Trip from Vanuatu start with super sailing weather but when we were a few hours away from our entry through the narrow pass in the Great Barrier toward Mackay(Queensland) everything went pear shape: in the dark the rain came, visibility virtually zero, 40knots plus winds and the associated rough seas - a no go situation. Anyway we diverted north toward the pass into Cairns - an easier entry but two and a half days away. The atrocious conditions continued for two of them. Little was eaten. The boat revelled in it but the crew wished for better things especially pints of beer in comfortable friendly surroundings. We loved the marina right in the centre of Cairns - maybe infleunced by the generous happy hour 4 til 6 every day. Its a lively clean city, full of young people - a backpackers paradise. We watched plenty of excellent tri nation rugby on the TV and went on excursions into the rain forest, croc watching etc.
We have now started our voyage to Darwin and are in a marina at Port Douglas - a strong wind warning is in force so we will be here a few days before continuing north to Cape York and turning west across the Gulf of Carpentiria. We will be anchoring most nights in deserted bays or rivers. Arriving in Darwin before the end of the month, we hope. Hope all is going well at home. Love to everyone. Ann nd Keith
ps You might have noticed in the press that one of our friends lost his yacht (worth around £800,000) hitting in the night an uncharted submerged reef about 250 miles away from the coast and were rescued by helicoptor. Noone was injured just two very shaken people. The rescue org did a marvellous job.