Hamilton Island

You will have noted Mark talking about 20/25 knot winds, others remaining in port, 30 knot gusts, full safety gear, suffixed with "quite safe"!

Well here is the proof. All our heavy wind sailing in Tiburon has been downwind. This guy is heading south between Hamilton Island and Lindeman, passed by Tiburon on Friday. Look, only a small reef in the main, full headsail, and a big happy wave - "quite safe" - but agin best not to look behind because for some reason no photo has done justice to the size of some of the waves. I guess when the big ones are bearing down we aren't taking photos!

Mark wants our next boat to be more of a competent sailer like this one, but of course it must carry a washing machine an on no account heel to the point it spills the champers!

Anyhow we are at Hamilton ISland and Tiburon is berthed down with the dinghys - at least it is close to the toilets.
Our thanks to Graham and the gang from the catamaran behind us in the photo who donated there leftovers as the cleared off from their bareboat. They made up about 50% of our provisions not to mention the rod, reel and landing net - the "hunter gatherers" toolkit doubled in size with that donation.

Tibby does look a wee small compared to it's playmates in the background. At Mackay a lady (new to sailing) commented to Karen at the "knowledge library" ie., laundry, that she was very apprehensive sailing the 42 foot boat from where they had recently purchased it - Gladstone. She felt it may have been a bit small to be safe, or comfortable, for coastal cruising. Enquired of Karen how BIG her boat was; 27 feet the reply - the lady nearly fainted.

Mark just reminds all that John Guzwell (who was sane) circumnavigated in the 20 footer, Traka.

But does concede that the sanity of Serge Testa, who circumnavigated in the 12 footer Terra Australis, may be questioned!

Anyhow we have enjoyed Hammo:
- hot showers
- most expensive marina so far
- least impressive marina so far
- but with access to all island and resort amentiies for $45 a night it's great
- capucino
- a gr* chinese feed on Friday night
- a great Italian feed last night
- sitting by the resort pool yesterday afternoon with too many Pina Colada and Margarita.

We are off today for 8 nights amongst the Whitsundays, hopefully some snorkeling, and arrive Airlie Beach on the 10th.

Tiburon on a truck on the 11th and should be back at RQYS on the 13th where she will be antifouled, buffed and polished ready for the coming season at RQYS.
We stay in the Coral Sands Resort for three nights. Karen gets a buff and polish ready to return to Brisbane looking as usual beautiful and not at all like a galley slave.

And Mark cannot deny looking forward to a night in a bed after three months, particularly his own, a ride on the Trumpy and giving the kids a cuddle.

We fly home on the 13th where we will see Erin and then the three of us will fly down to Newie on the last weekend in Sept to celebrate Shannon's 23rd birthday.