New Years Eve on Linderman Island

We left Hamilton Island mid morning after exploring the islands newest landmark their gorgeous new yacht club and taking many pictures within its stunning views and architecture. However we had to leave as we were due at Linderman Island.
After some good winds finally we ended up moving along comfortably 5 -8 knotts but things always seem to take longer than planned (which is what I have read and been told many times) but whens it's happening you, you just think I want to be organised, it's new years eve, it's 5pm, we haven't and are having trouble anchoring, we haven't got dressed yet for dinner, the kids are getting hungry, we haven't got to shore yet and we have to check in with the resort..........
We finally got to dinner about 8ish very hungry and very happy to finally be there.
Happy New Year!!!!

Hamilton Island

We headed off motoring towards Hamilton Island and managed to get the head sail up for some help from the 10 – 15 knot wind. After radioing ahead to find out and being the busiest time of the year there, we were told they had no births left at all and so could not stay our planned couple of nights there including New Years eve. All very disappointed we decided on plan B, being to head to Linderman Island for a couple of days instead. That was all fine and we were booked into there instead only one problem it looked as if we would need to refuel somewhere. And no where else did this except Hamilton so we were set for there for fuel.
Once under way we all enjoyed a turn at the helm driving and the girls enjoyed it very much. There were squeals from the girls of turtle spotting and the worry we might hit one in the boat if it came up to close but all seemed to go well. Except for the right hand motor that kept stopping and konking out. This was very worrisome especially for Mark as we had just had both motors serviced looked at and repaired.
As we approached Hamilton Island it was mid morning and very hot and humid. With stunning views and a busy holiday atmosphere Hamilton Island was buzzing with activity. We had travelled with one motor most of the way and Mark was concerned with getting someone to look at it as well as moving our large cat amongst these very expensive boats with only limited steering so he had called ahead for help as we came into the marina fuel stand. Mark got hold of a boat mechanic which is a feet being the Christmas New Year holiday break but he could see it the next morning.
Us girls being so hot with the heat decided we were going to jump ship and get in a quick swim in the resort pool (keeping in mind you cannot swim in the ocean at this time of year for fear of stingers) so off we jumped with excitement.
Mark called us girls some time later with the news we don’t have to come back to the boat and leave as they have given us a birth after since we were having work done on our boat. So we ended up staying two nights and enjoying all the beautiful Island had to offer.

Sailing underway

We were on our way to Sid harbour for the night..........We didn't actually leave Shute harbour till the afternoon as there seemed to be one more job to be done.
Our friends had told us Sid harbour is a good and easy access anchorage so we went with that being our first attempt on this our new boat.
The trip took a leisurely 4 hours and we were all just so excited to be underway. Sitting up on the front deck was gorgeous and we are just so blessed to be doing this. Arriving into Sid Harbour was just stunning; the tide was in so it left a tiny patch of beach to be seen and a stunning vista of rainforest with huge mountainous green everywhere to be seen.
Downing the anchor proved very stressful the first time as Mark had been warned that it had some problems and extra caution needed always in Whitsunday Islands for coral bommies, so Mark of course was over cautious and we really didn’t know exactly who was best suited for what job. I initially drove the boat whilst following Mark’s instructions of forward or reverse and then there’s the tide that carries you whether you like it or not. Really not as easy as you think!
We woke the next morning early to the beautiful view of Sid Harbour and turtle spotting was so exciting for all of us. These amazing creatures where everywhere and glided so elegantly in the water.

Merry Christmas 2009

O.K the big Santa day arrived; we moved on the boat the day before and were still living out of our luggage, with not everything having a place yet. Now that may sound miner but everything needs a place on a boat especially if theirs a few of you living on it.
We the parents were exhausted with all the renos and pre chrissy running around add to that the stress of finally getting the fridge delivered but it arrived damaged. Somewhere in transit it had been dropped on its bottom and so was making horrid noises but we just had to go with it as the tiny 12 volt fridge in the boat had already been unwired and removed to make room for the new one, as well as all that food that had to fit in it. Then the heat of a north Queensland summer was also getting the better of us as the portable air conditioner did not do its job so we needed to go out and get the box type and get that installed in a window quick smart to get relief from the heat. All of this certainly was a testing time and it took all my strength to remind myself I have chosen this, this is what I wanted and it’s going to be alright.
The kids loved Xmas morning and it was a huge success and Xmas lunch turned into dinner as we just couldn’t figure out cooking with the new solar dome oven.
I must say it did turn out absolutely delicious. The girls 7, 11 and 14 ate and enjoyed every thing the same as we did. No special or separate food in our house/boat…
We had turkey with cranberries and camembert cheese
Warm salad of baby spinach, rocket, and roast pumpkin and red onion with pine nuts. Salmon in garlic butter sauce was the hit by all and of course some garlic butter prawns thrown in for Mark and Destiny.
We topped it all off about 2 hours later with an Australian classic, Pavlova with mango and blueberries……..Yum! Yum! Yum! We shared this with our new neighbours on our finger next to us Shaz and Julian. Shaz was pregnant at the time and hulled up at Abel point marina waiting their very important delivery.
They shared their monohull with there two Burmese cats whom took a liking to wandering aboard our boat and stealing Lulu’s food. Lulu of course to silly to be bothered if cats steal her food, let them while she spied on them excitedly while they hissed at her.

Oh! The stress with the lead up to Xmas!

How will Santa come visit us on the boat?
That was the problem that seemed to obsess our 7 yr old the most..........We assured her that we notified him we have moved and he knows how to find us on the boat.
With that taken care of, the rest of us big girls Destiny, Saraya and I prepared grocery shops and provisions for our departure and Xmas lunch cooking in our newly installed solar dome oven. Keeping in mind our brand spanking new 12 volt fridge had not arrived yet from Victoria and was expected any day now and I was assured it would get to us in time for Xmas. Xmas lunch is a stretch at anytime in a house but imagine trying to put on a feast for a family of five in the confines of a partly renovated boat. As it would have it everything takes much longer than you think and things were just not going to be ready for our departure for some little gorgeous Whitsunday island on Xmas day as planned, not even Boxing Day would we be ready. The plumber had still not received the part needed for the water system and something else has to done here and there. Mark was still cutting wholes in fibreglass inside the saloon making it near impossible to be comfortable in there without itching to bits. We seized up the vacuum cleaner far too many times, having to wait for it to cool down and re-consume its job again. We girls are still in the motel till Christmas Eve, thank goodness as I don’t think we could have coped living in that mess just yet.

First post!

Location: Airlie beach

We have just driven down from Cairns to take possession of our 38 foot multihaven catamaran, she has 4 births, 2 heads and a up galley in saloon translated to 4 beds, 2 bath and a kitchen up in the main lounge part of the boat. So even though there is five of us everyone gets their own room and hoping they get there own space.
O.K so we are here, it's much smaller than we all anticipated and this particular model was not made with a huge amount of storage space, so we have plans to start making changes straight away to get more storage space especially for the kitchen items.
So Mark begins the major reno while us girls stay in a cheap aircon motel as the combination of heat, dust, dirt and a confined space on the boat do not make for happy relations. It's 35 degree heat with humidity that just hits you in the face when you walk outside and the boat being not fitted with the aircon yet makes it very sticky. Mark reckons the fat has just melted from him and is the answer to his new exercise plan.