December 2007 - Southeasterly winds the entire trip.

Saturday
Kane Alana and Henry arrived Hamilton at 8:20 and caught the ferry directly to Able Point Marina arriving 10:20 as planned. Brad and Fred's party arrived the marina by 9 and loaded up the boat. The checkout guy drove the boat out of the slip, jumped on the next dock and we motored straight to Nara Inlet.

Sunday
0600, while most of crew still sleeping, we cast off for breakfast and a snorkel at Langford Reef. Then we headed for a dive (1) on the "west" side of the the pinnacles, had lunch in Pinnacle Bay. Overnight at Butterfly bay. All motoring except a brief sail on way to Pinnacle Bay.

Monday
We back tracked to Haymen Island to try to get tanks filled but they refused us entry. We turned around and headed for a snorkel and lunch at Luncheon Bay. Then we headed for Border Island and Cateran Bay. All motoring into the wind except some sailing into wind to Border Island. We dove (2) the eastern wall wall of the bay to the point (fabulous dive, meeting both a huge turtle head-on and a black tip reef shark). Then dove (3) the western head, just at the corner of the bay and a bit around the corner but it wasn't very good. Birthday party part for Fred.

Tuesday (4 hours of sailing)
Breakfast at Cateran Bay then sailed clockwise around Border Island to Dumbell Island where we got a buoy, and snorkeled and dove and had lunch. We had a spectacular dive (4) on the southern 2/3rds of the the SE side of the island. Amazing shelf of plate coral for snorkeling or diving at the tiny inlet near the south end of the SE side of the Island. Excellent snorkel on the north side of the island, We then sailed for Whitehaven beach where we anchored off the beach at the inlet and walked on the beach. We then motored around the back side of Whitehaven Beach to Tongue Bay and anchored for the night. Great fishing after sunset.

Wednesday In the morning some of the crew were dropped off at the shore an walked up to the lookout and down to Whitehaven Beach while we sailed around to the the beach and picked them up. We sailed to Windy Bay on Haslewood Island and anchored about 200 meters SE of the nearby tiny island, and had a great snorkel on the reef that connects the Island to Haslewood Island. A tourist boat dropped snorkelers at the reef on the point a couple hundred metres East of us, so that might also be a good snorkel. We sailed to Hamilton Island for the night, refilled tanks; bought ice, bread, milk, and fruit; had dinner at the Manta Ray Cafe, had real showers and toured the resort.

Thurs We cast off from the Marina at Hamilton at about 6:30 and sailed to Homestead Bay on Cid Island for breakfast. Visited the underwater observatory (not very good) and Hook Island resort then dove (5) snorkeled and lunched about 500 feet around the corner at Hook Passage on the reef facing North on Whitsunday Island. Sailed to Cateran Bay on Border Island for the night and dove (again) (6) the most northerly part of the Northeast side of Cateran Bay. This is one of the best dives ever.

Friday We cast off about 8 and sailed towards Hook Passage then sailed up the coast of Hook Island and stopped at Crayfish Beach for lunch, a snorkel, and a dive (7). We were the only boat in Mackerel Bay. We dove around the most northerly point of the nearby head of Mackerel Bay. Some thought it was one of the best dives of the trip with huge anemones, snagged anchors & fishing lines, and some coral and fish we saw nowhere else on the trip. We sailed (big day of sailing) around the NE point Hook Island and anchored in Pinnacle Bay where we dove the Woodpile (8); a spectacular wall dive. We anchored for the night at Stonehaven Anchorage and had the most spectacular meal of leftover provisions ever seen.

Saturday
Leisurely morning, very calm winds and we motored back to Airlie beach, and arrived about 11AM. Had to wait on boat while gassing up which took forever.

Sunday (4 hours of sailing)
0600 While most of crew still sleeping, we cast off for a day of fishing, swimming, sightseeing, snorkelling and scuba diving on Hook Island and anchor in some secluded sandy cove by 1600. Probably Breakfast at False Nara Inlet. Lunch and snorkelling at Langford Reef but the tides aren't right, so might skip. Probably overnight Butterfly Bay . (North wind plan [20% chance] head to Peter bay Whitsunday Island.

Monday (1/2 hour of sailing)
0900 We cast off for a day of bushwalking, fishing, swimming, sightseeing, snorkelling and superb scuba diving on Hook Island and anchor in some secluded sandy cove by 1600. Probably overnight Luncheon Bay Refill tanks Haymen Island? (North wind - head up Southeast side of Whitsunday Island. Snorkle Crayfish Beach and anchor Mackeral Bay?)

Tuesday (4 hours of sailing)
1100 Dive The Pinnacles then head for Cateran Bay, Border Island for

fishing, swimming, sightseeing, snorkelling and scuba diving bushwalking and anchor in some secluded sandy cove by 1600. Beg dive boats to refill tanks (take extra case of VB to bribe them).

Wednesday (5 hours of sailing)
0600 We cast off for a day of bushwalking, swimming, sightseeing, and snorkelling near Whitehaven Beach (low tide and anchor at Hamilton Island by 1600. Refill tanks; buy ice, bread, and milk; dinner at a restaurant; and real showers.

Thurs (4 hours of sailing) best Snorkling Tide of trip 2 PM
1000 We cast off from the Marina at Hamilton for a day of fishing, swimming, sightseeing, snorkelling and scuba diving and anchor in some secluded sandy cove on Hook Island or East side of Whitsunday Island by 1600. Probably The underwater observatory at Hook Passage.

Friday (1/2 hour of sailing) best Snorkling Tide of trip 2 PM
0900 we cast off for a day of fishing, swimming, sightseeing, snorkelling, bushwalking, and scuba diving on the East side of of Whitsunday Island (Peter Bay) or East Side of Hook Island depending on the winds and probably Anchor at the underwater observatory again. (Heavy easterl wind - Langford reef??)

Saturday (4 hours of sailing)
0600 While most of crew still sleeping, We cast off and beeline for Airlie beach, to be there by 10AM.