What a fantastic day! A highlight of the Australia trip for us both. After roughing it camping and sea kayaking for the last few days, today was blissful mixture of luxury and tranquility. 'Sailing in the Whitsundays', we'd been told by almost everyone, was 'the thing to do' - we just wanted to make sure that if we were going to do it, we'd do it in 'our style'.
There are plenty of big sailing boats at Airlie Beach, with room for upto a hundred passengers, all eager to book you onboard and give you a spin around the islands, but not really being ones for 'package tours', we didn't really fancy doing what the normal folk do.
After a bit of hunting about, we found just what we were looking for - Captain Reg Eggers and his lovely little boat the SV Domino.
There is room for 8 onboard, but we sailed with 6 passengers and a little six year old boy, so we had plenty of room. (Especially compared to my only other previous sailing experience on the Pop-Pin' with Captain Poppleton last summer).
After meeting the sprightly, seventy year old skipper on the docks at eight in the morning, we knew instantly that we were going to be in for a good time. With his well tanned skin and wide smile, he didn't need to tell you that he'd spent many, many years at sea and was still excited to be going back. We were soon ushered down below to be shown the charts and plan for the day.
"By law, the Captain has to give a safety demonstration", Reg began. After a thoughtful pause, he continued, "so when the ship goes down, help yourself to a life jacket and put it on.....and that's about it". I really liked this guy! "Hopefully that won't happen though"....he added, almost as an after thought. Then it was up with the main sail, and away we went!
There wasn't a great deal of wind about to begin with, so the motor assisted us out of the port.
Then with both sails full, we glided out across the ocean - our only task for now, to sit back, enjoy a coffee and some banana bread and watch the water skim by.
I imagine in some conditions, with the boat on full tilt and a gale blowing, it can be quite the full on adrenaline experience, but today, I for one, was quite happy with the more relaxed vibe!
The sun was shining and we'd soon worked up a right thirst doing nothing; then right on que, we were handed a glass of fresh mango juice to help cool off...
We ended up having to motor sail for most of the crossing as there wasn't enough wind to get us to the island we were heading for, but as far as I was concerned, we were on a yacht, out to sea, so therefore, we were sailing!
The light winds meant that it was a less extreme crossing, but all the more relaxing for it...
Around midday we arrived at a private mooring just off the uninhabited island of Bali Hi and were taken ashore in a small dingy.
We left Reg on the boat, got snorkels and flippers on and spent the next hour and twenty minutes snorkelling around the reef. Straight off the beach and we were into a huge shoal of fish. A bit further out and the coral started - all kinds of crazy shapes, colours and layers and some big clams. But even better than that was when Clare spotted a big Green Sea Turtle in amongst the coral. It was just sitting there chilling and together we could dive right down next to it.
Out of the water, on top of some boulders was a big Osprey nest, with a mother and two (very big) chicks peering over the edge. We swam up close and as we did, one took off and slowly glided over our heads about a meter above us to check us out. Magical experiences...
When we got out of the water, Reg's right hand man, (there's probably a better nautical term than that; first mate perhaps?), Dale, had prepared a gourmet banquet on a shaded picnic table on the beach. We wolfed down the delicious shrimps, salmon, chicken and salad platter.
Before getting back on board the boat, there was just time to walk off lunch along the deserted beach...
Back at the boat, there were a few hungry catfish who looked like they knew it was worth while hanging around, in case there were any scraps left from lunch. Clare was brave enough to offer some up.
Time was ticking on though and we soon had to wave goodbye to the island and begin our journey back to the main land.
Without much wind, we had to employ the motor again, so there wasn't much technical stuff to do, just hold the tiller (I think that's the right word?) and keep her heading in a vaguely straight line - a job that even I, with my limited maritime skills, was able to do unsupervised.
We each took a turn at the helm during the crossing...
And also on look out as well. We saw another turtle, flying fish jump past at a terrific speed, but stars of the afternoon were the two huge humpback whales that popped up and made massive splashes with their flippers as well as showing their trademark spurts of water.
All in all it was a wonderful day out, on a great boat with hugely experienced, knowledgeable and friendly crew. Throughout the sail we had the chance to relax, take part, ask questions or just be by ourselves. Something that you'd never get on a 'tour boat' and can only achieve with such small numbers.
We both stepped off back 'S.V.Domino' at the marina with huge grins on our faces, buzzing from such an excellent day out..
Thanks Reg!...
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