Hi all,

So we left Magnetic Island and managed to get a lift down to Airlie Beach with our boss which was good. We arrived at our hostel into our FREE twin room (no sharing with sweaty backpackers!) spent the day in bed and catching up from such an early start.... After a long snooze we went out for a nice dinner and wine- well deserved we thought!

The following day we was up and out to begin our 2night, 3day sailing trip around the Whitsunday Islands. We were on a Maxi sailing boat in which had won races, called the Hammer. Our group consisted of mostly German couples and boring Chileans, thank god for 3 english girls who bewteen them and us had brought enough booze to sink the boat!! No pun intended. They were great, Claire, Caroline and Katie and ourselves managed to have a really great time however boring our fellow co-sailers were.

The first day we spent the day sailing to our first destination to where we went snorkelling which was lovely, the stinger suits which was a necessity were not a good look though. If not in the water we sat drink in hand chatting and sunning it on the deck- can not be bad. We had good food and was very chilled as the anchor went down for the night. Us and the girls expected a big party of some sort but no, everyone was in bed by 9pm!! What. The beds were not too bad actually a little small but once you got past the rocking we slept fine- the wine and beer probably helped though.

The following day we woke at 7am to a nice breakie and set off to our next port of call. However what was not in the brochure nor the contract was RAIN!!! we spent a good 2hours in a bright yellow mac sat on the deck getting rained on and as we sailed into the stormy waters, Claire lost her D&G sunnies but luckily we past through it. We spent the afternoon on the famous White Haven beach which contains sand that is pure white, fine enough to clean your jewellary with - they came up a right treat!! We chilled their and then headed back to the boat for a hearty lunch. We had a go at steering and pulling the ropes, what for we don't know but it was fun, we also managed to get a few beers in whilst the rest of the boat went snorkelling!!! well once you have seen one piece of Great Barrier Reef coral, you have seen them all! We got to see some beautiful turtles in the water and watch an amazing sunset.

That evening the crew cooked us yummy steaks on the bbq and we all sat and ate and drank on the deck. Then some team building games.....the one and only crack ball where you had to put a ping pong ball between ur bum cheeks and then drop into a container on the ground which got smaller every time. Well we dont like to brag but us 5 girlies got named the Crack Ball 5 and kicked the Germans asses!!! no change there then! this one was for queen and country!!! after a few more litres of wine we lay back on the deck in the pitch black and did some star gazing- amazing.

Up bright and early to sail back to shore, a shower and a non-floating bed was extremely appealing at that time. Lol also lost her sunnys to the sea- damit!! The rocking didn't stop until days after but again managed to meet all the group for dinner and drinks in Airlie beach which was fun, not though when I (Lucy) lost me crew member Lol, I had obviously forgotten in the heat of dancing that she was leaving the club to go for cash with one of the girls and yes Jan when I realised she was longer than she should have been began my frantic search...this was over within 10mins when I found her stuffing her face with a pie outside the pie-shop!!!! That is the Wigan girl coming out in her!!! Anyway it was a good night and spent the rest of our time in Airlie, recovering and relaxing by the lagoon as well as a bit of retail therapy. We was planning to leave by the Grey Hound which is stupid prices but luckily met a lovely French-Canadian gangster/rapper Alex who had a car and after only $30 (travelling in total, 1000Kms from Townsville for $30 each- bargin!!) and 12hours we arrived in Hervey Bay to begin our Fraser Island tour which starts tomorrow.

So that is Airlie Beach, we are hoping our Fraser group will be more fun but we always have each other. Hope you all well, photos will be coming soon.

All our love

The Sailors

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