Heading South

Finally underway again. It has been a busy time in Cairns catching up with family and doing work on the boat. There was a lot to do with the boat. Everything has been washed down with fresh water to remove the salt crystals from the return passage. The watermaker has been backflushed. Patrick & I fixed the genset. Patrick went up the mast again, this time not to the top but to the crows nest to repair one of the spreader lights. I've serviced the starboard engine and Ann's done all the washing - sheets, towels as well as clothing. Also we have had to reprovision -groceries, fruit & veg and drinks. Patrick flew home to Bundaberg on Friday, and straight back to work. We were sorry to see him leave, we miss his company and sense of humour.

We left Yorkey's Knob at midday and motored down to Fitzroy Island a 3.5hr trip. Frank & Pam off "Kooltandra" came over to see us off and help with the mooring lines. As were were coming out of the channel we met "Sanctuary", the rally organiser's boat. They had just cleared customs & quarantine and were on their way back into Yorkey's Knob Marina.

We arrived at Fitzroy Is to a pleasant surprise - friends, Ross & Yvonne off "Halcyon" were anchored in the bay. We had caught up with them in Cairns before going to the Louisiades but didn't know their current whereabouts. It was great to join them for sundowners and share our Louisiades adventures as they are looking to joining the Louisiades rally in 2010.

We have a weather window that will make for reasonable southern passage after all the strong south easterly trade winds so we need to take advantage of it. From here we will leave tomorrow at about 5:30am and travel down to Dunk Is about an 11 hr passage. Then the next day down to Magnetic Is - a 13 hr passage. Then rest up for a day before doing a 3 day jump down to the Whitsundays.

Will use the time over the next couple of long passage days to sort the photos to update the blog. Now that we are back on the Qld coast we have almost total phone & Internet coverage - what a difference from the last month.