Today was by far our most enjoyable day of cruising since starting out. We left Darwin on Friday, sailed across the Arafura Sea skirting the north of the Gulf of Carpentaria on Saturday, and today, Sunday, sailed through Torres Strait and began our journey down the coast of Queensland. We woke early and went up on deck to farewell the full moon and welcome the sunrise. The sea was like glass and the quiet of the morning was hauntingly beautiful as we slid through a slight sea mist. Islands rose through this mist like ghostly shapes, but became more earthly and earthy as the sun broke the horizon and cleared the air.

The pilot who had come aboard to thread the boat through these islands gave a narration of the journey as we proceeded, pointing out landmarks and giving some interesting stories of the history of the area. The Straight was named after the Spanish navigator, Luis Vaez de Torres who sailed through it in 1606. We saw many lighthouses and we passed a great many freighters as this is a major shipping lane connecting the Arafura and Coral Seas. Booby Island and its lighthouse heralded our entry into the Prince of Wales Channel. This island used to serve as "post office" for ships in the old days when this was the only port of call for many. A few supplies, a log book and letters in a place to be left or collected made up what was to become known as a "Booby cocktail". We saw Thursday Island and Tuesday Island and Wednesday Island as well, but I thought those names were a little weak. (Ha ha, a little week, get it?) We passed Possession Island where Cook claimed possession of Australia (or New South Wales as he named it) for England in 1770. We passed near to where the wreck of the Quetta went down in 1890 (a ship another of my ancestors travelled on to Australia at an earlier date, thank goodness) and we passed Restoration Rock, the place where Bligh, in 1789, stopped and restored supplies and the strength of his fellow Bounty survivors before continuing on to Timor and safety.

After rounding Cape York, the very most northerly tip of the Australian mainland, we proceeded to follow the Queensland coastline south. Miles of white sandy beaches were visible for most of the day and it seemed a crime to leave the deck at all in case we should miss anything of this beautiful area. Birds and fish and turtles graced us with their presence and the breeze kept the temperature pleasantly under 30 degrees. Unlike so many others throughout history, we did all this in the lap of luxury in perfect weather. Today was brilliant. I never cease to be awed by how blessed my life is.