Thursday 18th September - Cairns Marlin Marina
The local fuel wharf is extremely busy with all the commercial vessels that need refueling.
I left the booking a bit late and the earliest booking I could get was 10:45am.
So with the boat ready, we had time to do school and a bit of work before we had to head off.
Got to the fuel dock and filled up: ~130L of diesel.
Our plan was to get to the reefs, but the forecast for today and tomorrow had swell and wind was a bit too much, so we planned to have two nights back at Fitzroy Island.
Motored all the way there, and grabbed a mooring.
Got one in close.
We were getting off the boat, and gave the girls a choice of snorkel or walk.
Emma chose to come for a snorkel, and Kristina stayed onboard.
Emma took charge of Kristie’s underwater camera for the entire snorkel. We enjoyed the snorkel, and amongst other things Emma saw a nudi.
It started raining so the three of us quickly jumped back into the tender and back to Lazuli to close hatches and put up the sides.
No walk this afternoon as it was raining.
Our new infill is nice and waterproof; the old one had so many patches and was so old that there were many drips!
With no walk, I had time to catch up on the last blog.
Friday 19th
A bit more rain during the night.
I worked downstairs, and the girls did school up top. Wasn’t long before the sides had to come off as it was getting too hot.
Kristie made the most of clear skies to clean the girls hatch windows; they were getting a bit mouldy after a week of rain.
Lunch.
Then more rain, so the sides went back on.
I did more work.
With the skies finally clear, we took the tender into island; Emma stayed behind and Kristina came with us.
The boat on the mooring next to us was trying to leave, but the skipper was getting in the water to untangle the mooring line from their prop.
Wasn’t anything we could do to help.
The three of us walked to the Secret Garden, it’s only a few hundred meters in.
With that done, we continued the walk to Nudy beach.
There was a rope swing set up on the beach.
Back on Lazuli, the mooring had been banging on the hull a lot, so I pulled the mooring line up onto deck so it wouldn’t bang down the side of the boat all night.
Saturday 20th
Up early to leave Fitzroy at 6:30am.
We motored to Vlasoff Reef, but too rolly to bother stopping. Continued motoring to Michaelmas Cay.
Michaelmas Cay is a bird nesting habitat, and I had read reports of bid poop over boats: I was a little concerned for the new infill and dodger!
There are two moorings there, and both were taken. I took a bit of time to find somewhere away from the bommies to anchor. We dropped anchor but then picked it back up and got closer behind the cay.
Another yacht dropped anchor in front of us and looked like they were over our anchor.
Dropped the tender to go have a chat with them about the anchor. He ended up diving on his and said he couldn’t see ours which was good.
I also had a chat to the yacht on the other mooring and found they were leaving in the afternoon and arranged to take their mooring when they left.
The four of us took the mat into the cay for a good swim. It was busy on the beach with a two big tourist boats.
We checked out the birds; very noisy!
Tender back to Lazuli as the other boat was about to leave. Quick anchor up and got the mooring.
Kristie and I went for a dive. We weren’t sure on the best spot (one of the DM’s from the boat had mentioned to Kristie on the marina that diving there wasn’t that great!)
Viz was ok ish on the outside of the reef, inside down less than 5m.
It wasn’t our best dive: Kristie did a bounce dive to 330m, and my new watch started (and continued) in free-diving mode :|
Kristina and I fed all the fish off the side of Lazuli, so many fish and lots of different types.
We had our Sips ‘n dips while chatting to Bride and Andrew on Hoot (who were out at Bait Reef) who were also enjoying sundowners.
Had the green squid light out; we saw a few bigger fish swim through using the light to hunt, but no squid. It was a green zone so didn’t matter anyway!
Sunday 21st
Kristie filled tanks after breakfast.
Time for a family snorkel: Kristina jumped off the front of the boat, and we went over to the coral where we’d seen others swim.
Kristina and Emma used all the battery in the dive camera, and it went flat.
The snorkel wasn’t too bad; lots of giant clams and numerous of turtles.
Back on Lazuli and we motored to Hastings Reef.
This is where Kristie did her very first ever dive on her Open Water course.
The plan was to take the girls for a dive here and then we might go for a dive.
However by the time we had done lunch and were ready we’d only have time for Kristie to take the girls for a dive then we’d need to head somewhere else as conditions weren’t good enough to spend the night here.
We had dropped anchor in a clear spot between two large bommimes.
Very quick tender ride into the reef and tied onto a mooring ball.
Kristina did a 20min dive while Emma and I followed along. Kristina was swimming around and pointing out everything. I took photos, and Emma kept diving down to check out them and other reef attractions.
Emma then donned the dive gear and did a 10min dive. She was getting a bit cold after her snorkle so kept still and Kristie more or less had to push/pull her through the water!
With the dive done it was then time to head back and get ready to move off.
We went towards Michaelmas Cay, but another boat was on the mooring. Our best option was to push on to Green Island and get a mooring there.
Sip’s ‘n dips then dinner. The mooring was ok, a little bumpy but could have been a lot worse!
Kristina and I enjoyed the clear sky and did a bit of stargazing on the front deck.
Monday 22nd
Kristie and I went for a cheeky snorkel before one of my work meetings.
Work for me, but the girls are now on school holidays!
Lunch.
Heading into the island, went over to say hi to Rhythm who were on one of the moorings. Kristie had been messaging them about the reefs/island further north.
