Departure

We are finally departing to the Lousiades. The trip is 501 Nm at 50 degrees true from Cairns.

Once we pass through the Grafton Passage we are into the Blue Water of the Coral Sea.



We can be tracked on the following web site Lousiades Rally

Our first landfall will be Duchtateau group of islands ( 11` 20S  152`21E ).

The wind on the passage will be 15-20Knts from the east, but there will be wind squalls so we can expect much stronger winds. Initially there will be a westerly current set and as we get closer to the Lousiades we can expect a northerly set

Count - Down for Start of Rally to Lousiades.

Hi

Sorry for the delay in writing, but time has been a bit tight for us, not only getting ourselves ready, but also helping out the other boats. This has been a learning curve for quite a few of us....
It's now Friday September 10th at 2200 hours, and only 12 hours before we leave Australian shores!
This week has been chock-a-block with more preparations:  Weather briefings; Passage Planning; Safety + Sea rescue talks; Life Raft demonstrations; and Tropical disease, stingers etc lecture.

At 1500hours today we, (and the boat) passed through Customs Clearance, and had our Passports stamped.

So our leaving now feels more final.

After tomorrow and due to the remoteness of the area we'll be visiting, mobile or internet access will be absent.

So check this Blog again at the end of October/beginning of November where we may be back on line.

In the mean time try google earthing the Louisiades. We will be exploring Misima Island; Panasia Island; Nimowa Island; Bagaman Island; and Hoba Bay. Just to name a few.

Our boat is very full, with every storage space taken up, not just with our gear but also   containers loaded with medical equipment; books; fabric etc (donated) for the local  school, clinic and hospital on some of the islands.

Will send photos as soon as we can.

Missing you.

Love Gabrielle and Greg

Dash to the Tropical Rainforests

Before the Rally count down begins (one week before it starts), we thought a few days in the rainforests would be good therapy.


Another advantage in doing this, was to visit my niece (Mel), and her family, who also live in the rain forest belt of the Atherton Tablelands - Mt Molloy.

Here we could get away from the humidity and cool off in the pristine waterfall -fed creeks! The temperature up here is at least 5 degrees cooler than at sea level.

Cooking Techniques

Many novel cooking techniques are used on the boat.

The pressure cooker has been an invaluable device, it makes a excellent risotto's and soups with out the risk of spillage. 

Bread making and Ginger Beer brewing are some of the creations

Upolu Cay

Upolu Cay is just north of Green Island and is exposed at low tide. We quickly summited the high point before retreating back.

A tourist boat arrived and the island was inundated . So we headed back to the boat and on to Yorkey Knob

Plenty of coral nearby and some of the biggest clams I have seen. It is good to see that the coral has not been wrecked as the cay is very close to Cairns.

Fitzroy Island

HMAS Melbourne Encounter

On the way to Fitzroy Island we played chicken with HMAS Melbourne. They where not going to alter course. But when they encountered a Bulk carrier going the opposite direction a few minutes later they changed course.

Olive and Sundried Tomato Bread with Balsamic Vinegar Olive Oil

Baking bread is one of requirements for the skipper as well as toilet maintenance.

We anchored off the South Western shore of Fitzroy Island, near the newly completed resort. Good to have some real beer after the rations of Carlton Cold.


There is good snorkling just off the boat

Aquanauts Jim and Deb

Dunk Island To Eddie Reef To Mourilyn Harbour

Left Dunk Island for a day out on the reef. Thought we'd make the most of the windless days (ideal  reef conditions). One wouldn't want to be anchored on the reef in  ultra strong winds + surrounded by coral bommies!

So motored 15nm to Eddie reef. Not having been there before; and with the chart showing 50m+/- accuracy horizontally and 2m+/- vertically, I stood on bow with my poloroid sunnies, directing Greg's steering around the coral bommies so we could get close enough to drop anchor and go for a snorkel.
However it wasn't to be. It was such a 'zig-zag' route to get in,leaving us no swing room to drop anchor without smashing into the coral. So we reversed; and Deb and I 'stood off' (ie:floated on yacht in  deep channel surrounding reef)  while the boys took off in the rubber duck with fishing gear  and beer!.....We were running low on food and really needed a decent catch.
Fish were caught: Three were under sized so thrown back; The one  edible sized fish caught, needed to be identified (by our fish book),only to discover it was a "trigger" fish, with no  "eat-rating" given.

So, promptly motored 15nm north west to Greg's favorite anchorage for the night! (as shown in photo).

This is a natural (unmade by human hands) harbour., in that it is  (not too narrow) an opening between two  small headlands, then opens up wide (so a sugar cargo ship could spin around) into an all weather protected bay with the Morsby river running up stream.

Here we had the quietest/stillist night's sleep so far on the trip!....after eating
vegetarian lasagna..... maybe a fish dinner tomorrow night!