a missile"
So Hanni and myself set off for a dive leaving the others thinking we were nuts!
The white and black tip sharks presented no danger at all!
Not so, the 3 meter Tiger Shark that showed up next!
Saner thoughts prevailed and we spent the rest of the morning feeding and videoing this magnificent animal.
Once I get this program worked out I'll upload a video of the feeding.
Lunch thyme! Halal food with a pitta style bread smeared with garlic spread and filled with black olives.
Then the decision to set off for our original target Broadhurst Reef.
Trolling lines out in the hope of a mackerel or tuna.
Several; hours of trolling not much suxcess.
Thyme to anchor up and bottom bounce for emporor and coral trout.
Much more suxcess this thyme with plenty of fish but no monsters.
We then settled in for our first night on the reef, this is where we were witness to the amazing Lunar eclipse complete with "blood moon".
Breakfast was a special style of sausage that was huge when first put on the grill but tiny once cooked.
Still "when in Rome".
We set off for another troll after morning prayer.
This thyme suxcess fresh mackerel for lunch.
The fishing while successful was a little disappointing in my view but the guy's had a ball and healthy competition was soon underway.
Several coral trout and red throats came aboard.
Everyone was settling in the "Reef Life" fairly well, with the exception of "princess' who spent more thyme on his sat phone and I pad than fishing. Appently his parrot was missing him and off itz food!
It was strange to witness 4 grown men who were more attached to the internet than your standard teenager!
Signal was a bit hit and miss, turns out Gmail was having issue's!

Stilll we laughed and joked and everyone had a good thyme.
We spent the afternoon trolling session looking for Tuna, and once again "Alah" stepped in and sent us a nice yellowfin for fresh sushimi!
It was here Princess came into his element, for someone who doesn't eat fish he managed to devour plenty of this ocean delicacy.
I found it very frustrating trying to teach fishing to people who were very "head strong" it was difficult not to offend when my  suggestions are ignored. Still each to there own and I quickly learned to sit back and just let them go for it!
Half the Tuna was cut into steaks and covered in Lebanese spices and chilli. This seemed to go down a treat with the guy's although my lemon butter coral trout was eaten with just as much gusto!
The second evening was all about fishing, squidding and general good fun.
That was until the sharks arrived to gobble every fish we tried to land. No swimming at this spot!
Early sleep for everyone with the beanbags on the foredeck proving to be just as popular as ever.
Early morning prayer woke me and we decided on another trolling session along the outside of Big Broadhurst.
Once again we were rewarded with our target species of a nice spainish mackerel (olay).
Now we had lunch sorted.
Thyme to park the Yot inside Broadhurst for a swim (shark free).
We spent many hours in the shallows enjoying the water.
 At 29 degree's it was a little warmer than Sydney Harbour which the guy's were more accustom  2.
The squid payed us a visit and every weapon was used to target these tasty morsels,still I think the speargun was an overkill!
Despite having good steak and roasts on board every meal was fish in many different styles.
Our final dinner consisted of a whole baked emporor Lebanese style, this was absolutely devoured then followed by fresh Tuna Sushimi and grilled lemon pepper mackeral.
The whole meal was followed several hours later with fresh crumbed pineapple fritters and Ice cream.
Then as all good things must come to an end it waz thyme to head towards land and return to the "civilized" world.
We steamed over glass calm sea's as the wind was offering no help at all.
The Yot arrived at Cape Clevland around 1 am, with high tide not until 8 am the following morning I threw the anchor over and everyone got some much needed sleep.
We were up early the following morning for the final run into Townsville.
Once again near glass calm conditions!
Arrival was thymed perfectly with high tide.
With the Yot safely secured it was thyme 2 say farewell to the guy's and when Hanni presented me with an English version of "The Koran" I was truly touched.

Several loads of washing and rubbish removal was my priority task.
Still I managed a nap around 2 pm.
It seemz I waz tireder than I thort!
(deliberate spelling errorz)
I arose around 11pm.
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Focus now shifts to getting Galleycat ready to head North!
The final cosmetic touches are now being applied.
Felix has taken his place on the galley bench...

FINAL TOUCHES

Say hello 2 Jake!

I may of mentioned B4 that "I HATE PAINTING"!
That said I resemble a confused Dalmatian!
There's more paint on me than the Yot.
Still this should be the last thyme I pick up a paint brush for the next few years. Yippee!
Along with the stickers on the kitchen bench the hulls now have received their final touches as well with a meter tall Felix now gracing the sides of the Yot.
The gloss white coat on the hullz is finish all bar a few touch upz!
Today I'll be completing those touch up and painting the inside of the port hull extension.
With my new crew not being available for a couple of weex I've once again pointed the Yot seaward. However with the winds just a tad stronger than while Hanni and The Brotherhood were here (15-20 knots) I've chosen to hide out in The Palm Islands with Jake!.
 .Captain Felix