Friday 4th July - Coral Sea Marina
With Lazuli ready and Craig and Tal onboard, it was time to head off. It was easy to drop lines with a few extra hands.
With a good 15-20kts SE it was a quick and fun sail across to Stonehaven. Craig took us all the way across.
We grabbed a mooring just as the sun was going down.
Tal kicked me out of the kitchen and whipped up a delicious salad to go with our steaks.
Saturday 5th
Coffee time, then over to Blacks for breakfast.
Fantastic snorkel along the eastern wall.
Motored around to Maureen’s to grab a mooring there. We were aiming for Mantaray Bay, but that and Luncheon were full.
Another delicious lunch - thanks Tal.
Nauti Kitty was in Butterfly Bay. We’d offered (via message) to take the boys around to the fish but got no reply.
Slow tender ride around to Mantaray Bay. Fun feeding the fish and watching the massive GT’s cruising around, and George the massive Maori Wrasse.
I dropped Kristie and Craig back on Lazuli, then took both girls around to see the boys.
They had been keen to go, I just didn’t get the reply in time. They got their wetsuits on and I headed back with the 4 kids.
(I went via Lazuli to let Kristie know - and suggested they move Lazuli around to grab one of the free moorings next to Nauti Kitty.)
The kids had fun feeding the fish. We had the whole place to ourselves when we got there.
Slow ride back to our boats.
Sunday 6th
Up for breakfast, and getting ready to sail down to Border Island. With the SE winds it meant tacking all the way.
Slow trip down with #2 reef and small jib.
We eventually made it to Border Island, but no free moorings. We motored past the other boats to see what they were doing.
One was leaving soon, so we dropped anchor and waited for them.
Lunch while we were waiting.
As the other boat was taking off, Craig zoomed over in our tender just to make sure we’d get it.
With Lazuli safely on the mooring, we all got in the tender and went into the beach. Off for a quick walk.
We stopped quickly at the start to put on shoes, but got slaughtered by mozzies. Once out of the track and into the wind we were safe.
Quick walk up to the saddle for some photos, and then onto the end of the walk to the lookout.
We then walked along the track to the lookout on the other side. Not a big walk.
Back to Lazuli, and Kristie and Craig geared up for dive. I surface watched while they swam around the eastern side of the bay.
Sips ‘n dips. Dinner. Whales.
Yep, whales swimming between the boats anchored out and us. There were at least 4 that came through at about 8:30pm, then maybe the same ones came back an hour later.
It looked/sounded like one of the cats anchored behind us would have got wet from the whale spout it came up that close!
Monday 7th
Another fine breakfast from Tal. Kristina suggested that she should enter a cooking competition.
Kristie and the two girls went for a quick scuba dive at Border Island, just in close and shallow.
Lots of fish and coral. They take it in turns, the other one usually in the tender or snorkeling along with me.
Emma had a good dive, and then snorkeled with me while Kristina was diving.
Back to the boat for Kristie to fill the tanks and then lunch.
Tal disappeared for a SUP around the bay.
We packed everything away to motor down to Tongue Bay. Craig and I got in a bit of work while the ladies were in charge up top.
Timing was good, we rocked straight up and got a mooring!
I had a bit more work to do, so Craig was going to take Tal for a tour of the other boats in the bay with us.
He came back a few minutes later saying the tender outboard wasn’t working well. I jumped in to have a look.
Went for a quick drive and as soon as I tried putting a bit of throttle on it just revved and didn’t go anywhere :(
Got back to Lazuli and had a quick google and look at the prop - we could spin the prop without the shaft moving :(
I tried making a few phone calls to see if anyone in Airlie would be able to help.
(one guy eventually returned my call - but he doesn’t work on small outboards)
We set off into the beach to do the walk to the lookout and back down to Hill Inlet. Way less people here than our last stop!
Good views again from the top.
While up there we could hear Pete and Jess from Nauti Kitty chatting on the VHF (we always take our handheld on beach/tender excursions).
They were anchored just down the beach from Hill Inlet and Pete was out fishing.
We radioed to say Hi and let them know we’d be down on the beach if they wanted the boys to join us?
Arje had a busted toe but was still keen to come in.
The girls and I walked off down while Kristie, Craig and Tal took some more photos at the lookout.
Down at the beach we laid out our beach mats and got drinks and nibbles sorted.
