In Airlie Beach (Qld) (Friday, 5.6.2009)
Weather: very nice / Temp: 30 degrees / Wind: 1 - 2 HE
After breakfast, we take our first Büssli for "Airlie Beach" to "Lädele. Within the spacious Esplanade near the beach is an impressive swimming pool.
This has all the necessary facilities like changing rooms, showers and toilets and can be used free of charge.
The reason this is likely the general problem with the "Box Jelly-Fish" to be along the "Sunshine Coast". During the "wet season" on all beaches should not be bathed. This large sign warns of the dangers of different types of jellyfish.
All along the beach, a walkway leads to the big marina.
The main street of "Airlie Beach is lined with countless boutiques, shops, restaurants and cafes.
"McCafe" is also represented :-)
For lunch, we enjoy the delicious pizza at Pizza Beagles "where we had made during our last visit in January, with good experience.
We then drive along the coast to the "Shute Harbour. This is a multi-arm bay south of "Airlie Beach, a few miles from the small airport. From the "Lookout", we enjoy the great view of the blue-green bay.
sailing trip from Airlie Beach (Qld) (Saturday, 06/06/2009)
Weather: very nice / Temp: 30 degrees / Wind: 1 - 0 HE
We have today a sailing trip to the "Bali Hai Reef" posted. The "SV Domino", so to say our sailing boat, a mast is faster with 36 foot length. provided for this trip are 8 people. When we clock at half past eight on the pier are, however, we are the only guests for this trip. It is a kind of "Private Charter". Together with the captain, we put to sea.
There is now a bright beautiful day. The sea is calm, all too quiet, as will soon be.
are still some autumnal mist over the hills of "Airlie Beach", as we left the port.
Once we reach the open sea is the captain sails. As he leaves the ship alone, we have him a little help.
We still have hope that the wind that blows from the southeast Beaufort currently with 1, is increasing.
s
Actually we are used as wind-seeking windsurfers from Europe in recession. Since we started on our trip to Australia on the move, we had wind every day, 2-7 Beaufort. It is almost unbelievable, but exactly to our Seglertag the wind literally asleep :-(
So we have no other choice than the 33 km journey to the "Bali Hai Reef" with the auxiliary motor with 5 to 6 knots per hour to deal with. We remember well our last sailing trip in Hawaii 19 years ago than we are at 6 to 7 Beaufort and 3 to 4 foot waves rather quickly sailed by "Maui" to "Molokai". Those were the days when we were literally almost blown off the railing :-)
Our captain has now located a water pump damage and make phone calls via satellite phone to the base.
have two and a half hours we reached our goal and the captain makes the dinghy afloat.
The small island is located in a passage between the two larger islands, "Hayman" and "Hook" and has an intact coral reef, the "Bali Hai Reef". Alone the colors of the sea with its crystal clear water is overwhelming.
We practically have the island for us alone, that is, the coral, fish, birds and us.
We plunge into the thin wet suit, because although the water about 26 degrees is warm, it cools off very rapidly at longer snorkeling.
The underwater world at the "Bali Hai Reef" is incredibly colorful, the shapes and colors of the coral real gems. Say a few pictures determined from more than a thousand words.
The coral carpet is within reach only about three feet below us. We are overwhelmed by the intricate structures and colors that nature has created here. The captain now served on the shady patio of our "Lunch".
We resort to efficient, power-hungry for snorkeling.
After dinner we go to our sailing ship back, and Anita swims with the fishes together for "SV Domino back. It is used by the fish swarmed downright because the captain eagerly lining is thrown into water :-)
We leave this beautiful island in time, because we still have a long trip ahead of us.
The slowdown has unfortunately still going on, so we again be content with the auxiliary engine should take. We make ourselves comfortable on the boat.
What is outside is not suspected, the "SV Domino is actually a timber ship with a comfortable interior with kitchen, toilet, shower, dining and sleeping area. The sailing ship was built in New Zealand and is already 33 years old. The captain and his wife are about it for years crossed the South Pacific. Next year they will again take a longer cruise.
vanishes gradually the small island behind us.
still waiting for a surprise on us. Half way the captain suddenly exclaims, "Dolphins starboard front of us!"
We rush to the bow, not to miss it in this region of the rare guests. The three Dolphins glide distance of about 100 meters past our boat.
The captain has long since switched to car control and makes a nice picture of us where we are once again to second it.
close to the banks, there is a small breeze. The water color changes from whitish light blue to dark blue, so we use this opportunity to shoot from that unforgettable sailing trip a few nice pictures.
Just before our destination lies down another boat sailing across our course and stops yet to gather the sail. Our Captain remains stubbornly on his course (autopilot) and asks, standing on the bow, on the other boat is clear to proceed.
It is very time when the ship is sailing with motor assistance from our course and prevent a collision :-)
We drive 2 ½ hours after crossing into the harbor by "Airlie Beach" field.
A Pearl Lugger "(two master) is also currently at anchor.
We walk into the harbor.
The wife of the captain is waiting at the pier and helps when docking.
The day trip to the "SV Domino" was a great experience and is highly recommended. Unfortunately, the exciting adventure has been missing with some strong wind sailing. The snorkeling by the colorful underwater world of the "Bali Hai Reef" was all the more impressive.
In Airlie Beach (Qld) (Sunday, 07/06/2009)
Weather: very nice / Temp: 30 degrees / Wind: 3 - 4 HE
The sky presents this morning and partly cloudy brilliant blue, no trace of fog. The thermometer already at 20 degrees. We extend our stay in "Airlie Beach" for another day and place, once again a "recovery and recreation day ".
a
When we in the late morning on the promenade of" walk Airlie Beach along, we believe our eyes, it has already 3-4 Beaufort wind from the north irony of fate.. We have probably last for our sailing trip the only Flautentag of the Year caught in Australia.
The "Pizza Beagles" now seems closed to be. In Case of "Subway", a few steps, we eat our favorite sandwich.
The swimming pool in "Airlie Beach is this Sunday attended.
bathing on the beach here, few people, although at present no Jelly Fish Box "hazard.
the "McCafe" we still update our travel journal and receive the latest email.
Quite contrary to my usual habit (Heinz), this term, I just, I read it but can not succeed. This is a big mistake, as it turns out later, since Sandra and Frank from Radebeul have just written from an Internet cafe in "Airlie Beach" an email to us. When we read this email much later, we realize that we may have missed this time by a few meters. However, there are alone on the main road by "Airlie Beach" at least 20 Internet corners. Even "Global Gossip" is represented twice. Maybe it'll work the next Time :-)
