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25 - 27 January
After another long bus journey to Airlie Beach I went on a two night sailing trip of the Whitsunday Islands whilst Ed stayed in Airlie Beach and did a rainforest tour and a crocodile tour. The boat I went on was called Condor, built in the UK and won a lot of sailing competitions when it was in use. As it was obviously built for sailing not for tourists the beds were quite funny - single bunks suspended over double beds all in an open cabin. I prayed I wouldn't get a top bunk and managed to get a double to myself but offered to share it with one of the other girls, Audrey, who wasn't really into the idea of sleeping on a bunk. Before we got on the boat we collected our 'stinger suits' - delightful skintight lycra suits that we had to wear in the water to protect us from the deadly box jellyfish.
We were looked after very well by the three crew members Andy, Chris and Lorna. It was a great few days and one of the highlights of my trip so far. We got to do a bit of sailing, I left the others to put the sails up as that looked too much like hard work! Unfortunately there was no wind so we had to use the motor to get to our first snorkelling stop at Ravens Cove. After donning the lovely stinger suit (better than my pasty white legs probably) we spent an hour or so snorkelling, one of the crew had an underwater digital camera so we also had some fun taking silly underwater pictures. I was the last to leave the water - I could snorkel all day given the chance. In the evening we anchored the boat in Hook Passage, had a lovely dinner prepared by the crew, played some silly drinking games (all initiated by the crew may I point out!) and just had a good time getting to know the rest of the people on the boat.
6.30am start for breakfast on the second day followed by a few hours relaxing on deck in the sun. We had another snorkelling stop at Cateran Bay, fabulous coral and clearer water. I bought a disposable underwater camera and took some photos but they honestly don't do it justice. I was again the last person to leave the water, after scraping my hands on some rocks when I swam to the side when I got cramp! We then headed to Whitehaven Beach, apparently voted one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, I am not sure who by but it certainly lived up to it. Gorgeous pure white silica sand and turquoise water - it was like paradise so it was quite funny when we all wandered onto the beach in our stinger suits! We laid in the water for a while, saw some stingrays and a reef shark then headed back to the boat after a couple of hours. In the evening we had steak cooked on the BBQ on the boat (obligatory in Oz), fed some huge batfish off the side of the boat, watched the sunset then spent the evening chatting up on deck.
Another 6.30am start for breakfast then straight into the water for more snorkelling. Even more stunning coral and hundreds of fish. Unfortunately it was then time to head back to Airlie Beach so we spent the next couple of hours cruising back. Got back to the hostel, checked in, then in the evening we met up with most of the people from the boat for a night out in Airlie Beach. It was a fantastic few days and I met some great people and would definitely recommend the boat (Condor) to anyone wanting to sail the Whitsundays.
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