Sea Child arrived in Mackay, Australia, one week ago today. And along with our good friends, Buddy & Nancy Richley, we continued our sailing adventure north to the Whitsunday Islands, about 16 NM east of Airlie, Queensland. We hiked a cool beach at Thomas Island, Naked Lady Beach and walked around Hamilton Island in search of vegan meals. We sailed around Hook Island, scouting pure white corals at Luncheon Bay and lazed on the trampolines while the boys took in a dive. And for our finale of Whitsunday Islands, we anchored at Whitehaven Beach itself, one of the most photographed beaches in all of Australia. Whitehaven, with its pure white silica sand, changes with every tide, as the extreme tides transforms the aquamarine waters every 6 hours or so. We were captivated, enjoying cocktails on the trampolines and relishing in memories of sailing adventures of years past. After 6 very short days on Sea Child, we bit a fond farewell to our passengers, who departed for Sydney as we rented buggies and hung around Hamilton Island for another day.

We are now sailing to Airlie Beach, a "backpackers haven" according to our neighbor-skipper of ThrillSeeker, a 74' power yacht, who gave us inside info on Great Barrier Reef moorings for overnight stays. The current slew of radical tides, currently topped at 12', have us sailing against the tides and downwind as we gybe back and forth toward Airlie Beach. This incoming tide is frustrating, but indicative of how the currents will be while out at GBR. In a few days time, the tides will subside a bit, lessening the 3.5 knot currents that hamper dives at Bait Reef. By Sunday we expect light winds and easy tides, and hope to spend a day or one of the few moorings provided by Great Barrier Reef Marine Park for visiting yachts.

Skies are clear, winds SE at 18, seas relatively flat. Its just that darn current, so strong, making an easy 16 NM sail take almost twice as long. Who are we to complain?!