We left Cairns on the 1st of July 2006, our goal was to be in Fiji by October, before the cyclone season starts. The first day, of the three day crossing to the Louisiades, was rough and wet. We left The Yorkeys Knob Marina around seven in the morning and headed out for our unpredictable journey. As we were still in the Great Barrier Reef’s protection there wasn’t much swell, but the waves were about one to two meters high, not nice. The further out we got the rougher it became until we lost any sight of land whatsoever, and by then we were no longer in the protection of the reef. The waves rose to two and three meters high and we got an ocean swell.
None of us were feeling good at all (with the exception of Dad who ‘never gets sea sick’, but he does get a bit queasy when he’s head down, bum up, in the hull working on something in the middle of a storm ). There’s this old saying ‘there are only two types of people that don’t get sea sick, those who don’t go to sea, and liars’. I was feeling dreadful (I spent most of my time with my head over the side) and not at all looking forward to this long open sea crossing. That night wasn’t any better either, none of us wanted to go into our cabins so we all slept on deck. It was cold, wet and windy. I kept on falling off the cockpit seat that I was sleeping on. The seats weren’t padded or anything so I kept on waking up, to move around and try to find a reasonably comfy position.
The next day was a bit calmer, at 1630hrs we were half way! But still no sight of land. That night was full of rainsqualls and almost everything got wet. The second day would have to be the calmest, we had beautiful sailing and spotted a buoy in the water. Mum and Dad thought about going to get it, but couldn’t really be bothered. Where I was sitting, I had a plastic rain cover over the port side of the cockpit and just a well to, because some kamikaze flying fish flew right into the rain cover, just missing me! The kamikaze fish bounced of the rain cover onto mum, who was on watch, and freaked her out.
On the third day at sea there where flying fish everywhere. Two times a day we would go on to a radio schedule (it’s called the Sheila Net, and was originally made by and for the sailor’s wives. Its when all the boats in the area call in at a certain time and give their position, they can also talk with each other and meet new people). Through the radio sched, we met a boat called Leprechaun, a 54ft ketch with 5 kids on board, and each morning we’d tell a riddle and in the evening they would give an answer and vise versa.
The next morning we saw land!!! We anchored at Kukuluba Island, we had officially (and finally) reached the Louisiade Archipelago!!!! After a couple of school work days, we headed off again. This time to another Island called Para Nunara, the sail over was rough and sloppy at 35 knots apparent. After spending the night at Para Nunara we headed off to The Blue lagoon.
During our stay in Blue Lagoon we went crayfish hunting, snorkeling and exploring. On the Island there were some really cool caves. The Leprechauns arrived and we all went ashore for an explore and a swim after school. One night during a bonfire on the beach, with the Leprechauns and Achates, I went off exploring on my own around the rocks. In one of the rock pools I saw a meter long, spotty, orange, moray eel. I tried to call the others but because I was so far away no one heard me.
We stayed in Blue Lagoon for awhile because, it was a nice and clam anchorage so we were able to catch up on some school work. One time dad needed to go to the other bay to give something to one of the other boats staying at one of the nearby islands. Dad put the 15 horsepower motor on and he and I zoomed off in the dingy. It was calmish because we were going with the waves instead of against them. We were surfing the waves!!!!! We’d stay on top for about 10sec. When we finally arrived (the trip toke us about halve an hour to and hour) we visited all the other boats there, then after a couple of hours we started to get ready to head home. The trip back the wind picked up and we were going up wind (against the waves), now that was cool! Man did we fly!!! If we went any slower we’d have gotten soaked, if we went any faster we’d flip over. We were barely touching the waves, it was hella fun.
Dad had his birthday while we were in Blue Lagoon, he turned 47. Mum and dad invited all the yachties over for sunset drinks, mum made a profiteroles cake. We’d moved anchorage, we had a lovely westerly sail with beautiful sunshine and light wind. On the way we caught a small tuna, to small to keep so we let it go, who knows, it could grow into the biggest tuna ever! We anchored at a place called Scull Island. When we went ashore, I had my ponytail hanging out the back of my cap, and when we got there all the villagers were staring, giggling and whispering about us.
They don’t get many white people here and because Fletcher and I had long (well I had long hair), blonde hair, we were the center of attention. At one stage there were these three girls standing behind me, when we were looking at a soccer field, and they were touching my hair! Chaotic Harmony moved to another new anchorage, I think the island was called Naviti. On the way we hooked a Spanish mackerel but lost it because dad didn’t guff it. While we were here we did some school.
-hey there is tonnes more to this story but i'm going to publish it in a book eventualy.
