Start Loc: Cairns (16o 55.21'S, 145o 46.90'E)
Narrative: We achieved a lot whilst in Cairns. On Saturday we caught a bus and went to Whitworths where we got a sump pump oil extractor, some engine oil, and a few other items. We then caught the bus back to the city and did the groceries. By the time we got everything packed away, the day was over. It poured down rain that evening and our shore power cable shorted out, so it was back to batteries.
Sunday was washing day, and importantly we did the 200 hour log book service on the engine. We ran the engine to put some charge in the batteries (no shore power and overcast weather) and to warm the engine oil up. All up we ran the engine for 50 minutes through the day, so we logged the 200 hour service as being done at 195 hours and 27 minutes.
Monday was our first opportunity to get the power cable fixed, but of course at a rip off price. We paid $75 for an hour's labour when the job took less than 20 minutes, and $25 for a 15A plug end that would retail for maybe $10. I should have charged him $75 an hour for the three hours I waited around after the time he said he would be there! Bugger getting a qualified electrician in; I should have done it myself. I say it again - North Queensland tradesmen... Almost as important as the engine service is the fact that we also stripped, cleaned and serviced all four deck winches on Monday. This was the only reason I wasn't really annoyed at waiting for the electrician.
We were booked in to refuel at 9:30am this morning, so while Cameron and I did a quick trip to the supermarket to top up a few items and got some bait, Heather and Haydee got us ready to push off. We cast off right on 9:30am and tied up at the fuel dock a couple of minutes later.
Refuelled: 95.00L @ 147.38c/L = $140.01 (plus $5.68 "berthing" and $0.72 c/c surcharge)
Economy since 20 Oct: 95.00L for 37 hr 43 min = 2.52L/hr
Economy overall: 375.25L for 195 hr 27 min = 1.92L/hr
After refuelling, we cast off again at 9:51am and motored out of the marina and up the channel. Once clear of the shallows, and away from the land and in some clean air, we set sail on a NE heading to Green Island. The winds were generally ESE at 10-15kts, with the apparent wind strength a couple of knots stronger again. We sailed on basically a close reach under full sail, making 5.5-6.5kts through the water and 6.5-7.5kts over the ground. We maintained a good speed and completed the 15nm in a little over two hours, taking up a public mooring buoy at 12:15pm.
Once the kids finished their school work and we had lunch, we packed up some stuff and took the dinghy ashore. We had a quick look around the island before settling beside the pool. While the kids swam, Heather and I read. We then went to the beach for a quick snorkel before heading back to the boat for showers and dinner.
End Loc: Green Island (16o 45.31'S, 145o 57.97'E)
Distance run: 15nm (cumulative: 1619nm)
Engine hours: 0 hr, 58 min (cumulative: 0 hr 58 min)