There are big changes ahead for Cleone.
It was good to get away from Luganville. It was not an ideal place to start a long leg. The anchorage was on a lee shore, though the holding was good, and the first day and a half were windy. The water was dirty, and the lack of a dinghy dock on the sandy beach made landing hazardous, and it was difficult getting shopping, fuel and water back to the yachts. At least three World ARCers went head-over-heels into the sea trying to land, and all of us got wet every time we went ashore. The slightly decaying but pretty resort looked after us well, though, the food was good and the bar well-stocked and we had a merry farewell party.
The reception arrangements at Cairns have had to change, and we can no longer go direct to Yorkie's Knob (no, he did not made that name up - Ed). We need first to clear in with Customs and Immigration in Cairns itself, and then make our way up the coast to Yorkie's Knob. What happens there is uncertain, but Cleone is booked in to the Big Boat Shed (no, he did not make that one up either - Ed) to be lifted out of the water on 4th August. She badly needs her bottom scraped, and we hope to put on a couple of coats of anti-fouling, to sort out several minor repairs and to replace some worn fixtures and fittings before setting out to explore the Great Barrier Reef as we make our way towards Darwin. We are having to nurse the sails on this leg. After 2500 miles of sterling service they are starting to look tired, and the Skipper is having to make expensive plans to replace them. All will be revealed in due course, no doubt.
At Cairns, Elizabeth will leave us and fly home to Ontario to attend to family matters, and Will sets off South before catching his flight back to UK and University. The Skipper's neice, Nicola Anderson, will join us for the cruise to the Thursday Islands, and Alex Armitage becomes a longer-term member of the crew in Darwin. And of course, Norfy (Chris - remember him?) will be back on board, no doubt refreshed by the rigours of pushing buttons, which we understand is all that is needed to sail the great Kasuje!
Meanwhile, we've good sailing conditions here. There is a fresh to strong breeze behind us, and although the uneven swells are making life a bit uncomfortable, we are now making good progress. And despite a slow start fighting the tide pushing us back towards Luganville as we sailed away down the sound, we hope to make over 130 miles in the first 24 hours.
All well with us, and best wishes to everyone..
James, Elizabeth and Will
Yacht Cleone