Great sail with mainsail and code zero. Wind came up and got quite hectic halfway over Cleveland bay so dropped the code zero and put out the headsail. We maintained our speed. When coming into Horseshoe bay there is a lot of special purpose mooring balls. Not sure what they are for but they take up a lot of good anchoring spots 🤷‍♀️

After a shocking night with consistent winds 25-30 knots we had a nice sail today with headsail and mainsail. Beautiful sunrise this morning, and happy to be in such a calm anchorage at Bowling Green with no wind. Very beautiful 🌅

Thought we would be celebrating 1000nm today but will just have to keep the 🥂 until tomorrow’s anchorage ⚓️ We intended to go further today but chose to hop into this beautiful anchorage CAPE UPSTART and get some reprieve from the wind and enjoy the afternoon since we wouldn’t be getting in to Cape Bowling Green til after dark. A great parasail with following seas but as the wind got up over 20knots and the swells increased it seems like a great time to pause and appreciate the day on anchor. ⚓️

After catching up with friends we took the opportunity of a light wind to sail to Bowen. Code zero and headsail wing on wing. Nice 👍 first time we tried that because we usually use the parachute 🪂 it is an easier option when the winds are variable and slightly light. Waiting on an electronic part to arrive into Airlie and will hire a car to go pick it up. We could have waited at Airlie but we had been in the Whitsundays for a while so got a couple of sails north towards Darwin while there was some wind

A last minute decision to head north even though we are still waiting on an electronic part for our washing machine. Beautiful downwind sail with code zero or headsail as the wind was shifting. Gloucester resort have mooring balls for $40 per night with full access to bar, restaurant, showers and laundry. Can’t ask for more than that. Beautiful spot. Just a cautious transit through the Gloucester passage at low tide. We are hoping to get a transfer from here to Airlie beach to pick up the part we are waiting for but if that is not available we will head to Bowen and get a transfer from there. Nicer to be here at Gloucester resort than hanging around Airlie.

Intending to go to Hook island refuge bay but was a bit messy past the point

Karina and the family have gone back home to the Gold Coast. Mark now has a mate on board so this trip is recorded over the few days. Only a couple of sailing moments due to low wind conditions.

We headed through Solway passage with the tide. A calm and perfect day to go through. We were over to the right with PLENTY of room for all. Along comes a total dickhead in a large motorboat (against the current) with total disregard for any other boats transiting the passage (4 knots of current) with his wake causing large breaking waves. He came by so fast and so close it was impossible to turn fully into his wake. It was a very intense few minutes and the babies were both screaming and very traumatised. In all our time sailing including offshore, we have never encountered such disregard for other people. We have always said boaters are all amazing people because we all rely on each other at some stage. Thank goodness that is mostly the case. This guy was obviously compensating….

With family on board and the winds just doing the same same we headed back to Chalkie’s and were able to grab the mooring ball closest to shore. Less worries when not affected by wind against current but also easier to manage the kids to get to shore etc. We had a resident turtle spend about 45 mins at the back of the boat. Such a treat and some good GoPro footage. 🐢 Did the walk to the outlook again (with shoes this time 😅) and enjoyed the wind dropping off finally. We were trying to work out the current to go through Solway passage so sent Rory off in the tender and he encountered whales coming through the passage. Pretty amazing. Unfortunately no footage as proof. 🐋

After our hike across to Dugong we motored around to TONGUE BAY and picked up a mooring ball further in. Still very windy. The kids (young adults) took the opportunity to get the actual kids off the boat and get some land time. Billie (the 2yr old) seems to be better with two trips ashore a day. Over to Hill inlet beach they went and really enjoyed it albeit incessantly windy. A makeshift birthday cake for our baby girl 🎂 and a good old fashioned Bunnings bucket bath.