Sailing with Sisca

The boat we sailed on was Sisca, which funny enough, is russian for "red titties." Our group was made up of French, Germans, British and ourselves. Our captain was Chey, with deckhand Gem and chef Megz. Once we told the crew we worked on boats and we are 1st mates, they put us right to work and they kept us working the entire trip.

We started sailing from Airlee Beach, past Pioneer Pt. and through the Hook Island passage, then south to Dumbell Island where we spent the night. By days end we had travelled over 50 miles. The first night Gem skiffed us over to the beach for little game of sunset beach soccer. It was an intense game, but Oren scored on an assist from me to win the game. Yea Buddy! That night captain Chey showed us how to play the didgereedoo with a 5 foot long pvc pipe, which he later gave to us as a gift. And the stars that night provided an amazing backdrop. It almost seemed as though there were more stars than darkness. Megz pointed out the southern cross constellation, which is on the Australian flag and tattooed on her arm. Unfortantly my camera couldn't get the shot.

The next morning we sailed to Tongue Bay on Whitsunday Island, where we hiked to Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet. Whitehaven Beach is one of the World's Best Beaches, all you need to do is see a pic and you will know why. The sand is incredibly white, made up of nearly pure silica, whcih is a very fine quartz (99.8%). To the right of Whitehaven is Hill Inlet where tidal movements influence the inlet and are continually shifting. From the Hill Inlet outlook we were blown away by its beauty and of course, we took a million goofy pics just so we could say we were there.

I reached the thousand mark this morning, having taken 1000 photos on our trip...ouch. The fish pics are for you Andy! At Blue Pearl Bay, we swam in the Great Barrier Reef. For any of you that don't know, it is that largest tropical coral reef system in the world, covering 2000km or about 70 million football fields. Despite having to wear stinger suits because it is jelly fish season we had an 'epic' time. We saw a huge Elvis fish (Hump-headed mauri Wrasse-2.3meteres), a Loggerhead turtle, Short-finned batfish, Banded Humbugs, Estuary Rockcods, a family of clownfish, a Sea Mullet, and I swam briefly with a Reef Shark under the boat.
On our way back to Airlee, captain Chey told me to take the helm and he let me sail all the way home from Blue Pearl Bay, about 20 miles. Simply amazing, cheers Chey! Chey said we were the best crew he has had in six months and that Oren and I should have been payed for working. We told him that he prob allways says that, but he also came out for a few drinks later and brought his wife, who claimed Chey hadn't come out to the bars in 6 months.
Love that guy!

Well everyone, a few days rest in Airlee, then we are flying back to Manly, Sydney. Those of you that sent addresses...I put your cards in the mail before I left for the Whitsundays. Oren's parents get here in a week and we are going to Tazmania. Wines, cheeses and hiking...yummy!