Mackay Reef - YOUR IN MY ZONE.

 

Sens de la Vie - Mackay Reef

 

Mackay Reef -  YOU'RE IN MY ZONE.

After spending a few days at  Fitzroy Island, and a short stopover at Port Douglas, we started making passage to Lizard Island.  Initially we were going to stop into Cooktown on the way but weather and sea state were good conditions to go out on the reefs. 

Very excited Capt big fight to get this Wahoo on board

Capt Teza caught this Wahoo along the way, which put up an incredible fight for over 30 mins.  

I was not familiar with this fish, other than ordering at a restaurant. I was thankful for the calm seas as it took a while to process and to pin bone.

MACKAY REEF

 

Mackay Reef has an unvegetated coral sand cay to the lee side of the reef.  There are over 300 cays in the Great Barrier Reef which are formed over thousands of years  by reef rubble and sand via the action of storms, wave patterns and currents.  

These cays provide rest and breeding grounds for birds.  Bird droppings over thousands of years can produce a concretionary layer that helps stabilize the cay.  

Many cays go under at high tide or disappear with large storms or cyclones.  The bird droppings, feathers carrying seeds or seeds floating from the mainland can result in these cays forming into low wooded islands.  North of Cairns there are over 44 low wooded islands many with navigational beacons. The most well-known is Low Isles off Port Douglas.

We arrived late in the afternoon which negated me diving on to some deep water bommies and it was shark feeding time.

  We explored the little sandy cay and I snorkeled off the sand,  mainly to look at the action of the sand and currents.  The drop off from shore line was very steep on the lee side, shallowing out a distance on the windward side of cay.

I was delighted to be snorkeling in a large school of fish who seemed not at all scared of my presence,  circling me.  But then, in a big flash of silver they were gone.

Ever get that feeling that “you are no longer part of the party”, or “everyone knows something you don’t”, or “you did not get the memo?”, everyone has left the meeting, you're still writing notes and haven’t quiet caught up.

I turned around to see a large black tip reef shark. These are common sharks that cruise the reefs and are generally not interested in you.  But he was making a move and I just realised I was in the middle of his late afternoon snack. 

I am in swimming in the middle of the seafood buffet looking like a walrus in my wetsuit. Turning to face this shark was enough movement' and eye balling it caused it to change direction and for me to retreat without further curiosity or any interest by the shark.

My lookout Capt Teza was unaware

Pardon me I will leave now, sorry to have interrupted your feeding.  Reminding to be mindful that we are visitors to their underwater ZONE. 

You're in MY ZONE.

Living in a small space, travelling as a couple has many challenges, particularly on a boat. Catamarans have the advantage of more room and 2 hulls that a couple can easily make into My Zone and Your Zone.  Thankfully we have 2 Heads (toilets and showers), which helps with a little bit of privacy. 

When possible, visiting islands, or mainland' I will go alone walking or be by myself, just to get a little MY space and head space.  The Capt zones out with books.  He is known to read a book in an afternoon which results in no conversation and him completely in another world.

The main saloon and galley has created the zones of port side Capt Teza and starboard side my Zone.

The photos displayed are pre living on Board and taken awhile ago.  I can assure you at the moment it is very cluttered heap more new equipment and gear.  

Its "Gloriously Messy" ,to be honest I would be embarrassed to take updated photos at the moment  but will do when packing down the boat for Insurance purposes.  

The starboard has the galley main saloon table and all lockers on this side are provision lockers except for the watermaker and generator which are housed in the some of the under seating lockers.

The galley is “MY ZONE” and if Capt Teza comes into this zone whilst I am preparing food he gets a stern warning  “your in my zone”. If tools, oily rags or other foreign objects not pertaining to food preparation make their way onto the benches there is much cursing from the ship's cook.

 

The port side is essentially the Captain's ZONE.  Navigation table, settees, power control board, switches for all our systems, radio, AIS, EPIRB and so forth.

 It’s an unruly collection of bibs and bobs that he needs to get his hands on daily or in a hurry. Spare parts, small tools, maps, pens, keys, bits of paper, all manner of bloke stuff and boat bits complete with a cup of random screws and bolts, ships log, hat, glasses, hand compass, sextant, charts an so much more . 

This Zone is messy but it is the Captain's ZONE and he knows where everything is…………………………..well kinda.  He does asks a lot where is such and such, as he is rummaging about looking……………………my no response works as within a few minutes he will exclaim “here it is! You must have moved it” . The lockers in this area store much of the maintenance supplies electrical, tapes, glues, nuts, bolts and some small tools.

The shared cosy ZONE.

Dressing we take turns, as there is not enough room in the main cabin for both us to be scrambling in the lockers for clothes, balancing to get undies and clothes on, putting sunscreen on and daily grooming.  The few times we have tried this has resulted in me getting hit in the face as Teza puts his arms through his shirt sleeves and Teza getting my bum in his face getting my shorts on.  The cabin does provide a chill out space for Teza to read and completely stretch out in his favored “star position” by himself on the bed.  Our Main Cabin is the cosy ZONE we share happily.

The aft cabin is a storage zone at the moment, but we are going to do a cull of a lot of stuff we brought onto the boat that we thought that we would need.

What we do need going forward in passages planned is to have an aft berth available for overnight passages.  Currently on top of the berth is all manner of gear, Teza’s skate board, extra linen, (too much spare linen), CD’s and Videos, some reference books are going to go but will be replaced by others…………………………..Yes I can hear you all saying, books in the cloud, online or download all good when you have internet, and not always possible to get out a computer (power usage or uncomfortable when rocking).  Besides, I like the tactile experience of opening a book and some of the field pocket guides have been most useful when walking on islands.

We have printer, food vacuum machine, electronic gear, medical and safety gear, lots of water sports gear and sailing wet gear all of which requires a revised storage plan of lockers and ZONES.

 BAR ZONE seems to be increasing in stock selection rather than decreasing.

And the Naughty Locker ZONE - Wine rack, chocolate, lollies, chips, nuts, chocolate and more chocolate did I mention wine.

Liveaboards carry a lot of personal stuff as it is not like “Oh that’s at home”,  this is our home.

 

What is working and what is not working is being identified slowly in this lifestyle transition.  

Many conversations with other liveaboard cruising couples have given us some great ideas………….everyone has different needs and we are learning ours "living in a small space on a big open space at sea".

Everyday we laugh and learn this new way of living and being in the ZONE.

LESS IS MORE.