Tony and Marks visit

Visitors to the Whitsundays

The good weather continues and we sail south to the Whitsunday Islands and our rendezvous with Roger's brother Tony and his son Mark in Hamilton Island. We made good time to Cape Upstart via Cape Bowling Green with favourable winds continuing to push us southwards. The following day
we sailed passed Gloucester Island and anchored the night at Armit Island in the north of the Whitsundays. I had imagined this section of our return trip to be a slog as the distances between possible anchorages is considerable especially if beating and tacking along the coast. In the end it was a couple of days of pleasant sailing with light northerly breezes. On passing Gloucester Island the coastline is again green and lush, with gentle mountainous islands covered in trees. Townsville to Bowen is much drier with the Great Dividing Range set back more from the coast creating a rain shadow.

Whilst we sail towards Airlie Beach and Able Point Marina we slow down to enjoy watching the yachts gathering for the start of another race day. Roger spots a familiar sail and boat and with much waving Rosie and David on Ingenue from Brighton come over. We stop and they circle us as we catch up on each others news.

The Bureaux of Meteorology has posted a strong wind warning for late this afternoon and night with the south easterly winds set to return for less than 24 hours. We elect to spend the night in Cid Harbour making an easy sail in the morning to collect our visitors. That night we drop anchor in the security of this natural harbour along with another 64 boats! So much for the solitude of some of our previous nights.

In the morning with the winds easing we collect Tony and Mark and set out for Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island. This makes for an interesting motor sail for our non sailors! With the swell remaining from the stronger winds and the affect of the tide against this we see some larger swells, overfall's and areas of flat water caused by the spiralling currents! We pushed our way up the Solway passage following a spectacular display of the power of tides on the water. Anchoring at Whitehaven saw the sun going down and the end of another day and the start of a swell dominated sleep. Tony was not that impressed!!

The following morning the Whitsundays turn on all their charms, the silica sand beach glistening white against the back drop of blues and greens. More perfect conditions with little breeze to speak of so it's out with the iron spinnaker ( engine) again! To compliment the weather nature turns on all her marvels with an abundance of turtles, birds, dolphins and lastly humpback whales! Mothers and their babies breaking water, slapping the surface ,breeching and generally looking majestic as they glide through the water. A perfect tour for visitors!

Mark takes a turn at fishing, trolling a line and lure off the back of the boat. His patience is rewarded on his last day on Dreamweaver as he lands a 24 inch Spotted Mackerel! He then practised his surgical skills cleaning and filleting the fish. As the fish was caught on our way to Mackay and it was their last day on board the fish was cooked and enjoyed by all for lunch. The freshest fish any of us had ever eaten I think!

During their stay we visited several islands, Whitsunday, Haszlewood, Thomas, Goldsmith and Brampton this time to all the northerly anchorages. We then motored all the way to Mackay over glass like seas spotting more whales and dolphins on our journey.

It was lovely having guests aboard and as they left to catch their flight home it was Roger and I once more, alone on Dreamweaver ready to commence the journey southwards.