To Anna and Sim, a baby girl!

Anna and her partner Simeon had a baby girl 'Aelwen' on Monday August 26th. All went well, and we were kept in touch by text. Very exciting.

This is my first grand-child.

Anna, Sim and Aelwen

Maggie Island and Townsville

A bumpy beat from Orpheus Island to Magnetic Island, the beautiful island just off Townsville.

We caught up with our friends Lucy and Mal in their Schionning catamaran 'Barbarella'. 

Barbarella

Horse-riding in Horseshoe Bay, Maggie Island

Magnetic Island from the beach in Townsville

In Townsville the Reef HQ Aquarium is not to be missed.

Surgeonfish

Green turtle

Clown fish

Hinchinbrook Island

Hinchinbrook Island, between Cairns and Townsville, is our favourite island on the east coast of Australia. It is big, beautiful and unspoilt.

A few years ago we came here with Anna, who is expecting a baby in the next week or two! 

Usually the east coast of the island faces the wind, so you can can only visit the bays on the outside for a lunch stop, and have to retreat inside for an overnight anchorage. We have struck lucky this visit, with the Pacific being more pacific than I have ever seen. So we could stay at Banksia Bay, next to the iconic Zoe Bay.

Nimrod in Banksia Bay, Hinchinbrook Island

Nina Peak

Cape Sandwich, Hinchinbrook Island

Catamaran sailing south at sunrise

Hinchinbrook Passage

Haycock Island in Hinchinbrook Passage - sunset

Reflections in the morning

Russell Island

Wending south in perfect weather, we leave Fitzroy Island early in the morning and set off for the pretty little island of Russell, part of the Frankland group between Cairns and Innisfail.

I get up and make some coffee while it is still dark, and get the boat moving as soon as I can see other boats well enough to miss them. George gets up and makes breakfast as the sun gets up.

Port Douglas to Fitzroy Island

The trip north to Lizard Island was risky: lots of people had warned us that the wind blows strongly up there from the SE, and that it is hard to escape. 'Its not called Blizzard Island for nothing'.

But we got away with it and made it back to Port Douglas easily in two days with modest winds and a touch of motor as required.

Refuel, and reprovisioning as usual, and then on south to Fitzroy Island to meet up with Blue Spirit and our friends Greg and Jan Charlesworth.

George's practice nurse Malinda has been stalking us in her little cruise liner. She was waiting for us outside Port Douglas at dawn as we left.

Not all boats are luxurious.

A Seawind 1000 (a smaller sistership of ours) among the reflections.

We climbed to the summit of Fitzroy Island.

Lizard Island

We dithered a bit about whether to go further north to Lizard Island. Its a lovely spot, famous for fine diving and a good sheltered bay for boats. But at this time of year it is also famous for strong South-easterlies, hard to sail against when we must go south again.

But the GRIB files looked favourable for the next week, and George has wanted to sail to Lizard for many years. So, hey....

We topped up with fuel and water in Cooktown, and made an early start. After the wind picked up, we had a stunning broad reach kite sail through various islands. Just a most gorgeous sail.

We picked up a couple of small mackerel. Mrs Watson's Bay is popular. We climbed to the top of Cook's Look.

Mrs Watson's Bay, Lizard Island

Kapok flower

Willie Gordon rock art tour

We spent a fascinating day today on a tour of rock art and other aboriginal matters with an elder. This part of Australia seems to have a living indigenous culture, presented by people with dignity and authenticity. Many of our previous attempts to engage with aboriginal culture have been rather disappointing.

Willie is one of the local elders, cousin of Noel Pearson. Very interesting.

Birthing cave

Proud of his heritage

http://www.guurrbitours.com