Tuesday 31st May We had a 20 knot SE wind gusting 30 knots, and were covering a lot of distance and although I was very seasick at the time I was happy to be moving under sail power once more. Dave caught 2 big tuna one after the other and enjoyed tuna steaks for his tea.

Wednesday 1st June We passed through the Capricorn Passage today and are now inside the Barrier reef. With the wind from the South east we are still getting big waves so we decided to drop the main and run with just the headsail poled out, as we kept reefing and unreefing in the heavy winds. Our speed didn't drop and we are still doing 5 to 6 knots.

Thursday 2nd June We were still roaring along under headsail when we got a gale warning on the local radio, 35 to 45 knot winds from the SE. and 6 metre seas. Before we could take in any headsail the wind hit us snapping the spinnaker pole in 3 places. We rolled in the head sail until there was hardly any left and were still doing 6 knots. We were now 150 miles inside the Barrier reef, luckily the position at the moment gave us 30 miles of sea room in all directions, but if we kept running before the storm we would soon cover the 100 miles to the point were the reef came closer to shore, enroute were several islands and 2 reef patches which we would have to pass between they were 5 miles apart. We knew from previous storms that we had been in that when the wind reaches 40 knots or more visibility is nearly nil, the wind whips the spray off the waves and it is hard to open your eyes for more than a few seconds.

Taking all this into account we decided to go for our usual heavy weather tactic and lie a-hull under bare poles. At this time we still had 30 miles of sea room all around and our usual drift in these conditions was half to one knot with the wind. We took in the tiny headsail made everything secure on deck. Dave locked the wheel and we went below. Immediately the thrumming of the shrouds and the strain on the rigging reduced and all we could hear was the shrieking of the wind through the rigging. At first the wind was not strong enough to hold us steady and we rocked from side to side with the waves, gradually the wind increased MacKay radio the on shore weather station said the forecast was now 40 to 45 knots gusting 50 to 55, we didn't want to argue. As the wind increased the boat began to heel with the pressure of the wind on the mast we drifted slowly sideways creating a slick, as the waves roared towards us they hit the slick and broke. Occasionally we were knocked off by a rouge wave which swamped the boat.

We stood in the cockpit in our oilies watching the waves, sometimes as high as the spreaders, coming towards us, the spume from the breaking tops stung our eyes and soaked us inside our oilskins, suddenly a rouge wave, bigger than the rest hit us on the starboard quarter, smashing the Aries paddle, Dave put on his harness and crawled aft to retrieve it, as it hung by its safety line. He came back into the cockpit "it must be hell on shore a night like this" he said. The storm lasted for 20 hrs, during which time we drifted 15 miles along our proposed course. By 15.00 hrs Friday the forecast was 25 to 30 knots SE so we started sailing again. Suddenly, as quickly as it had come the wind dropped. It was unbelievable; we had to start the motor, 24 hrs before we were under bare poles. As we started got further north we started to see the Whitsunday group of islands on our port side and the Barrier reef to starboard. The water changed to a lighter blue and became much calmer. Saturday dawn found us sailing at 3 knots towards the Cumberland group and the Whitsunday passage. A clear blue sky and light Se belieing the storms existence. The islands were lovely floating in turquoise water as we made our way between them. On Sunday at dawn we passed between Whitsunday and Shaw Island and entered Shute harbour.

Monday 6th June Clive and Barbara our friends, arrived and we stocked up the boat for a weeks cruise of the islands. Dave's birthday is on June 8th so much whispering went on as parcels were smuggled aboard.

Tuesday 7th June 07.00hrs we left Shute harbour and ghosted across the Whitsunday passage to Cid harbour on Whitsunday Island. It was 10 miles and we took 3 hours. We dropped anchor, the only boat there and had a picnic lunch on deck. Then we went ashore and explored a Waterfall and surrounding wood. The men lit a barbeque and we stayed ashore until it got dark.

Wednesday 8th June Dave's birthday. What presents! A crab pot from me, a fishing lure from our friends, and chocolate and a motorcycle magazine from Sarah. We weighed anchor and sailed to Nara inlet on Hook Island, this was a long fiord type inlet. Ashore was a cave with aboriginal drawings and some splendid rock pools.

Thursday 9th June We sailed again late this morning in a fine SE force 4 to one of the outer islands arriving at dusk. The anchorage was very picturesque. Clive caught 11 fish from the boat and we plan to barbeque them for breakfast.

Friday 10th June We all went ashore early and barbequed half of the fish. Dave built an oomu (ground oven) to cook the rest of the fish. He dug a pit in the sand and put hot rock from the fire in the bottom, then wrapped the fish in leaves and laid them on the rocks covering them with more leaves and finally sand. They slowly cooked in their own juice. We left the fish to cook whilst we all went snorkeling on the nearby reef. Returning 3 hours later to eat.

Saturday 11th June We sailed into Butterfly bay Hook island on a light SE and anchored in this almost reef enclosed bay. It is a marine national park and the water was lovely and clear. We spent all day snorkeling and wondering at the beauty of it.

Sunday 12th June We had to return our friends to the mainland today. The wind had turned SW and was blowing a steady 20 knots. We had a vigorous sail beating into the wind to Airlie Beach. Weaving between the treacherous reef around Hamilton Island with someone on the bows looking for yellow water which would signal an isolated coral head. We made a fast passage back, although the Whitsunday passage was very choppy, and dropped anchor in 4 metres amongst the other yachts at Airlie beach. Our friends left next day. We are waiting for spares for the Aries and then plan to head to Cairns to check out before we go to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. We plan to spend 2 weeks there then tackle the infamous Torres straits and the Indian Ocean. Wishing you all a good season

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