And the moon told us....

Lesson number ? when you see a circle around the moon just like the one on the picture(at Orpheus Island),it will rain and rain it did!

We have made our way trough Magnetic Island,Orpheus Island,Hinchinbrook Passage and are now resting for a day in Mourilyain Harbour 146 07 05 and 17 36 02. What a place this is."Another world" would be the only description.The further north we move it seems, the differences are more profound.Differences in the people we meet and their way of life...harsh climate day after day has all to do with it we feel.They are all extremly friendly and happy with what they have got and where they are.Always happy to chat.Today we went to the local shop,where one could buy anything really.We got given a crab by the local fisherman,rambutans and even managed to buy a pineapple from a stranger,not to mention more fish hooks and lures!No fish yet!Well not quite correct we cought a fish and she was so big that she broke off the line together with our beautiful lure from Wendy and Craig.Any suggestions from our fishing friends are welcome.Magnetic Island was a place where Cpt Cook lost his compass and we will leave it at that.Orpheus is a national park and we could not visit.Hinchinbrook Passage is a spectacular place

,full of crocks and very mystical in a way.Has a distinct look of"gorillas in the mist" in the morning.

The weather started to get bad and the rain came...our passage to Mourilian was rather uncomfortable and we still had to hand steer as the autopilot "Michelle" is not working.Tomorrow we will start very early in the morning,as we will have a very small window of opportunity in regards to weather.Next stop Fitzroy Island and than Cairns.

The most beautiful sunset so far...

***********BREAKING NEWS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SUNSET SO FAR*************

The switch has not arrived...so

A decision was made to live on Saturday. We still managed to win the worst prize at a tropical-shirt competition. We arrived with a palm and still got the worst, I guess it was not a palm competition and there was no creativity price...LOL After saying goodbyes which was sad because they were goodbyes for a long time we headed for Bona Bay 20degrees02'49"S 148degrees26'61"E passing trough Gloucester Passage which was nervously shallow on low tide.(depths varied during this part from 200m to 2 m)Great little place to stay the night.Had couple of visitors on board which is always exciting I could presume not important for when one lives in a city and when you are out here a new appreciation grows for even the smallest creatures take the time to come and connect with us.
"Michelle" the most important woman on board-the auto pilot stoped working which means that we will have to hand steer until we get to Cairns...not easy when you used to comfort.From now on we will be giving you the position details and sail details.We will block it so for those that are interested in facts only will find them easily.Sunday after a rather early start we headed for Cape Upstart 147degrees45'02" and19degrees42'03" this took us almost 6hours and 50 nautical miles...This day was not "in the brochure"...we had wind,wind and more wind,sqalls mixed with rain.Heavy going.

Tried to catch fish and managed 2 pieces of seaweed which I had full intentions chopping for dinner. Robert tried to fish more and chicken was on the menu for the night. Cape Upstart is a very beautiful place(almost copyright : ) and strange in a way.It is deserted.Has beautiful homes and no one is here.Took a walk and found park benches in front of these houses with names like Gary and Mary so sweet. We were and still are the only ones in the bay. Had to stay another day here before sailing to Magnetic Isalnd (Townsville) due to weather not cooperating with our plans.Mechanicaly the generator is not working so we need to hurry because of our energy situation. A long day tomorrow 12+ hours "Michelle" come back...challenges oh well.Sending you all our love Belle and Robert

WEDNESDAY...RACE DAY

We are still at Airlie Beach a very popular FNQ town that looks a lot like Monte Carlo...This is the town that got hit by recent Ului.A lot of boats got damaged and destroyed here. Rather sad,for a number of these boats were homes.Yes a lot of people here make a choice to live on water...most for one reason..freedom : ) I guess we all seek it! Is freedom a reality? Wednesday is a rather special day in this quite far north Queensland town. It is race time with a really nice tradition. Anyone can come to the sailing club and come for sail. Great sight too. FAQ NEWS: we are still waiting for our safety equipment to be serviced(island time...) still working on our Darwin bookings,have a small part, a generator switch on order and planning to leave either Saturday or Monday,switch dependant.Well the weather has to cooperate too. We might leave with another boat and friend John from "Tropical Dream".

Robert and I have been lucky to spend time with John over the last few days as well as catch up with sailing friends and even made some new ones. We have new furniture..YES a new couch...fabulous,most comfortable and matching our colour theme.I have started my lessons on how to operate Cognac...gee I hope this "girl" will help me along.Have a look yourself.Part of lesson 1.

ARE YOUR OFFICE VIEWS BETTER????

Arrived in Airlie Beach …safe and happy. We will be staying here for a few days to service all our equipment, life raft, life jackets, Dan boy (to be thrown overboard when someone falls over. It has a flag on the top and it looks like a 6ft fishing rod so it can be seen over waves,even big waves) all the things that will keep us safe along the way. We also need to make bookings for a berth in Darwin and have found two conflicting stories. Darwin marinas take no bookings in June-July period and the other is that they do. It seems like the later could be closer to the truth. After writing some e-mails to marinas we have couple of responses…and this project continues. We also found out that Darwin is free of most marine pests like Black Striped Mussel, Asian Green Mussel, Asian Bag Mussel and Aquarium Caulerpa(no idea what this is yet). So before we enter a marina in Darwin the hull of Cognac may need to be inspected by a Government appointed Fisheries Inspector and diver. We will need to arrange for that. There are so many rules and regulations and that is before we even left the Australian coast. We will keep on working on our projects…see we work too! We have greatest views at our offices…

SAW TURTLES FOR BREAKFAST- DAY WE HAD MORE WATER IN COGNAC THAN…

Woke up to turtles having a peek at us and lots and lotssss of blue and black butterflies.
Tried to take pictures for you and that was not an easy matter.

