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Friday 28th September
We have left Airlie Beach for the last time. We will spend a couple of more days in the Whitsunday group of islands as we head south back to Brisbane. The weather is giving us a chance to explore a few bays we haven’t been able to previously.
The usual south easterly gave us a good sail across to Hook Island and we moored up in Butterfly Bay once again. As we sailed the point to come in a powercat (rent a boat) raced past us and cut across in front of us to beat us to any moorings available. He powered off down the west side of the bay as we continued to the east. As we got closer to shore we spotted a free mooring straight ahead of us. As we got closer we saw the powercat emerge from the west side (obviously no moorings there) with the throttle down going to cut us off again. He didn’t quite have enough speed to get there before us. He could see we were going for the mooring but that didnt stop him coming right up close. We think he was counting on us missing picking up the mooring and having to go around to try a second time and he was going to squeeze in behind us and take it. Not with Imagine’s A-team! We went straight up to it, hit reverse and stopped over the mooring making it a piece of cake hooking the mooring.
The powercat eventually anchored in the bay, but not before powering up to boats on the other moorings in an intimidating way, hoping one would relinquish their mooring.
The winds turn easterly overnight so in the morning we will sail past the famous Whitehaven Beach and tuck in to White Bay on the southern side of Hazelwood Island. There should be good snorkeling and diving.

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Wednesday 22nd September.
The past few days have been spent doing repairs, laundry and restocking the boat. After numerous trips to the shop, each filling the saloon floor we then had to find places to store the food (and remember where we hid it).
With the boat stocked yesterday we all went for a well deserved swim in the Airlie Beach Lagoon. You have to be able to swim fast if swiming in the bay as there is currently a tiger shark that patrols the beach.
Today Sally left us, flying back to Brisbane. The trip ashore was interesting (wet) as we have 30+knots of wind stirring up half meter waves blowing off shore.
The marine rescue boat has been patrolling the bay keeping an eye on the many boats moored and anchored here.

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Friday 17th September.
Last night just before bedtime we discovered the bilge was full of water. So we fired up the pumps and emptied it out. After several guesses we worked out that the prop seal was the cause. We went to bed knowing it would be easier to repair in daylight.
This morning we split the jobs, Sue and Sally cleaned out two of the bilge compartments the water had gotten into. Lydia first googled “how to fix the seal while still in the water”. Then she and Andrew set about the first then the second suggestions. The second one seemed to work but leaked again after a ten minute run around the bay. We thought we would give it time to settle and keep an eye on the leak (it only leaks when in gear).
Well at least Sally got more practice hauling and setting the anchor on Imagine.
After lunch we went ashore to fill the gas bottle and outboard fuel. When we returned Sally wanted to get stuck into seeing what was wrong with our only electrical capstan winch. It had stopped working as we came into Airlie. Sally removed the motor from the winch and Andrew tested the motor (dead).
Lydia stripped the motor but couldn’t find anything obviously wrong with it. We will have another go tomorrow.

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Thursday 16th September.
When we awoke this morning we had no idea we were in the presence of an accomplished artist. We had a leisurely start to the day. Late morning we headed to Langford Reef to find the last under water sculpture in the series.
There were no moorings available by the time we got there so Sue and Lydia did a man overboard as we passed close to where we thought the sculpture was. Sally and Andrew circled the reef while the others went exploring.
Lydia found the Anthozoa sculpture which was too deep for Sue to dive to (7m deep). Not far away was the Turtle we had found previously. This meant we had found all five sculptures.
To complete the man overboard procedure Lydia and Sue swam back out past the line of moored boats. Andrew and Sally then brought Imagine up to them, much to the amazement of the people onboard the moored boats only metres away. Then it was just a matter of the girls climbing onboard via the rear ladder.
With all aboard we set off for Airlie Beach. As we approached Airlie and internet signal all the emails started pouring in. One of Lydia’s emails was to notify her that one of her paintings that was showing in a gallery had been sold. Now she won’t even give us her autograph. She doesn’t think she is able to pull on the ropes any more as it may damage her delicate hands.
Thats what she thinks!!

