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So after Magnetic Island it was down to Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Islands for 3days sailing. We got there the day before just to get settled and get what we needed before and early night for our sailing the next day.
The next morning we grabbed our stinger suits to avoid getting hurt in the sea and headed down to the harbour to join our boat 'The Card'. It was a Maxi Yatch that has taken part in the Whitbread round the world yatch race as well as the infamous Hobart to Sydney race. It was compact but nice with bunks and proper sails that we would learn how to hoist etc.
First day we headed out and had a easy sail to our first snorkeling point, where me and Laura got dropped off at the beach and from there did some snorkeling, which for Laura was amazing as it was her first time. After seeing all the different corals and fish we headed back onboard for some lunch and to hoist the sails and head to the next location. This time we had to just go off the side of the small boat for running you to and from the beach, this time Laura jumped straight into the sea so she could see more cool marine life, getting used to the snorkelling and swimming about. By this time it was getting late so we hoisted the sails and had a sunset sail down to Tounge Bay just North of Whitehaven beach so we could get an early start in the morning.
Early start it was, around 5am I couldnt sleep anymore so got up and headed on deck where one of the other guys was already up so we jumped off the side of the boat for a swim and to wake up!! was great fun, also saw Turtles swimming about. It was then time for a little hike up to a look out which meant you could see down to Whitehaven beach and see all the different sand banks etc, was very nice. Then it was back on The Card for breakfast and round to Whitehaven beach for a swim and to catch some rays, after a couple of hours we went back onboard for lunch and to head to the next Snorkelling point. After that we hoisted the sails and headed to South Mole Island for dinner and a few drinks and lots of fun!!!
We got to South Mole got some showers then headed round for tea which was steak, after that the difficult task of drinking began, it was one of the deck hands Annies 21st so she had a few drinks. After a fun night of partying (we where meant to be on the quiet boat as apposed to the Pride of Airlie) we got told to leave by the bar staff as we where the only people left. It was down to the jetty to wait for the Captain to come pick us up, this resulted in a bit of singing before getting on the small boat and nearly losing Annie as we bounced along......all good fun!!!
The next morning the captain was up early and had us in our first Snorkelling location by 8am, having left at 5am. So in we jumped, but the weather wasnt as nice and the water wasnt very clear so we didnt stay long. Unfortunatly the weather and the night before meant we both felt a little rough on the Sail to lunch, but after that it was all good. We then had a 'race' with a few other boats on the way into harbour, we all had our sails up and the Captains where trying to get in first, we managed to catch up with most boats in front of us before having to back off to drop our sail before heading in.
In the end it was 3 fun days, I probably enjoyed it more than Laura did, but even she went snorkeling and got involved with the hoisting of sails etc.....as we keep saying it will probably be a once in a lifetime experience!!!
That night we went out for tea, although the kitchen at the bar ran out of food before we could order, about ten minutes after opening, which we where glad about when we saw rats running about later!!!! The next day it was onto the overnight bus to Hervey Bay for Fraser Island!!!
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