Start Loc: Vlassoff Cay (16o 39.00'S, 145o 59.35'E)
Narrative: We got a surprising amount of swell come around the reef last night, so we rolled around a fair bit. Heather doesn't sleep well in conditions like that, so as soon as I was awake she said, "Let's move". While the kids slept we did the prep to go, including the daily engine checks that Cameron normally does and closing hatches and seacocks which is normally Haydee's job.
We raised the anchor at 6:20am and set full head sail. The wind was ESE at 10-15kts, so our NNW course had us sailing on a broad reach making 4-4.5kts through the water and 5-5.5kts over ground. The trip was only a few miles and we were anchored off Michaelmas Cay in 17m of water by 7:15am. We had breakfast and a snorkel while we waited for the sun to get high enough in the sky for us to be able to see the coral and move in closer to the cay. We also had a moment's silence in remembrance, whilst snorkeling. Just after 11:30am we raised anchor and motored closer to the cay, anchoring over sand in 6.5m of water.
The water is again spectacularly clear, so we all went for a swim and then had lunch. We had to force the kids to do their school work and they were very slow, so they didn't get to go ashore. After moving and taking up a public mooring buoy for the night, I went ashore and had a quick look at the tens of thousands of terns that nest on the cay. The cacophony of sounds was something that would wear thin pretty quickly, but fortunately the smell was not as bad as I thought it might be. Having finally finished their schoolwork, the kids got to fly their kites off the back of the boat.
Tomorrow we will head into Port Douglas. We don't need a resupply, but we want to have a look and will take the opportunity to restock a few provisions, as well as fuel and water, before heading north again. The plan from Port Douglas is Low Islets, Daintree River, Cape Tribulation, maybe Endeavour Reef, Hope Islands, and into Cooktown.
End Loc: Michaelmas Cay (16o 36.28'S, 145o 58.40'E)
Distance run: 4nm (cumulative: 1648nm)
Engine hours: 2 hr, 07 min (cumulative: 7 hr, 35 min)