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Wednesday 15th September.
Lydia was the only one game enough to swim this morning, as the wind was cool and still whistling over the hill.
After breakfast we decided it was a work day. Lydia put a new catch on a cupboard door, then helped Andrew epoxy the breadmaker’s cracked case back together. Sally set forth with the sewing machine repairing the tattered flags. While Sue took inventory, ready to stock the boat for the trip back to Brisbane. Lydia had to take a quick trip up the mizzen mast to retrieve the halyard that had tried to escape up the mast.
By lunch time work day was over and we were back to a busy afternoon of relaxing and snoozing. Lydia later got her artwork out while the others read their books.
Nachos for dinner tonight accompanied by guacamole made by Lydia.

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Tuesday 14th September.
A quick swim and we were off. The wind was due to build tonight so we didn’t want to be out on the reef unprotected. The wind started at 6 knots and reached 10 for a period then slowly died to 5knots, so it was a slow trip ending with us motoring. The sea was calm enough for the Dinghy Captain to spend the time cleaning the dinghy on the foredeck.
We had reached Maureen’s Cove after lunch so it was straight into the dinghy and round to Manta Ray Bay for Sally to swim with the large fish and the Maori Wrasse. The water visibility was not good as the sea had started to turn choppy, but the fish still gathered around close enough to be seen.
Back on Imagine it was time to relax in the sun before dinner.
Overnight the winds got up. Although Maureen’s Cove protects us from the south easterly winds we still got gusts up to 30knots (60km/h) come over the hill into the bay.

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Monday 13 September.
We awoke to no wind, blue sky and brilliant water visibility. Lydia has obviously got soft while spending the past 10 days with her family, as once again everyone was in the water before she even got out of bed.
After breakfast we all piled into the dinghy and headed off to snorkel the edge of the reef. The visibility was awesome and we all enjoyed the colours of the different fish and corals, exploring the bommies on the inside. Then to the outer edge where the reef has a wall that disappears into the abyss. This is where our great white (tanned) hunter (Lydia) struck again. Taking her trusty speargun she disappeared down the wall. A minute or so later she surfaced with a large red fish. She said that it was silver untill it was speared, then it turned red.
When we got back to Imagine we got out the books to find out what fish changes colour like that. Sorry no fish for lunch, it is a Chinaman (very poisonous).
Wraps for lunch. Then back to the reef for more snorkeling. This time our hunter returned with an edible fish. Fish for dinner tomorrow night as Sally cooked a great chicken dish for dinner tonight.

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Sunday, 12th September
Sundowners on the foredeck of Imagine. We must be trend setters, because nine other boats have joined us at Hook Reef. But none of them will be eating fresh reef fish tonight.
Daybreak and Sally was the first in the water narrowly followed by Lydia. After breakfast we lowered the dinghy into the water and went to check out the surrounding bommies (Sally stayed aboard Imagine).
Lydia risked life and limb to catch our meal with her spear gun, leaving her as a tasty morsel for sharks keen to snaffle the catch (and her!!! ) So, here we are sitting on the foredeck, thinking of how to cook the ‘Fred (the fish) fillets’ drinking wine (G&T for Sally), and some unmentionable tea (but we can’t critcise her drink’s choice, Lydia caught supper). Andrew had taught the filleting skills, and then the knife sharpening skills, and how to bait the fishing line.
Great excitement as Sally caught something on the line, but it was Fred’s miniscule cousin, so back he went, to grow and tease other yachties. And now, the sun is well and truly down, we adjourn below to give Fred a fitting farewell.

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After a few days on our own we now have a full boat again. Sally has joined us for the return voyage to Brisbane and Lydia has returned from visiting her parents.
Sally joined us Friday afternoon and Lydia arrived back Saturday morning. As soon as Lydia was on board we set off. There is a three day weather window alowing us to spend some more time out on the Barrier Reef.
Evening was approaching by the time we got to the reef. We were greeted by a number of whales swimming parallel to us all the way to the shallows of Hook Reef. With Andrew up the mast he guided us through the bommies to anchored where we had before.

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Michael and Terese left us this moring. It was amazing we didn’t get soaked taking them ashore against the wind and waves. We had packed their bags inside dry bags expecting waves to come over the bow of the dinghy, but we made it safely and dry’ish.
What are we going to do? The boat to ourselves! No one due to come onboard for a few days! Well there’s the usual laundry and shopping. The maintenance list hasn’t got shorter as no one has been doing any for the past four weeks.
Manyana! Tomorrow will do!