"How are you feeling Andrew?" "Arghhh.. pretty hungover!"
(laughs) "Bit of a headache.."
"Nothing that some sunshine won't fix!" "Sweet!"
After a few days of sun and fun on Fitzroy island
we picked up the hook and set sail again. We were headed further East.
to Milln Reef, which is on the very outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef.
The sailing conditions were absolutely perfect
and Delos made an easy 6 knots.
It was a good first sail for Andrew to nurse that hangover.
"We are approaching Milln Reef.."
"On the outer Reef just outside of Cairns,
...we're about 25-26 miles off shore"
"Had a pretty good little sail here!"
"Just looking to pick up this ahhh..
mooring out here, so we don't have to anchor and damage the coral"
"How you feeling Andrew?!" "Getting ready for my first dive, bit nervous!" "Yeah? Nervous?" "YEAH!"
"But I think it's gonna be fun!" "Yeah, it's a beautiful day!"
"Very important procedure!"
The coral at Milln was better than most spots
we'd seen on the Great Barrier Reef. It was refreshing to see live, healthy coral!
But what really makes these remote reefs special is the abundance of animal life.
Within just a few minutes time we spotted this massive lobster
a sweet little black tip reef shark
and this guy who wasn't bothered by us in the slightest!
"How was the dive?" "Oh it was * * *ing beautiful mate!" "Sweet!"
"Gorgeous!"
"It was like a gorgeous Gorge George!" "GOOD DIVE!" "Sweet!"
"It was really cool!"
We had a new dinghy waiting for us back in Cairns, and a major provisioning run to do
before continuing on so it was back to the mainland one last time.
With good breeze and the sails trimmed
we made a short trip of it and arrived just in time to receive our new dinghy we'd been waiting so long for!
"WOOOOW"
"What do you think Brady?" "She's a beast bro!"
"A BEAST!" "She's a beast!"
"What do you think of our new dingy mate?" "I LIKE IT!" (laughs)
"MILK!"
The stores are few and far between in northern-most Queensland
and the in the Northern Territory so we provisioned for a month
just enough to get us to Darwin. "Instead of getting this tofu.. I found this one..
..doesn't even need a refrigerator" "Sweet"
"A little different.. a little more expensive" "Gourmet pearl" "You wanna try some?"
"Yeah!"
"Oh instant noodle!"
"Alright number one.."
"Cart number 2.. cart number 3"
"What's your guess Josje?" "Ohhhhh..."
"782"
"735"
"I'm gonna go with 599" "And Brady?"
"I'm gonna do...
...5.... I'm going low....
I'm going 555!" "What do you think the total's gonna be?"
"Ahh, I don't know.."
Josje was the best guesser at $772.00!
A big shop while cruising is always an adventure.
Pushing loaded trolley's through town and down the dock to the dinghy is just part of a day's work.
Then the fun really begins!
At least we have our new super-dinghy to help out!
With all our provisions stowed Delos was finally ready to begin our cruise north.
We had about 1,300 nautical miles to cover before reaching Darwin,
and about a month to do it in! Time to go sailing!
"Alright anchor's up!"
Up next! The crew sails to Darwin
feasts on sushi
and gives Delos a good scrubbing.