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Four members of NWSA headed west and crossed the Pacific Ocean for the
sole purpose of sailing for a week in the Whitsunday
Islands.
We arrived in
Hamilton Island, Australia, which is on the coast of Queensland in the
Whitsundays. The Whitsundays are a group of 74 islands bordered by the
Great Barrier Reef and cradled by the calm waters of the Coral Sea.
In July, the average wind is 12 knots, but we had close to 30 on two of
our six days of sailing, and about 15 to 20 knots on the other days.
Yes, reefing was a requirement for each day of sailing.
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Susan McHenry (left), "the most improved
sailor" and Liz Weiss were
particularly interested in the Aboriginal Cave Drawings. When we
sailed to Cid Island, a 45-minute walk up the beach on a wooded trail
called a "walkabout" led to such drawings. |
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Liz Weiss, Susan Lee and Susan McHenry all agree this is
a sail worth repeating!
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Participants in the 2005 Australia Cruise |
| L to R: Val Cook, in yellow cap, interim
NWSA president; Capt. Leslie Steinkoenig (blue shirt); Leslie's mother,
Janet (pink sweater); Susan Lee, Susan McHenry (blue cap); and Leslie's
Aunt Boots. |
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Susan Lee is a comfortable day sailor. She sails a
Colgate 26 during the weekends. Encouragement from her husband Rick
and NWSA friends was the impetus to be part of the Australia
adventure. Susan flew direct to Sydney, where she spent 2 days and
then on to Hamilton.
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When you have been sailing around
Whitsunday Islands for seven days,
it was nice to check into the
Hamilton Reef Hotel. The view from
the hotel hides the dangerous reefs. |
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You may be wondering if we saw humpback
whales. No, but lots of dolphins!
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