Got up about 9 and headed back to Beaches to get showered and packed for my 2 day/2 night Whitsundays sailing trip! Didn't take too long as I didn't have a lot to pack. Alex came and met me and we took my stuff to reception to check out. Keep making friends with recpetionists which is a great move - this time it got me free luggage storage for my trip which saved me $5. Had 2 hours till I had to meet at the Able Marina, so me and Alex looked round the shops for a bit then headed towards the harbour. The woman in the Expolre Whitsunday's check in center, Lucy, had given 2 options of how to get to the harbour, a quick way and a nice way. So, we went the nice way! Walked past Airlie's tiny beach where we had been the other night then walked past the lagoon which looked soooo nice!! Really big, like one of those really nice, big pools you see in the photos for the posh hotels in the holiday brochures. Can't wait to go there and swim! It's got a little artifcial beach bit and is how i imagine the Southbank in Brisbane might have looked before the floods. We did the "beach walk" which was lovely and took us round to the harbour. Lucy had recommended a little pub for lunch but it looked expensive so we settled for a little cafe by the harbour for a quick lunch. I brought a hat, not sure if it suits me but thought it might be good for the boat! In hindsight, was a bit stupid as it was so windy on the boat I kept it in the cabin the whole time. I have still not worn it! Found our way to the meeting point so hung out there. We were the first people there but more people turned up as it got nearer to half 1. Luke, one of the crew members of the boat showed up so we knew we were in the right place. Said bye to Alex - had been good meeting someone who I knew I would be at my uni! Checked in for the boat...there were 22 girls and 3 guys! Couldn't tell if the guys looks happy or terrified! We all got our stingers (like thin wetsuits, just to protect against jellyfish stings) then made our way down to the boat, The Broomstick! It was so different to what i expected! I thought it would be like the boats I ahve been out on day trips when on holiday, but The Broomstick is an old racing boat so theres nowhere for me to sunbathe and read my magazine! Theres a seating area at the back of the boat, where we all just about managed to sit. Then there were about meter wide walkways at either edge of the boat and the sails etc in the middle. We headed straight into the cabin where we came into the kitchen area. There's no seating area inside (which would have been perfect at night and when it rained - oh yes, it rained) but there were beds throughout, a kitchen and 2 toilets. We sat inside for a quick safety chat with Will, another crew member then all picked beds (I had a bottom bunk in the main "bedroom" at the front of the boat) and headed to the seating area upstairs. The main skipper and third crew member, Rob, chatted to us a bit more then we all had to say a bit about ourselves. The girls were from all over the world which is col. The English girls from the cattle ranch were there and apart from that there was only one other English girl on the boat! They needed voluenteers to help on the first sail so I put my hand up and they picked me! Not sure I was much help... I had to help hoist the sail up which was hard work, but then my job was done. As soon as the sail was up the boat majorly leant over to one side and we all had to sit along the walkway. Don't think any of us were really ready for it! The other side of the baot was pretty much in the water so we were leaning wayyy back! I was right near the front of the boat too - got absolutely soaked! Big waves kept hitting the boat and drenching us. It was a gorgeous day so it wasn't too cold but when the wind hit our wet skin... that was very chilly! We were sailing for a while which was pretty exciting, we were going really quick. Like i say, it was not the type of boat I had expected, definately no chance of sunbathing, but it was really cool to be on a proper sailing boat (expecially after meeting Jessica Watson!) as I had never been on one before so it was another great new experience to add to the list! It was noisey so I could only really speak to the people each side of me - the other English girl and a girl from Canada, they seemed nice even if they were hard to hear! After we saield we ended up at the Nara Inlet cave walk, which was lovely. Got on the little boat which trailed behind the Broomstick which took us in two groups to the island. I should say, the islands all looked amazing - really green, looked so nice against the blue sky, just like the photos! Reminded me a bit of Abel Tasman in New Zealand. Will took us on a little walk through the rainforest up to some caves. Beofre we entered the walk we had to put our hand on a sign on a tree and ask permission to be allowed in to see the tribes home. Along the way there was information about the old aborigional tribe that used to live on the Whitsunday Islands. I found it really interesting and touching, Really like the history I have learnt on my travels. They all lived so simply but so happily and were so close to nature and their families. In the caves there were actually aborigional paintings - they were simple but it felt special to know that they had been there. We also saw a huuuuge spider - I haven't seen as many as I thought I would but those i have seen are huge! I have not been as scared as I thought I would be and managed to stop and have a good look at it. I am pretty sure if it had moved I would have run a mile though! Walked back down to the edge of the island and got the little boat back down to the Broomstick where the boat had been anchored for the night. Hadn't really had a chance to chat to people but when we got back on the boat everyone sat together chatting. I got speaking to a lovely German girl, Anna. She is also travelling on her own and didn't know anyone on the boat. Most of the girls are in 2s or 3s on the boat. Ann was clever and suggested we got showered before everyone else wanted to se we headed down and were the first to do that. I went first. It was actually nicer than I though! The shower extended out from the tap but it was soo warm and I felt nice and refresed afterwards. Ann had her shower then we got chanegd and went back up, by which time it wa getting dark. Chatted with Anne for a while whilst other people went to have showers etc. Then we chatted to the only couple on the boat, a guy and girl from Sydney. They were really cool and nice to chat to. Infact, everyone on the boat was really friendly and all got on really well! No drama queens or grumpy people or crazy druggy people (Dom!) so it was really chilled out. Once it was dark, I looked up at the sky - I LOVE looking at the stars , always have, and they were without a doubt the clearest and most stars I have ever seen. Its a real shame we had to keep the boat light on! Still looked incredible though. I have only been on a boat in the dark once before and had forgotten how nice it was, looking round and not knowing where the sea ends and the sky begins. All you could see where the lights from the other boats in the distance and the lights from the stars ... beautiful. We had spoken to a lovely girl from Israel earlier in the night who told us about a cardgame she had with her and she got that out and about 8 of us started to play. It was a great way of chatting to more people and was soo funny! It was like Uno, but with animals and there were lots of rules to do with making animal noises and stuff. More people joined in and it was such a laugh. Got pretty competative! Was a really chilled out night and I was really happy with the group and had met some lovely people, it was quite a nice atmosphere having so many girls. We all headed down to bed. The bed wasn't the most comfy but the rocking of the boat sent me into a nice sleep. I woke up a few times in the night because I was so cold and the boat made some loud bangs a few times but it wan't as bad as it could have been :-) There were bed bugs though which sucked!! Really itchy!