Family and Friends

(Airlie Beach, Hamilton Island, Townsville)

Over the past few weeks we have enjoyed spending time with family and friends both on and off the boat. Pete and Dee (Noah’s Queensland Grandparents) met us in Airlie Beach, where we spent three nights ashore in an apartment overlooking the ocean – a different perspective for us. This time also gave the opportunity to catch up with our mate Lawrence who drove down to visit us from Townsville where he was holidaying. Pete and Dee joined us for a couple of nights on the boat after we left Airlie Beach, visiting Nara Inlet, Whitsunday Island and Hamilton Island. Dee caught the first fish of the night and Pete tried to claim it as his – see photo. Not to be outdone, Pete actually caught a few of his own as well. We waved goodbye from Maripi as they left on the ferry back to Airlie Beach, after a fun filled week - a special time for Noah. Thanks Pete and Dee for coming up to visit us!

The following day Noah’s Aunty Lauren flew in to join us on Hamilton Island with Aunty Nay (Lana’s cousin) also joining us the next day. The girls spent four days with us enjoying Noah, the pool, bar, golf buggy drives, shopping, a Maripi boat cruise to Whitehaven Beach and did we mention the bar! We stayed in the Hamilton Island Marina for a week, enjoying all the island had to offer. The berth we were allocated was only vacated the night before by James Packer’s 80ft motor yacht. Maripi took up 1/3 of the space of the berth and was flanked by multi-million dollar motor yachts. Lucky us! Ian our neighbour generously offered us the use of his golf cart which we zipped around in to see the sights and coincidentally Warren on the next boat over was an old friend of Ro’s Dad’s. We really enjoyed our week on Hamilton with everyone.

We set sail for Townsville via Cape Gloucester and Cape Bowling Green, which we have now renamed Cape Rolling Green, after a very uncomfortable overnight anchorage. Our passage from Cape Gloucester to Cape Rolling Green of 80 nautical miles was completed in daylight hours, with the assistance of our spinnaker and 20-25knot winds - a great effort by Maripi. Arriving in Townsville in record time, our lines were taken by our great friends Craig and Robyn from Unhinged. Totally spoilt, Robyn cooked us a beautiful 3 course meal that night, which we shared together aboard Maripi. We celebrated Ro’s birthday on Monday 19th. Noah took Ro to visit the Maritime Museum and it was there we gained more information about the tragic shipwreck of the Yongala, lost without a trace during a cyclone in 1911. 120 lives were lost that night and her position and fate remained a mystery until soon after World War 2. There were no survivors. We had read about it in an old book years ago called Famous Australian Ship Wrecks. That night we went out for a special dinner returning to Maripi to find Craig and Robyn waiting with a birthday cake. Continuing the birthday theme we celebrated Craig’s birthday on the 25th with breakfast at the Casino.

Ro took Noah for his first swimming lesson at the Tobruk Memorial Baths (the local pool) where Dawn Fraser once trained. The instructor said that Noah was a natural in the water. Must be all the practice he has had so far in the ocean. The best part was watching Noah laugh while Ro (the only father in the pool) and all mother’s splashed around singing “If you’re happy and you know make a splash!”
We are now sailing north – with our next major destination being Cairns. Our route is planned via Orphieus Island, Hinchinbrook Channel, Dunk and Fitzroy Islands.
Fish count A=48 R=37