NEWS # 062
Hi everyone!
Friday and I'm up a little later than usual, worn out after the last few
days. I'm not travelling too far today and head towards Airlie Beach,
gateway to the Whitsunday Islands.
I arrive just after lunch and find my hostel, Backpackers By The Bay,
easily. It's setting is great and it's close enough to town to be accessible
but far enough away, to be quiet.
Jo, the manager, is very helpful in arranging a sailing trip around the
Whitsunday Islands for me. I wanted to sail on Avatar, a huge trimaran but
unfortunately it is full. I decide to go for a trip on Broomstick, a
converted Maxi sailing yacht, which will also allow me to dive again.
Later that evening, I go for dinner with the crew from the hostel. We go to
a place where you buy one drink, for four dollars and can then eat all the
pizza you can, for free! A bargain and we leave well stuffed.
Saturday 14th and I'm off on my boat trip today. I stock up on supplies and
make it to the bus stop for 2.00pm, ready for my bus to the marina. There
are nine of us in the group and six crew, a great balance. Normally, the
boat holds up to nineteen people but there are fewer travellers around at
the moment, not that we're complaining.
Our boat, Broomstick, is waiting when we arrive at the marina and we're soon
on board and away. She's a good size, about 55 feet long and very quick
having won several races during her career. We help hoist the sails and are
soon at ten knots. I'm the first to steer and the wind blows about twenty
five knots as we race along. At one point, a big wave soaks everyone, except
me and my card is marked.
We eventually arrive in Stonehaven, on Hook Island and anchor up for the
night. Allie makes a fantastic dinner and we crash out a few hours later.
The next day, Sunday, we're up early for breakfast and then we motor over to
Luncheon Bay for our first dive of the day. Four of us have dived before and
we buddy up and having kitted up, set off with our instructor. There is much
in the way of corals, especially soft ones but little in the way of fish. We
all hope that we will see more the next time. We see a couple of turtles and
an eagle ray.
On our return, we chill for a bit and then set off in our buddy pairs, for
our second dive. There are more fish and just as we are about to surface, we
come across about fifteen 1.5 metre Napoleon Wrasses.
After lunch, we swim chill and relax. We head out for a sail across the bay
and out into the open ocean. The wind is still around twenty five knots and
we have three reefs in the sail. The skipper decides that it is too windy
for us to dive on the reef and we head back into Blue Pearl Bay, for the
night.
Our last dive of the day, a night dive, is here and we are all looking
forward to it. Visibility is none too good as the wind has been blowing but
we have a good dive all the same. We see a huge crayfish at one stage. After
dinner, we chat until late and then crash out.
Monday, the 16th and we're up early again for breakfast. Soon after, we kit
up, buddy check and head off in our pairs, this time with a divemaster
again. We do a drift dive around Castle Rock and see many more fish and some
excellent coral formations, though the visibility goes up and down a lot.
Our second dive is a wall dive in our pairs and we see loads of fish,
including a nice moray eel.
After lunch, we begin the long trek to Whitehaven Beach, on Whitsunday
island. There is less wind than before and it takes us several hours before
we arrive. We head over to the beach for a swim and a leisurely game of
cricket. The sand is 98% silica and nearly pure white. Even in the heat of
the sun, it remains cool. We see a large goanna, related to the Komodo
Dragon but thankfully not human eaters! The sand flies are more fierce. We
head back to another excellent meal from Allie and chat into the night.
Seeya,
Halesy
