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Saturday 2nd October
This morning Andrew and Lydia went ashore. Lydia wanted to write messages in the sand. As they were returning to the dinghy which was anchored in the shallows, emerging from the sand came thousands of crabs, making noises as they marched across the beach. Most have brown legs with blue backs, but the larger had yellow backs. When approached they stopped marching and dug themselves into the sand. They seemed to be marching to the waters edge as it retreated with the tide.
On the way back to Imagine Andrew and Lydia came across a turtle just chilling. They managed to get the dinghy within a meter of the turtle and it didn’t seem to mind, it just slowly swam away. Lydia had to jump overboard and snorkel her way back to Imagine where Sue had lunch waiting.
After lunch Lydia did some programming on this website. Now the map displayed on the right hand side of this blog shows where we are (on tablets and PCs), below the SUBSCRIBE and CATEGORIES list. You can also click and select the route we have taken over the past few years.
Great job Lydia

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Thursday 30th September
A short sail south and we arrived at Goldsmith Island. Anchoring again on the north side (Roylen Bay) there were five other boats cluttering the bay. By morning four had left. We just relaxed and swam off the back of Imagine. The following day we were alone in the bay.
Andrew and Lydia went off in the dinghy to try and spear lunch, but there was nothing to be had. Sue and Andrew spent the afternoon on the beach while Lydia got out her paints and went all artistic.
The next few days have low winds so we have moved around to Stingray Bay, to see whats happening on the south side.
We have gone from one other boat in the bay to seven in the bay this evening. With a cool breeze blowing we are partaking in sundowners below deck today. We are having a hard time prising the nibblies away from Lydia as the Infuzions snacks are her favourite.

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Sunday 26th September
Seven thirty and Lydia was up (well vertical) and straight into the water “its f***in cold” came the scream from off the back deck. She’s awake now. Cold or not it didnt stop her swimming around the boat. Climbing back on deck she repeated several times how cold the water was this morning.
Sue and Andrew thought breakfast was more important than a morning swim. After breakfast Lydia went back to bed to warm up, while Andrew cleaned the water filters.
After lunch we all went to check out the other side of the bay. Lydia snorkeled while Andrew and Sue drifted over the coral in the dinghy, with their masks on every so often sticking their heads underwater to have a look. The coral was some of the healthiest and diverse Lydia has seen on the whole trip, and we had the whole bay to ourselves. Back on Imagine it was relax and read a book time, after such a busy day.

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Saturday 25 September
We left Windy Bay this morning. Unfortunately not enough wind to sail and it was a short distance to Whites (Waites) Bay on the southern side of Haselwood Island so we motored around.
There is a large fringing reef here and after we were safely anchored our depth sounder (aka Lydia) jumped overboard supposedly to check the anchor, which she did before taking off for a 2.5 km swim / dive around some of the reef area. Andrew and Sue paddled off in the kayak getting about a third of the way to check out how Lydia was going before they realised that it wasn’t just Sue’s backseat paddling that was making the kayak so bad at tracking but rather that we had forgotten to put the fins on the bottom of the kayak.
After having a chat to Lydia, Andrew and Sue paddled back to the boat to put the fins on then headed to the beach paddling across the shallow waters above the reef. The beach is a mix of coral, shells and sand and along the short walk we saw eagle rays (which Lydia had swum with), stingrays and some sort of sandy coloured ray that was a cross between a stingray and a shark. On the way back to Imagine we saw a few turtles, one of which was about 1m across (a large leatherback).
Back to Imagine and Sue hoisted Andrew up the mast to put some new pulleys on the spreaders to hold the lazy jacks up. We have had the bay to ourselves all day, while over the hill is about 30 rent a boats. Its been wonderful and peaceful.

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During the night it got a little rolly as the swell turned easterly. By morning we were ready to head south. The weather forecast was for 10 to 15 knot winds and a slight swell. As we made it around the point we were greeted with a squall dishing out 30 knot winds with 2m waves. Andrew and Lydia braved the conditions and went out on deck to reef the main sail. Two hours later we had to turn on the motor as the wind dropped to 6 knots.
We ended up anchoring on the northern side of Haselwood island and tomorrow we can head around to the southern bay. This afternoon was relax time. Lydia and Andrew massaged each others feet before dinner of blueberries, bacon and pancakes.

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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.