GALLEY CAT

GALLEY CAT
LIFE BEGINS !

Wednesday 6 May 2015

THE LONG WAIT IZ FINALLY OVER!

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.
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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


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