Got all ready and went down to the marina, to be told that there were 40 knot winds expected, and Tongarra would not be running! The Australian weather is not on my side! They said that the Atlantic Clipper was running and that there were two spots left on that one, as it was a bigger boat it was safer. I decided to go and said so before anyone else could! Had to pay 30 dollars to upgrade, and then we (Sandro and I, the other guy who took up the offer) were led to thwe boat. The Clipper is a proper yaght, and holds 53 passengers, so much bigger than the tongarra. It also has proper bedrooms and hot showers! www.atlanticclipper.com.au The boat was really nice, and met lots of great people straight away. Got the top bunk in my room (3 bed room)so i could sit up and look out the window, and then we had a really nice dinner! We sailed to the most sheltered place on the whitsundays, through hook passage into a bay on hook island to park for the night, and once we got into the bay it was very sheltered. We all sat on top of the boat drinking some goon. The lights all get turned off at 12, and the days drama had tired me out so i went to bed. The bed was really comfy and i had a nice french girl and a siss french girl in my room. We got woken up at 7am the next day as the crew paraded outside our rooms with saucepans and wooden spoons singing! They were sensible enough to wear helmets as protection from the hungover! We had breakfast, then sailed over to Whitsunday Island. The sky was black and it was pouring with rain but the wind was only up to 1015 knots. We arrived there and got off the island to see the lookout point. It would have been a lot better in the sun but was still amazing in the rain! we had to wlk through the island to get there, and the mud and trees meant we were all filfthy! We then walked round to Whitehaven beach, the 4th most photographed place in Australia, and as soon as we got there. . . the sun came out! The clouds cleared, the sand was pure white, the sea was clear and blue and there were great big waves from the night wind! perfect for playing in the sea! we all had to wear full body stinger suits the whole time in the sea. The beach was amazing and had a great time! we got back on the boat for a nice big lunch and then sailed to bluepole bay. Went past Esk Island, one of the smallest with the highest ration of snakes to area in Oz! Arrived there about pm, got kittde up and went snorkeling! The reef was great, and the fish swim about a centimetre away from your mask! There was a massive fish called Elvis who would swim right up to you and you could stroke him! We snorkeled for a couple of hours, then got back up on the boat, climbed to the top and jumped back in the sea. It was a massive jump but once you have done it once its so much fun to keep doing it! When everyone got tired and hungry, we had dinner and then on to the top of the boat for organised drinking games, and watching the massive fish and dolphins swimming around the boats lights. We watched the sunset over the sea, an went in the onboard jacuzzi, and stayed up til about 3am on the deck. All the stars wer out and i have never seen so many! We lay on the deck and watched the sky for a while. Woken up again this morning at 7am in a similar fashion, and we went snorkeling again on the great barrier reef. I had an underwater camera so tried to get some good shots! Did a bit more boat diving, then on the deck for some sunbathing. The weather was amazing, and the winds never got bad. They served lunch, and thought it would be funny to out the sails up at the same time, so you had to hold on very tight to your food! the wind was strong enough to mean the boat was at a great angle but we cruised along on the deck back to Airlie Beach! Had an awesome trip with great people! After party tonight!

The after party was really great, we met at phoenix bar at 7.30, got cheap drinks and free dominos pizza all night! most people came and half the crew too. we went down to Beaches later on, and when that shut, the 24 hour macdonalds! left very early the next morning!