As the cyclone season approaches Team Por Dos said farewell to Airlie Beach & Sorrento's to make the journey South for summer. We had a pleasant motor in no wind to Turtle Bay on Whitsunday Island where we anchored for the night in a pretty bay with a couple of beaches. True to it's name we saw a huge turtle swimming in the bay, such an incredible site.

The next morning we weighed anchor and carried on to Whitehaven beach. This is the beach that is always shown on photos to promote the Whitsunday Islands. The pure white sand was visible as we rounded the corner. We dropped anchor off the beach and enjoyed some lunch before heading ashore to swim and explore.

An odd sight is people emerging from the bushes going in to the sea dressed from head to toe in black lycra. They are wearing "stinger" suits to protect themselves from being stung by tiny irukandji jelly fish, and box jelly fish, which can prove fatal. D went swimming in a 3mm wetsuit, socks and gloves which is kind of weird when the temp is over 30 degrees and the waters so crystal clear and inviting.

Seeing a seaplane land on the water then make it's way on to the beach is an astonishing sight, a helicopter also landed further up the beach and a tourist boat (like the IOW fast cat) beached and disgorged it's hundreds of passengers, before washing the feet of those leaving the beach to take them back to the mainland.

After a lovely few hours we weighed anchor and went to spend the night in Crayfish bay. No crayfish spotted yet!! This is another pretty bay with views to a beach in one direction and to the high rise buildings on Hamilton Island in the opposite direction.

At night we are overwhelmed by the awesome sky. With minimal light pollution Venus and Saturn appear first then the sky appears to open up to reveal the secrets of the universe. Mind blowing.

We plan to spend a few more days here then will try and tear ourselves away and head for the Southern islands

Hmmmm. Not quite what you want to see when you service the engine. A vane missing off the impeller. Broken bit found in the heat exchange. Port engine almost as good as new.

A skipper to skipper bonding moment. Only kidding. 😜 Richard attempting minor surgery on Col who had a big splinter wedged behind his nail

First morning on the water watching the sun rise whilst drinking coffee

A slow & emotional journey in to the water. It's lovely to be floating again after so long on the hard

The result of falling 8ft between the boat & the steps when climbing. No broken bones though. Phew