SAILING TO HINCHINBROOK WITH BIG ASH! Part 1

 G'day all from FNQ somewhere off the Balgal Beach area!
I left the last entry anchored in the Palm Island group discussing some pretty good food.
Well  were on our return journey now and I'll open part 1 of this entry with Culinary Magic! The food on this trip has been nuthin short of spectacular.
The opening foto shows Ash's Cajun B.B.Q'd Chicken leg served with fresh basil and cashew pesto and a spicy sausage/ tomato pasta (salsicca). This is just a small example of the eating delights of the past week's Sailing Adventure,here's a few more!

• Grilled Spangled emporer with fresh american coleslaw and garlic buttered potatoes.
• Eggs benedict a'la Galleycat
• Liquid Lunches (Bourbon and coke) Lotz
• Frozen passionfruit/mango Yoghurt
• Baked Potatoes with chorizo ,chives and sour cream
• Baked cod en pappiote' (cooked in a paper) served with corn on the cob, asian vegetables 
• Poached chicken,egg and salad wrap
• Whole slow roasted pineapple
• French toast ,grilled bacon,with sauteed cherry tomatoes and basil
• Asian long noodle soup with coral trout pieces
• Pineapple,pear,cinnamon and apple Yoghurt

Anyway you get the general idea (the food on this trip has been "terrible")
After some average weather we found ourselves leaving Juno Bay on Fantome Island heading for the Hinchinbrook channel until Carlo rang and advised us that he'd just caught heaps of fish out the back of Orpheus Island So we headed there for the following night before continuing  on to the Hinchinbrook channel the following morning.

There we were greeted by an amazing current in the channel like an easy 7-8 knots ,even our biggest sinkers wouldn't hit the bottom 20meters below the Yot. It was now we set off for a feed of mudcrabs and barramundi up Bluff creek, until my old outboard died leaving us "up bluff creek with only a paddle!",we had to wait a few hours for the tide to slow(thank's Mum for the Bushman's repellent in the safety bag)  before we could paddle back to the Yot and "Safety" and a well earned Bourbon!
"Thyme for another outboard."
We left Hinchinbrooks scenery the following morning heading slowly south until we arrived around 3pm at Esk Island were we set abut collecting oysters,shells and a snorkle/dive looking for the elusive painted crayfish. Lotz of oysters but all small and no cray's. So we set out the rods again while Ash played "soft plastics" He caught quite a few small coral trot and cods in a fun session,my bigger lines nails a school shark around 4 ft long. Just after dark the wind changed and turned northerly so we decided to up anchor and set sail during the night  "WOW" nearly a full moon,calm seas ,great music and just Fantastic. Until the wind changed again when we were around 4 miles from Havannah Island. We fired the "donks" and headed for a well earned kip, sheltered behind Rattlesnake Island.
Great anchorage!
After a late sleep 8.30am,it was thyme once again to raise the sails and head southwards again towards Magnetic Island and the possibility of a few Nannygai at a little lump just north of the Island.
We should be back in Townsville around high tide this evening,just in thyme for a Friday night blowout.
 There have been lotz of teething issues with the Yot but nothing we couldn't handle. Except for a busted outboard and a broken generator ,most of the Yots concepts worked really well and just need a few refining points before I can resume the cosmetic side of the build.
All things considered I'd class the trip as a success (meaning we didn't die!)
We are nearly at the fishing spot so that'll do for part 1

I'll update a little more once were safely tucked back ashore in Townsville

ASH FRIDAY!!

G'day All -Apologise for the delay but I been busy! Busy setting sail for the Palm Island Group.
Big Ash arrived here early Saturday morning and we've left Townsville for Greener / Fishy'r places.
As the foto's show the work on Galleycat is progressing and the trial trip is underway. The "led" lighting is working extremely well so far,as well as  many small final fittings being made over the last week itz thyme to put them to the test. The baffle plate is now fitted 2 the belly of the Yot and works really well.
Several rod storage and holding places

have been made and fitted "BUT" we still need a few more and a trace line holder / dispenser. is or the worklist.
The eating side of things is soaring along with Friday lunch being a hearty savoury mince with a crusty coating of  mashed kumera and potato.Really Yummy!
Last night we tucked into a feed of Singapore chilli mudcrab (sorry to those who perished but you tasted mighty fine.) During the trip up Ash knocked up a serve of scrambled eggs on toast, I even drank a hot coffee!
While lunch was taken in the shelter of Rattlesnake Island with a sensational salami and salad wrapp.(almost healthy). The Yot handled the trip up here really well- if not for a few "interesting moments." We were half way down the rear side of Magnetic Island as dawn broke. Not a bad way to greet the day. The wind was a stiff south westerly really strange and it made a trip across to Herald and Rattlesnake Islands a little uncomfortable in hindsight we should of simply headed straight here rather than going around Magnetic Island.

 It didn't take Big Ash long 2 catch a "Small" Fish. Like it took him 3 casts.
We only caught a small mackerel on the trip up here (which was the reason we went behind Magnetic Island) and so far the fishing here is very poor! However the tide has started to move we've got livebaits floating under Balloons behind the Yot as well as a floating Pilchard (Mulie) and a small piece of mullet in the berley trail. Were anchored behind  Bramble Rock and the ocean is glassy calm,with no wind. I can only pray these conditions hold as we head towards the Great Barrier Reef tomorrow morning.

Tonight were having a special dinner of B.B.Q'd Cajun Chicken with a cashew based pesto  on the side  all washed down with a glass of Fellixer Bourbon (however the Ice supplies are running out already) Still it could be worse.!!!
I'm still having issues with the left Yamaha motor, that'll need addressing upon return to Town later next week.
Also I've had to fire up the Genset to top up the batteries before nightfall but this also means a nice hot shower is available.Also means I need to address the refrigeration fittout reasonably soon.
I'm hoping to have a crack at the helmet camera tomorrow as well, This should .

be very interesting esp[ecially if we are at the Reef. Finga's crossed xxxxxx.
Bloggus Interuptus!
New Plan, Itz supposed to blow for the next few dayz so were heading towards Pelorus Island and either the reef behind it or the Hinchenbrook channel.
Dinners nearly ready so I'll leave you with a few Backyard shots for Today.
Ash has even bettererer foto's on his flash fone so he's going to send them to my email  and I'll send them 2 U.
Ciao from FNQ out wide.

Ciao!