Couldn't wait any longer in Port Douglas and set sail for a night passage, along the busy sometimes very narrow shipping lane, northwards, with a strong wind warning continuing to be in force. During the night an incident finished up with us progressing downwind under a scandalised main sail stuck up the mast only lowered a few feet. We eventually went into Bedford bay which offered a little shelter and slept for four hours on anchor with the main still up. When dawn broke we haul it down two feet at a time using slip knots tied into the luff and the powerful electric winches. It was in tatters. That afternoon we moved 25 miles up the coast to Flattery bay for a reasonably calm night, before visiting Lizard Island, well known by Capt Cook fans, and BBQing ashore on a deserted beach with six other crews for a birthday celebration. Our Ian and another guitarist played and we sang until all the booze and food had gone. Next morning 5am off for a 12 hour passage to the Flinders Group (45 knot gusts rounding Cape Melville) and then same again for the next two days until we rounded Cape York (NE tip Aussie) via the narrow Albany Passage and night stopped opposite Thursday Island - civalisation of sorts where we could buy limited supplies and have a party in the only motel (no cars)/betting shop/bar cum cafe.
Following day 1130am nine of us started a four to five day race to Darwin - over 30 yachts started the rally - with bad weather forecast for the first three days across the Gulf of Carpenteria. They got it right for a change and the seas were reminiscent of the Atlantic. On one boat 4 out of 5 were hors de combat with sea sickness! We were ok but didn't eat heartily. Now as we catch the rip roaring tides through the NE approaches to Darwin its warm and the sun is shining for the first time it seems in weeks. We should be in Darwin in six hours or so where we will anchor off and hope eventually to find a berth in a Marina. A few beers and a nice meal ashore would not go amiss! All are fit and well. All of you are missed. Love to all Ann Joan and me and the rest on Andante.