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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!

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Monday 6th September.
After such a beautiful day yesterday the weather has turned on us. 25knot winds predicted today over 30 tomorrow with 2m waves. So we have made a run for it. Not before Michael had a quick snorkel. The 25knots turned into 30+ by lunchtime with 1.5m waves peaking at 2m. Nothing Imagine couldn’t handle. With the staysail and mizzen up it made sailing these conditions reasonable.
Safely back at Airlie Beach it’s quiet time. Thats what happens before 5pm (sundowners).
This is the last evening onboard for Michael and Terese before they head ashore to continue their holiday.
Andrew is making his renowned spag bol with garlic croutons for dinner tonight, no pressure Andrew!

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Sunday 5th September.
After spending yesterday chilling out on the beach, today we headed back north.
A superb day in the Whitsundays. The weather was perfect, cerulean skies and light winds. We put the gennaker out and sailed past Whitehaven Beach. A sublime day on the water.
To top it off we snorkeled at Manta Ray Bay. The fish met us at the yacht and followed us in to the reef. Words can’t express how amazing the experience was. Absolute perfection.
We finished the day with a glass of wine watching the sunset gilding the waters of Luncheon Bay and solving the world’s problems with great friends Michael, Terese, Sue and Andrew.

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Friday 3rd September.
After a night of sometimes over 30 knots of wind (but out of the swell) and Imagine swinging around 360 degrees at times, the morning started with a downpour which made for another morning of relaxation.
After a big lunch of pancakes, bacon, blueberries and maple syrup, we tried to get to shore but the tide was too low for the dinghy to get over the reef. So we spent the afternoon relaxing. Michael tried his hand at fishing (we didn’t have fish for dinner!). We are exhausted after all this relaxation, tomorrow may have to be a day of chilling out!

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Thursday 2nd September.
Yes, there are still four on board. We headed south straight after breakfast determined to make it to Shaw Island today. The wind and tide were still against us, but we continued tacking south. The wind at times reaching 30 knots. Waves crashed over the bow as we tacked between the islands. We could see other boats behind us also struggling in the high winds. All eventually giving up, dropping their sails and motoring. One even turning back to the shelter of Cid Harbour.
After lunch we had to turn on the motor as we were only making 1.8 knots headway. By 3pm we made it to Shaw. The wind was still in excess of 25 knots and blowing over the hills into the bay. We found a corner of the bay where we are only getting a few gusts.
Its too gusty to go ashore so we are just relaxing. Terese Jones is working on the sequel to the book she has had published (Blood Will Tell).
By evening the wind was still whistling over the hills with gusts now topping 28knots. We are totally out of the swell so Imagine just points into the wind, which only rocks the boat slightly.

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Wednesday 1st September.
This morning we picked up new crew (our friends Michael and Terese). We set sail for Shaw Island but the weather was not in our favour, so we stopped at Cid Harbour. After lunch a trip to the shore was in order. It was a 2km walk to the next bay and back.
Once back on Imagine it must have been 5 o’clock because we started sundowners on the foredeck. After eating most of the nibblies with drinks the girls decided they were full and didn’t need dinner. So we boys have been left to starve (said the boys with their buddha bellies!).
The blonde (Terese) has talked Sue to Mutiny. The pair of them refusing to get in the galley and make dinner for us hard working males. (Hard work lazing around on deck while the girls wait on them hand and foot).
Cid Harbour is known for shark attacks. We will have to wait and see how many crew are still onboard for breakfast in the morning.