Capt Jack On Board

Capt Jack on Board Whitsundays

 What a joy it is to be able to spend time with your adult children. It was a wonderful week with Jacqui on board sailing the Whitsundays and enjoying her company uninterrupted by her normally very busy life.  It was good to see her relax and disconnect from her website and gamining community and her work at Foxtel as an IT engineer.

Due to weather conditions we had a couple of quiet days at Cid harbour, then we made passage to  Whitehaven Beach. Jacqui took opportunity as we went pass Hamilton Island with full internet coverage  to do a live stream to her fans from across the globe. Doing her thing for Queensland Tourism. Jacqui also has a go pro and took a lot of footage which I hope to post latter when she finishes editing her footage.

We anchored off Whitehaven Beach for a stop over followed by fishing at Mackerel Bay.

Fishing has been very lack lustre with only small species being caught and thrown back in to swim another day.  Being so dry we suspect a lot of fish are in the estuaries and rivers .

Mackerel  Bay rarely has any Boats anchored but on this occasion we anchored to do a spot of fishing and we were the only ones in the bay for a bout 20 mins and then 4 charter boats arrived doing snorkelling tours a total of about 200 people, We were latter to discover the reason why.

We made passage to  Blue Pearl Bay to anchor for the night and do snorkelling in the morning.

I was pleased to see the Bat fish still greeting yachts on moorings,  Jacqui’s go pro camera nearly got eaten.

The beautiful coral at Blue Pearl Bay has been decimated by the cyclone and we now realise why it the tour boats were in Mackerel Bay.  I was disappointed for Jacqui but we managed to enjoy the fish species that still reside on the remnants of the coral reef.  

You can see the coral  renewing itself in parts but it will take time.  Since being at Blue pearl I have spoken to a lot of yachties and they have advised on damage in of other popular coral cays and outer reefs.  Bleaching of coral is in the  Cairns region, Lizard island and outer reefs but all reports from yachties have said it is regrowing.

We made passage to Gloucester Passage to Shagger Island Cruising Yacht Club 2018 rendezvous

We became members this year of SICYC and this was our first experience of the legendary Shaggers Weekend.

No its not a swingers group for Boaties………………………….although I cant be totally sure that boat hopping does not go on.

The concept of the club is to create a network for Cruising yachties in a friendly atmosphere raising awareness and funds for prostrate cancer. There are 6000 members across 17 countries and all members are Vice Commodores of a nautical Location.

https://www.sicyc.com.au/

Jacqui and I having Cocktails

I have mixed thoughts In regard to our weekend at Shaggers, incredible amount of work and sponsorship goes into this event  and many friendships are formed with exchanges of information on boating and sailing.  AS well as the social aspect $100K is raised at this event for Prostrate Cancer Council.

 As newbies I found it difficult to be included in conversations with some of the groups as they obviously knew each other well .  But I met some other newbies and  caught up with some boaties that we had met in our travels.

Parrot Head Party

Costume Malfunction with coconuts

Jacqui however was probably the youngest participant and was very engaging.

She fixed  IT problems on Phones, provided tech support, rescued 2 dinghies, one of which she had to dive into deep water to retrieve, baby sat a dog,  rescued a woman that was choking on a peanut, and was a rescue deekie for the water taxi captain who had a difficult transport with a very drunk sailor.

Jacqui Waitress over 100 Dinghes

Terry was able to have a few rums and some lively conversation with Trent Gay owner operator of the Gold Coast City marina.  Terry has a long working relationship with the Gay family and Jacqui also knows them as she has assisted In catering and hosting on ” Emerald Lady” (90ft luxury super yacht) and at the Gay family’s home.

It was an interesting experience, we did not partake in the pirate Party on the Sunday as weather conditions were changing and we wanted a comfortable night before Jacqui Departed on Monday.

We made passage to a small bay on the mainland to have our last night with Jacqui on Board.

It was a special time with Jack after the turmoil and heart break she has experienced over the past 6 months and her ongoing health issues. 

 Jack relaxed, slept and ate well, went on some walks,read books and was very helpful on the boat giving me a chance to have a break from being on helm and ropes.

It is a delight and a joy to spend time with your adult children learning more about their life challenges and plans for the future.  WE are so very proud of this young woman and all her talents and resourcefulness .