The cycle tour of Cairns and the Tablelands

We got back last night a great week. We got sick, got scared, laughed, caught up with family, ate lots of food, saw some magnificent scenery and will need to write more words later. But for now we attach the photos.

Turnbull Bay

As part of my Inshore Skippers course I went on an overnight sail to Turn

bull Bay, 32nm from Darwin. The next group of students were going on the 8th May and Jenny (runs the course and owns Zanibar the Farr 38 training yacht) suggested that anyone with a boat can tag along. Judith (co-student) and her hubby just bought a brand new Catalina 309 and asked if Sandy and I would like to join her on the Turnbull trip. Naturally we said yes. Funny thing was Judith's hubby was in France and Judith was not too familiar with her new boat, this sort of put me in charge a bit and it was a great learning experience.

Morning at Turnbull Bay looking at Zanibar.

We left the marina at 1900 (7pm to you landlubbers) and as there was no breeze we motored out toward Charles Point. At Charles Point we turn south toward Bynoe Harbour. When we were about 3 nm from Charles Point a bit of breeze picked up so We decided that we should be sailing and not listening to a diesel hum. So imagine this: New boat, to me and the owner, it has in-mast furling so the main sail just rolls out of the mast all very leisurely. This is when my nerves start unwinding, as the sail is almost out it jams and we can not get it out or roll it back in. This makes me a bit stressed as the next day is a forecast Coastal Wind Warning and I've got 9/10th of the mainsail up unable to reduce it!!!!. Anyway a bit of tacking to put wind pressure on the sail eventually freed it up and we unrolled all main and head sails and had a delightful sail down to Turnbull.

Judith cooking breakfast in the morning

The sail back in the morning was fabulous, a close reach in about 10 knots, if you know anything about sailing you know that that is a happy place in any boat but on a brand new $200K yacht it's not too shabby.

Sandy and I enjoying the conditions

Now I mentioned that there was a coastal wind warning due the next day so I knew what to expect when we hit Charles POint and came out of the lee of the land. Essentially the wind picked up to 20-25knots coming directly from Darwin (where we wanted to go). So the seas built and we had to bash our way on an offshore tack to get room to try and make Darwin on the next tack. Lots of fun and we reduced sail twice with spray coming over the whole boat as we pushed into the short but step swell.

Charles Point before the conditions got worse.

As we continued once we got on the close hauled point of sail, Zanibar, which is a race boat, took off and we couldnt keep up. We ended up rolling up the headsail completely and starting the motor so we could point a little higher as we all were very tired and didnt want to be getting back to Darwin in the dark.

A huge weekend and a great time was had by all!!!

Oh my Gawd, have you looked at the countdown

Sandy and I bobbing along doing what we do and having a great time suddenly realise that we have about two weeks until we are supposed to riding around the Atherton Tablelands!!!!

Quickly last weekend we load up the bikes with front and rear panniers filled with stuff to simulate a load and go for a 40km ride. The result was not too bad, could've kept going so we feel a bit better. Having said that there are no mountain ranges in Darwin :)