Greetings from Cairns

Dear Cracklin Rosie fans

Greetings from Cairns, which welcomed us yesterday (16 July 2015) with absolutely no fanfare – harrumph! 

We had about a week in Townsville getting some sail repairs done and also collecting Jim’s daughter Jenny who joined us for the run to Cairns.  We had a good time – catching up with Townsville friends over dinner – and making new friends amongst the yachty fraternity.  Having access to Ian Watson’s car was a huge help – thankyou Ian and Louise Watson.  As well as the boat maintenance type activities, we went to the excellent Museum of Tropical Queensland, and the Aquarium which was also very good.  We became good friends with Michael and Ann Trimble who were moored near us in the marina, and shared meals, beers and bottles of red.  Ann shamed us by having table mats when we had dinner with them, and so we now have table mats – of a fashion.  Michael is an ex-ship’s master and provided us with many interesting tales of life at sea.  He also explained celestial navigation to us over a beer, but alas, we may need further instruction. 

Last Friday, with Jenny Crossland on board, we left and just sailed the 10 nm over to Horseshoe Bay on Magnetic Island which is a very pleasant anchorage.  As usual there were plenty of other boats there!  From there we went to Little Pioneer Bay at Orpheus Island, having seen two whales en route.  Little Pioneer Bay is another lovely spot, and after ringing the next door James Cook University Research Station to receive assurance that there was nothing nasty in the water that would bite us or sting us, Jenny and Don took off for some very good snorkelling over a fringing coral reef about 50 m from the boat. 

From there, we had a pleasant sail past Hinchinbrook Island and then through the Family Islands to Dunk Island.  On this leg, we were involved in a genuine emergency, being the first contact to pick up a radio message from a man on a houseboat in a creek on the other side of Hinchinbrook Island who said his wife was missing!  We then immediately informed Ingham Voluntary Marine Rescue and for the next 40 minutes, we acted as the go-between for messages for and from the man (who was obviously very distressed) to and from the shore-based authorities, who by now included the police, in confirming details and the man’s location.  Because of the situation, the police were anxious to talk to Jim and Don, and while at Dunk Island, we were collected by the Police and taken over to the Police Station at Mission Beach (about 3 nm from Dunk Island) to provide separate formal statements.  We were relieved when we compared our statements after returning to the boat that it seemed we had been involved in the same incident!  There was a report about the missing woman in Wednesday’s Cairns Post, and sadly she is still missing, with the Police still searching and investigating.  It does not look good ….

From Dunk Island, we had a long day motor-sailing to Fitzroy Island (just off Cairns).  The weather was great for the trip, although the impact of the cold snap even reached here, with jumpers being de rigeur all day!  Fitzroy Island is simply wonderful!  It is a hilly island, with rainforest vegetation, white corally beaches, crystal clear water and beautiful fringing coral reefs.  We anchored very comfortably just off the beach, and the weather was ideal.  On Wednesday, we spent the day variously bush walking, snorkelling (excellent), swimming, sitting in the bar reading a book and having dinner with yachty friends who we met in Townsville.  The coral is absolutely wondrous in its diversity, and both Jenny and Don had close encounters with turtles.  Don sent a photo of the lovely scene to his family, and daughter Helen responded immediately with a photo of her in-tray at work! 

Yesterday we made the short trek into Cairns (about 15 nm) where we have today picked up Wayne Fletcher for the journey across to Darwin and we will say farewell to Jenny who is flying home to Perth on Sunday.  We will then head north again via the Low Islets, Cooktown, Lizard Island, the Flinders Islands, Lloyd Bay, Morris Island, Margaret Bay and other places, the names of which we have forgotten, to be in Torres Strait at the end of the month.  We must go ashore at Cape York just so that we can say we have done it.  From there we anticipate being in Darwin on 8^th August.

Because services are rather limited going north, we have done a huge shop today, although the menu on board is rather limited.  We have ascertained that Wayne is happy with curried egg sandwiches for lunch and that he likes spaghetti bolognaise ….  Bangers and mash are also a local favourite.  However, with Wayne’s expert advice, we are expecting Big Things in the fishing department, having had no success at all up to date. 

Ok that is just about enough for now.  Given that communications will be a bit dodgy from here on we have activated our satphone.  The number is 0011 8707 7611 5660.  We will not have it on all the time, but if you ring you can leave a message and we will check it at least twice a day. 

Ok – next stop Cape York!

Regards

Don and Jim