The kids enjoyed exploring on the beach, flying kites, and a big round of group Frisbee with adults as well!
The log got a good climb this time as well.
Sniffy’s toe was starting to give him grief, so he sat on the mat with Kristie.
We realised it was getting pretty late and would be dark by the time we got back. We had head torches for the walk.
I ended up having to give Argie a lift (shoulders/piggyback ride) the entire way back across the sand and up/over the hill.
It was fully dark by the time we got back to the beach. Pete called on the radio and flashed a torch at us to let us know where they were.
I dropped the two boys off on their boat, then Kristie and our girls back at Lazuli (leaving Craig and Tal on the beach for the 2nd trip).
We had offered Jess some strapping tape for the damaged toe, so we’d bring that back.
Picked up the others from the beach and went back to Lazuli to grab our full first aid kit (and some extras Tal had).
Tal made her first on-water callout as a nurse!
Pete had one of his Uncles and Aunts on board. They offered a beer as soon as we were onboard - won’t so no to that.
Tal patched up the toe. Turns out one of the cockpit lockers was open, and had fallen closed on his toe. Ouch.
I think Sniffy appreciated having a medical professional attend his wound.
“Payment” for the call-out turned out to be a large glass of red wine for Tal (I got another beer).
Tal and I eventually left to head back to Lazuli. Craig had cooked sausages for the girls.
Time for our own late dinner!
I managed to spill another glass of red wine on the table and couch cushions.
Tuesday 8th
Breakfast.
Motored around to Whitehaven beach. We picked a spot with not too many boats around.
We didn’t have the anchor down long when we heard a call on the VHF - turns out Viv and Russ from Bella had just arrived.
Got ready for a swim at the beach. Tender down, swim mat on. Craig and Tal enjoyed a jump off the boat and then a swim in to the beach.
I had a fun swim on the mat with Emma, while the others walked down the beach. After a bit Emma and I walked down.
Kristie and Kristina were enjoying a swim just where Bella was anchored.
Russ was in the process of lowing their tender. We watched thinking they’d then come in, but they sat down for a drink :)
I swam out to say hi to them both. Got onboard and Russ offered a G&T. Thanks!
The others all then swam out and Russ made G&T’s all round (coke for the girls!).
Russ dropped us all back into the beach (his nice new 4stroke outboard sounds lovely!).
Pete suggested arvo drinks and nibbiles on their boat with us along with Viv and Russ.
We both moved our boats further down towards where Bella was anchored, just a little more protection from the swell.
We ended up there just after 4pm:
- Jess & Pete and the two boys
- Pete’s Uncle and Aunt
- Kristie & I and the two girls
- Craig & Tal
- Viv & Russ
Lots to eat and drink, lots of laughs.
Viv and Russ went back to their boat for dinner.
I went back to Lazuli to grab our dinner and we ended up eating our dinner back on NK.
Emma was a bit tired and took herself to bed on NK.
Was about 9:30 or so when we all jumped into our tenders and went into the beach for a bit of fun.
NK had their light-up Poi, we had glow sticks, a speaker, also some more drinks.
I dropped Kristie and Emma back to Lazuli as Emma was spent.
Bit more fun on the beach (kids playing tag).
Back to the boat late (10pm ish).. I might have had a bit of a stumble getting back on and woke Kristie up!
Great night.
Wednesday 9th
Hangover.
Earlyish start as we were dropping Craig and Tal off and picking up our next guests.
There was no wind at all, so motoring all the way ~25nm.
I got it a fair bit of work on the trip back while Craig was in charge up top.
Got in to Coral Sea Marina no issues, but the public pontoon was full. We did a drive-by and one of the boats was just finishing up and would be off shortly.
We did a few circles while waiting and getting fenders and lines ready.
Easy dock with all the extra help.
As soon as we were on, Kristie walked off start a load of washing, visit the bottle shop and the Woolies pickup (walk there - Uber/taxi back).
Craig and Tal packed up their gear and helped with the boat jobs:
- Cleaning
- Filling up the water.
Wasn’t long before my sister Jess and her partner Chris turned up.
Said our goodbyes to Craig and Tal.
We really enjoyed having both of them on board. Great company.
Tal’s meals were exceptional, and Craig knows boats and always knew what was needed next and just did it!