Sailing the Whitsundays...

Sailing the Whitsundays has to be one of the best things we've done during our travels. We opted for a 2 day, 1 night trip on the 'Siska', an 80-foot ex-racing yacht now done-out to accomodate 20-odd guests and a crew of 4.

We set off on Monday from Airlie Beach, and after getting out of port, we (or actually I!) hoisted the main sail and we got going. I'm telling you now, hefting a 350kg sail up a 60 foot mast with only a bit of rope and a few pulleys is a real work-out!

Anyways, we spent the next couple of days sailing around the beautiful (and mainly untouched by man) Whitsunday Islands, stopping now and again for a spot of snorkelling on the reefs fringing most islands, or a trip out to one of the remote and totally unspoilt beaches. One of them, Whitehaven Beach, has sand that is so pure that NASA mined it a few years ago for a few tonnes of sand to make the lense (or maybe mirror?) of the Hubble Telescope. Cool.

Our cabin was brilliant too, right at the front of the boat so it was kind of pointy-shaped! Sleeping on a boat is weird though, with the sound of water sploshing around you and that constant rocking motion that made Clare really sleepy most the time!

Anyways, here's a few of pics for you:




















































































The crew were really great, as were the other guests, especially Tony, our young Canadian friend, wearing possibly the coolest t-shirt we've seen on the trip so far.

Next stop Hervey Bay and the delights of Fraser Island. Only a 13 hour bus journey to get there!

-Si