Monday 25th July
We hauled anchor at 7:30am. Safia took the helm for the first two hours followed by Bram. We made it to Goldsmith with only 5 tacks. During one of the tacks the headsail furler jammed meaning we had to sail the rest of the way using the staysail. As we anchored in the bay we were greeted by a turtle. Before having lunch Andrew went up the mast to see if there was anything at the top of the mast that could be jamming the furler. He couldn’t see anything. He then greased the bottom of the furler as there was nothing obvious causing the problem.
After lunch Safia and Bram swam to the shore and back and Sandra jumped in for a snorkel. The water temperature is a lot cooler than normal so it wasn’t too long before everyone was back to warm up in the sun. Chill time in the afternoon with Safia reading )(and turtle spotting) and Sandra, Andrew, Bram and Sue matching wits and coming up with cunning strategies in Monopoly Deal.
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Monday 25th July
Another early start so we could get through Solway Passage at slack tide. Again everyone had a turn at honing their skills helming as we made our way south tacking against the wind. We made Thomas Island by 3pm.
After a couple of quick games of Monopoly Deal the fishing rods came out. Unfortunately despite the so called fisherman and women we are having pork for dinner.
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Sunday 24th July
Early morning start, with Sandra on the helm. It was Sandra’s first time helming without an auto helm on. Now she is on a mono/Ketch she knows what real sailing is. After 2 hours of keeping on course it was Bram’s turn at the helm then Safia’s. By the time it was back to Sandra’s turn we had the motor on cruising along Whithaven beach.
Once anchored we went ashore to stretch our legs and walk up to the lookout to see the view and get phone reception.
We made it back to Imagine in time to see the sunset.
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Saturday 23 July
Everyone was up early ready to head out to Hook Reef, unfortunately the weather had other ideas, so we just moved around the corner to Maureen’s Cove.
Sue and Sandra stayed below deck playing scrabble. Safia took the helm again while Bram on the bow guided the way to picking up the new mooring as if they had been doing it for years.
Not long after anchoring it was in the water for a snorkel. After warming up in the sun and eating lunch it wasn’t long before Bram and Safia wanted to head back into the water.
Andrew took them in the dinghy across to Butterfly Bay. On the way they came across three Manta Rays, so it was overboard to check them out. It was more like the rays checking out Bram and Safia, as the curious rays kept cruising up to them. After about 20 minutes they returned to the dinghy to continue to the coral reef. They didn’t quite make it when yet they came across another group of rays just waiting to be played with.
It was another 20 or 30 minutes before Safia and Bram remembered they came to look at the coral. Another half hour and it was time to return to Imagine for rest.
Andrew and Sue introduced the others to a boat burger for dinner.
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Friday 22nd July
The weather has finally changed. Everyone was up early this morning, Bram watched the sunrise from on deck. We waited till after breakfast then we were off. Sails up, just a slight problem. There was only 5 knots of wind. That wasn’t going to stop us getting out of Airlie.
Motor on and off at 5knts. It only took half an hour before the wind got up to 10knt then 15. Sails back and motor off we sailed for 3 hours at about 8knts with Safia at the helm, navigating between other boats and made it to Luncheon bay in time for lunch.
After lunch Andrew, Sandra, Safia & Bram headed off in the dinghy. It was a surprise seeing two Mantarays chasing a school of fish on our way to the next bay. Andrew hadn’t told them what to expect in the next bay.
Everyone’s faces lit up when we tied up at a buoy and they looked over the side of the dinghy. So many fish. They slipped into the water and fish of all sizes surrounded them.
On the way back to Imagine Safia and Bram jumped back into the water and chased the two Mantarays still catching their dinner.
Sundowners on the back deck completed a great day.
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Thursday 21st July
Safia & Bram joined us yesterday as our new crew. Originally from the Netherlands, they flew in from Bali to Brisbane then up here to Airlie.
Today Andrew took Bram & Safia into Airlie to get a few things before we set off.
Back on Imagine we lifted the dinghy onto the deck and tied everything down ready to set off in the morning.
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Tuesday 19th July
Sandra has been onboard for a week now and we are still anchored in Airlie Beach. We have all had the flu to some degree, but that hasn’t stopped us going out sailing, it’s been the bad weather.
Despite all that we have been ashore most days getting the boat stocked ready to go as soon as the other crew arrive on Wednesday.

Wednesday 13th July
It started out at the reef. Toni got crook then Jack. Sue was next and now Andrew got the runny nose and blocked sinuses.
Yesterday Sandra joined us as our new crew member, going to sail with us back to Brisbane. We also had a quick visit from Lydia, who was on her way from Sydney to Cairns. It was good to have a full boat for lunch. Everyone was swapping contacts, what to do and where to go.
This morning it was haera ra toToni and Jack as they left us for the second time. They were heading north to Townsville, then to Cairns where they will stop a few days before flying to Indonesia.
Not long after Sue and Sandra headed ashore, but the wind and waves had got up making it interesting. As they set off through the waves Sandra heard some people yelling and looked over to see people on a yacht that was just tying up to a mooring, waving to come to them. They shouted and pointed to something floating in the water not far from their yacht. The guy had dropped his wallet overboard while hooking the mooring. Sue drove the dinghy up to the object and Sandra scooped it out of the water.
It was a wallet. After checking to see how much cash was in the wallet, the girls were off to the shops.
Ah NO!
Sue then maneuvered the dinghy alongside the yacht and Sandra threw the wallet into their dinghy much to the delight of its grateful owner. With their good deed done for the day they headed into town, returning with new footware, some groceries and a part for the boat.
After lunch it was the customary laze around all afternoon.

Friday 8th July
Yesterday we awoke to a beautiful day. A light breeze and clear water (10m visibility). After breakfast Toni and Jack were in the water exploring the bommies scattered around Imagine. One was packed with fish the next beautiful coral and the next even better.
After lunch we all took the dinghy to the inner edge of the reef. This time Jack took the speargun, but didn’t get anything. The tide was coming in and the waves were crashing over the reef stirring up the water which dropped the visibility down to 2m.
That evening we had to put up with another stunning sunset.
This morning the wind had got up making the water choppy with only 5m visibility. Sue and Andrew ventured into the water to check out some more bommies close to Imagine. With the wind getting up and going to be higher tomorrow, we decided to leave the reef after lunch.
With the main reefed we had a nice sail back to Butterfly Bay averaging 6knts all the way. We will stay here tonight and go back to Airlie in the morning.
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Wednesday 6th July
Yesterday we left Airlie in the rain. It was still persisting down and cold when we got to Maureen’s Cove, so the diesel heater went on while we watched movies. It’s not often that you can see waterfalls in the Whitsundays, but waterfalls were teaming down the rock faces.
This morning we set off at daybreak. The rain had stopped the wind had died and the sea was calm. Not a good day to sail anywhere, so we motored out to the Great Barrier Reef. We did a few zigzags as we passed about 20 whales on the way. The Dophins that joined us were great but not as impressive as a Humpback Whale breaching.
Inside Hook Reef the half meter swell subsided and we made our way deep inside. Jack took to the mast to lookout for bombies. Soon after anchoring Toni and Jack were amazed to be able to see from the deck, the sea grass dotted amongst the sand in10m of water.
After lunch with a light breeze and warm sun we just chilled out after our early start and so that we are fresh and ready for tomorrow.
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