They had 3 reef sharks circling their boat when we got there. It could have had something to do with them hosing fish remains off their boat!
In to the island. Kristie checked with the kiosk when they’d shut (3pm!) but was assured we could still get ice cream after.
The forest walk was very pleasant.
Got to the end then walked back along the beach. Had fun exploring the rock pools and playing with starfish.
Ice cream at 3:01pm, but not at the kiosk as that was closed - had to go to reception!
Had a swim in the pool. Girls had bought their mermaid tails. The water was much warmer than expected.
Sip’s ‘n dips back on Lazuli. We normally only do them on Sunday, but seemed to have slipped into holiday mode?!
Tuesday 23rd
We’re heading back into Cairns marina today, but we had time for a quick snorkel first.
We took the tender to the moorings to the north of where we were. Covered a bit of ground. Good snorkel.
The wind was perfect for a sail back to the channel. We hoisted the main up while still on the mooring.
I worked while Kristie sailed back to the channel.
Dropped sails in a break between meetings and then kept motoring down the channel.
They had given us a blow-on berth, and there was nobody else in the pen with us.
It started raining before we had finishing getting settled, so quickly got the infill and sides on.
Kristie went up to do a load of laundry, and I took the rubbish up.
I got in a bit more work.
Kristie took off to go shopping; new togs for Kristina and a few other items at the shopping centre.
Given her issues with the Shearwater going to 330m, she decided a backup dive computer would be good idea for when we go north.
I took the opportunity to wrap up all the presents ready for tomorrow.
Kristina and I had to do a quick trip out to buy some chocolates for Kristie that Kristina could put in the card/box she’d spent ages crafting.
The girls helped me bake cupcakes ready for tomorrow.
Wednesday 24th - Kristie’s Birthday!
Presents first thing in the morning, not much of a sleep-in for Kristie; Kristina was a bit excited and had been awake early and was moving around above our beds!
I cooked up some bacon, and served that with some French toast and maple syrup. Yum!
With breakfast done we got ready and went to the Cairns Aquarium that was only a few blocks away.
I think we enjoyed the Sydney Aquarium more, but this one had lots of displays that were more relevant to the reef and north Queensland.
Woolies on the way back for hot chook lunch back on Lazuli.
It ended up raining in the afternoon, so we stayed on the boat and had a chill afternoon.
Eventually the rain stopped and we could head off. We needed ice cream for Kristie’s birthday, so off to Cold Rock…
Followed by a cold swim at the lagoon!
We didn’t last too long. Hot showers were required, and then got ready for dinner (I gave the girls their Naan-Pizza on the boat).
We’d booked and arranged dinner at the Prawn Star (3 boats down from us!) and Stuart and Sanne were joining us.
The tiger prawns were tasty, and I enjoyed a few of the Oysters that Sanne shared.
Emma started to learn to peel her own prawns. Finally!
Kristina doesn’t like prawns, so she spent the time doing a few trips back to Lazuli: jelly fish costume hat, then her full costume, then another dress change, then back to get her notebook!
It was then time for the birthday cupcakes, so both girls went back to get them and the candles.
They grabbed their iPads so we could give them more time while we finished drinks.
Thursday 25th
The earliest I could have got Fuel on Friday was going to be 8:30am, and we were hoping to leave a lot earlier than that.
They open the fuel wharf up for filling jerry cans between 8-8:30 every morning.
Decanted the 20L diesel jerry I had, then took that and two others and the petrol cans to go get filled.
Came back and decanted one of the 20L fully to top up Lazuli, so rushed back to refill that one.
We could be away for sometime so trying to take a bit extra diesel with us this time.
I hadn’t ever removed the old fuel line and filter from the tender (since we got the new outboard in Airlie), so knocked off that job this morning as well.
Kristie filled up our water tanks.
I had ordered a new lifting strap for the outboard. The old one wouldn’t work for the heavier 4-stroke.
This had arrived a few days ago and was waiting at the marina office for us to collect; Kristie walked up to grab that for me.
I did some fiberglass jell patching on the tender, and glued some marine carpet on to the tender and onto the davits to stop them rubbing.
Kristie set off for another walk to Bunnings, the pharmacy and Kmart.
Once back she took up another load to the laundry.
We all enjoyed some expensive mangoes she’d managed to bring back from the markets.
With a bigger day planned tomorrow, I wanted to have the outboard off the tender and fixed on the back.
This would be the first time we’d tried with the new engine. The new strap works really well.
Kristie had booked a massage for 2pm, so left to do that while I was still getting jobs done.
Our Woolies delivery turned up, not a big one this time, just enough to replace what we’d gone through in the last week.
Our wind anemometer instrument hadn’t been working in ages. We get wind direction, but not speed.
(not a massive issue - with 30+ years of sailing experience it is easy enough to look at the water and get a good idea of wind speed!)
I figured I’d try and give it a spray and see if it worked.
Sanne came over to help with the halyards. I got up the top and gave it a good spray.
With a bit of pushing it’d start moving with the wind, but turns out it was all for naught as it didn’t keep spinning once I was down :(
Also took a few photos from the top :)
Eggs and leftovers for dinner.
With the weather forecast we were expecting a long sail; I cooked up sausages and banana muffins in preparation.
I needed to spend a bit more time tidying up ready to sail tomorrow.
Did dishes, then walked out to post the post cards and get some more from Woolies and more wine from bottle shop.
Spent a few more hours working.
Tomorrow we leave Cairns and head north… finally.