We boarded our sailing yacht in the pouring down rain at about 5pm, torrential weather with low cloud, poor visibility. Not quite sure this is how I imagined the Whitsundays would look. We had to wear yellow raincoats and the first night was generally quite grim and the water was very rough.

Our boat was called British Defender and it had sailed the world a few years ago.

Our deck hands were really nice (if not slightly cocky), but they did a great job. This first night they made us yummy nachos and thai green curry on the boat, well impressed with what food can be prepped on such a small boat.

I slept on a second boat nicknamed The Blue Canoe. Was more than a canoe though. This was because there were so many of us and our boat only sleeps 20 people. So a few of us had to get a little dingy over to the Blue Canoe in the dark. I had a terrible terrible sleep on this boat, the rain was so loud, the sea was choppy and it was so hot, I was gasping for air in my sleep.

Next day it was still cloudy but at least no rain. We went to Whitehaven beach today where we saw the beautiful swirly sands of the Whitsundays, followed by a rainforest walk where there were lots of creepy crawlies and lots of mosquitos. In the afternoon we snorkelled off Hook Island.

The evening we had more yummy food, more goon and playing silly games all whilst watching the sun go down. Tonight the weather was much better so the sea was calm and I had a great sleep. Even found myself a double bed on the Blue Canoe.

We left the boat at Airlie Beach in the morning straight onto a 10 hour coach journey to our final destination for the tour...Cairns!!