We left our peaceful anchorage at 9am with SE 8 knots of wind, not quite enough wind so we motor sailed to Cid Harbor bypassing Lindeman and Hamilton Islands. We have now entered the Whitsunday passage.
This was the day we unveiled our red ensign Australian flag that is meant to fly on Australian registered ships only. It looks great and feels different too- something between official and proud.
This was also a day we had more water in Cognac than outside for a while-well maybe that is a slight exaggeration. We had a broken water pipe that normally delivers water to the deck, instead it leaked inside. Damage was fixed and pipe will be too at Arile Beach which will be our next stop tomorrow.
All in all busy day, great sail. Hope you are all well.Wishing you all could see turtles for breakfast too.

WE LEFT 6TH APRIL 9.30 AM...WITH A DEFINITE PLAN

It has been a really full and eventful day! Lots of emotions even some nervousness showed up.Hmm why is it that we have dreams, make plans to carry them out and than just before we actually are about to start fear shows up? Maybe to test us? After our last long showers, while I was dealing with my butterflies in the stomach/fear Robert was working out the last details on maneuvering Cognac from it's birth to refuel with diesel with the help of dear friends which is not such an easy matter. I often looked at boats, ok they look big and it is only when one has to move them in a marina it is obviously frightening. Filling up with diesel is much like driving to your petrol station, it even looks similar the only difference is that you are 17 meters long, on water have no breaks and must be certain of your moves. All went well and after appeasing the sea gods with a bottle of wine we left Mackay Marina

We had a definite plan to sail to Goldsmith Island where we are now. A lovely quite actually extremely quite and peaceful island/anchorage. There is no gold here, even though "Bobby" promised to give me a little shovel and make me look for it. He always makes me and most of his friends laugh, no different here and now. Today’s sail was a trial sail.. EY..to see if all worked OK and it did for most part.” Michelle" the autopilot was a bit temperamental at first and than sailed us beautifully in very sloppy(another word for rough) sail leaving port. So much so that I ended eating ginger and having a "Little c"nap which is another word for(grandma nap...not the grandma type).Robert was very attentive to every little sound Cognac made, he does this so well and the attention to detail is amazing on his part. Let's say the boat and him have a great relationship going, they take care of each other really well.

I have learned that I have so much to learn. There is so much I don’t know about how to sail this boat and even more that I don’t know that I don’t know. We had a great day and are ready for a BBQ with champagne…
OH... JUST ONE MORE THING,OUR POSTS WILL BE WRITTEN ON MOST DAYS AND POSTED WHEN WE HAVE RECEPTION.

superstitions...WE WERE READY TO LEAVE AND READ THIS

There are so many boat and sea superstitions...not sure about it all and why tempt faith...
It is believed that Friday is the worst possible day to start a journey on a boat because it is believed that Christ was crucified on a Friday-various ships lost at sea disembarked on a Friday.
“Sunday sail, never fail”
Sunday is the best possible day to begin a voyage due to Christ’s resurrection on a Sunday, a good omen.
Never start a voyage on the first Monday in April - which was TODAY

TO OUR BEAUTIFUL FAMILIES AND A BRILLIANT FAMILY OF FRIENDS

HAPPY EASTER FORM FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND...EY

HOPING THAT EASTER BUNNY WENT HOPPETY...HOPETTY...HOP ON YOUR FRONT LAWN AND LEFT LOTS AND LOTS OF CHOCOLATE SURPRISES....ours has lotsssssssssss of little yummy ones,hoped on board,didn't like water garden!

Good Friday hot cross buns bake off and...

It has been another very hot and humid day.
A very busy one at the marina felt much like Australia Day on Sydney Harbour.
Everyone who could have was leaving for Easter to some beautiful spot, nice.
We had a great day,baking hot cross buns with  friends,which is something we do on Good Friday each year.TRADITION,so important.
We also had some great thai food as one person is a great cook and Thai as well.It has been a very pleasant day.Robert decided to unveil his brand new shirt for this sailing season given to him by a very long time patient come friend.I am sure that if you know Robert you would also know the importance of his shirts-the brightest,most outlandish possible.Well this new shirt makes him look like a happy doctor.We all agreed..

There was a little party on the "finger" which is one part of a marina,it is like a footpath.
It is almost 8.30pm and I can still hear the music and laughter outside.

We wanted to decorate Cognac with Easter chicks and eggs.We looked and looked and found not so decided to have a stand in chick.We clearly had 2 choices she was going to be a rabbit or a chick.Decission was reasonably easy-let us know what you think.
It was yet another butterfly day today with lots and I mean lots of large blue and black butterflies flying all over.
We were told that it signals the change of seasons from wet to cooler,with water cooling also and that means not so much jelly fish and better sailing conditions.
Let's see in the next few days because we still plan to start our journey either this Monday or Tuesday.
It must be a good omen to start a new journey during Easter which heralds new beginning,we hope.
We have been looking at good and bad omens for the boat and that is another conversation...you will laugh promise.

Jelly fish...quite beautiful...

One we have seen yesterday.

Now we know how to add pictures...that will make it more fun...Ciao

BOOBOO ran away...if you see him catch him we would like to take him with us...ha...ha...ha

BOOBOO was the name of Michel Jackson's monkey.

There is no zoo in Mackay.
It is 1st of April today known as APRIL FOOL'S DAY
HAPPY APRIL FOOL'S DAY!!!!!!!!
Hope you all had fun today and fooled someone... we have.
Tinker Belle and Robert