Sailing Day!
Had our breakfast yoghurts at the hotel, and then went into Airlie Beach to drop off our bags at the travel agent, before settling for a coffee at Brumby's. We walked along to the marina, and Nik did his usual of getting us there VERY early, and then pacing about anxiously. We spent some time sat in a small ray of sunshine and trying to work out who was on our trip. Luckily, some very annoying people waiting in the marina were not on it. However, our boat was late coming in due to the tide so we had a long wait around, even after getting our sexy stinger suits.
Eventually, we boarded the boat, which is called Matador and is a 50ft race winning yacht. It is much better than the Perama boat. The passengers were largely made up of two groups - European students with lots of beer and Brits abroad, inc two glam Scottish ladies, and three young chaps on a gap year. The crew is made up of Pete the skipper, who is a gruff voiced, weathered sailor man, Becky, the deckie, who is a hardcore British girl that knows her way around boaty things, Ben, our hostie, who is a norf London geezer who slept in a tent on deck and sorted out food and tea and AndI, a hard-ass kiwi diving instructor.
Sleeping arrangements consisted of little bunks below deck, and got everyone intimate rather quickly. Toilets were suitably grim, but Ben was on hand for unblocking at all times!
After boarding the boat, we sat out on deck for an afternoon of sailing between islands to where we were going to drop anchor for the night. Nik got involved with helping straight away and along with Freddie, Will and Max (plus a silent German chap) was responsible for hoisting the main sail - very exciting. Nik took it very seriously and enjoyed the workout it gave his arms. The boat did proper sailing, where it tilted right on its side, which was pretty terrifying at first, but we soon got used to it. It was very high wind during that afternoon so it was quite rough being outside and stripped the skin off our faces a bit, however, being hardcore, we both stayed outside for the whole sail (lots of people went in and slept or sheltered). We did however feel ill equipped as it was totally freezing cold and super windy and a bit rainy and we didn't really have many warm clothes. Although, Hannah did have flight socks in her bag which were the cause of much envy - you have to go bare foot on deck so warm feet below deck was a big bonus. We were very impressed that during the afternoon, we got snacks of crackers, crudités and dips - we had come packing emergency snacks envisioning Perama food!
Evening time was very windy, so we mostly sat below deck chatting to other passengers and being amused by the gap year trio before dinner, which was spag bol and garlic bread with a cup of tea after - we communicated the importance to us of tea and coffee early on so that Ben made sure to tell us first as soon as the kettle was boiled up.
Later on, Pete got out his guitar and played us some songs. He is quite a character. He claimed you can tell he is from the country, because he was 'rocking the flanno' - flannel shirts are in fact excellent. As the weather was cold and wet, everyone pretty much went to bed early doors, even though it was quite a bad night's sleep as it was cold, rocky and Hannah had a nightmare about an alien plague.
Arose fairly early to a delightful brekkie of cereals, fruit salad and bread before we were taken to shore to have a little walk around the island, and to see the famous Whitehaven Beach. It was spectacular as there was more sand than you could think is possible and it is very soft, plus there is lots of beautiful blue ocean. It was the sort of view we came to Oz to see - much of what we have seen so far has been nice, but nothing outstanding, until now. We pottered on the beach for a long while, enjoying making fresh footsteps in the untouched sand.
After heading back to the yacht (during which Hannah got a rock splinter in her foot) we went on another sail, but this time it was flat so we were able to have lunch of lasagne and salad on deck. Nik did more helping and wants to be a sailor. We stopped at a lovely bay where we donned the sexy stinger suits and got the boat in to the beach to snorkel the reef. It was absolutely the coldest water in the history of the world, and Hannah nearly died, especially as fish kept mobbing her while she was trying to acclimatise. However, we went on a lovely snorkel and saw some amazing coral and a lot of brilliant fish and sea creatures like giant clams and even stingers. When we got back to the boat we saw turtles coming up around the boat. They were big.
During another short sail in the afternoon to our location for the evening (Hannah and Nik went on the grinder for helping) we saw lots of birdlife. The captain threw meat up for eagles who swooped down to catch it, and there were kites and seagulls following the boat (plus one hitching a ride on the dinghy). Stopped for the evening by a very still and lovely bay. It was much warmer during the afternoon and evening, so we were able to hang about on deck. The sunset was really pretty, and then the night sky was amazing - more stars than you could ever imagine possible - a real moment.
Before dinner, Nik took part in a challenge where he and Freddie were tied up with string and had to untangle themselves. They were the first pair to get out the tangle, Nik's competitive side shone through. We enjoyed watching the others attempts until dinner was served, which was roast beef, mash, veggies and gravy. Yum. After dinner, we hung about on deck listening to terrible music and having a laugh. As we neglected to bring any booze, Nik 'enjoyed' some of Fiona and Charissa's goon and some beer off the Euros. We sat out telling jokes, and listening to Pete's stories, but once we got cold, we headed back below deck for bedtime, and sat up chatting to Becky for a while before a far better, and stiller, night's sleep.
The next morning, we were supposed to be sailing at 6.30am, but when we all started getting up at 7.30 there was no sign of movement. Instead, we sat out on deck eating breakfast, regardless of the lack of sun once again. Eventually, Pete jumped out the sails, where he sleeps, looking decidedly rough after a night of goon and we got going round to another bay. (Eventually he helped Fiona out of the sails, who it transpired had spent the night in there with him…) There was an option to snorkel but as it was already freezing, we opted out. Most people who tried didn't last long either! We then had tea and biscuits before our final sail back to Airlie, which was rainy, fast and sideways again, and lots of fun. Our faces got VERY red this time round. Nik obv did more helping and now considers himself an actual sailor, as he kept asking questions off Pete (who has trained Olympians) and learning the answers. In fairness, when posing for a photo at the wheel, he was actually steering the boat as Pete let him.
All in all, the boat trip was incredible and we were sad it was over. Hannah did not feel sick once, and had much better balance and sea legs than a lot of people on board, as well as being very good at staying outdoors for the whole sail. Nik got well in to sailing and wants to learn to drive a boat now. There were some excellent people on board that caused much amusement and hilarity too and the crew were great which really made the trip.
After getting back to Airlie Beach, we collected out stuff and then hauled up at a café to have a drink and check our emails. Unfortunately, we aren't able to stay with Nik's friend when we get to Brisbane, so we booked a couple of night's emergency accomm and instead are going to stay with Randy (from Singapore) later in the week for a few days - all is still salvageable! Got changed into clean clothes (for the first time in some days) in a public toilet and then re-packed our bags ready for the plane outside the café - it really comes to something when you're chucking your dirty smalls on the pavement having not showered for two days and don't really care!
Headed to the coach stop to get the greyhound to Mackay - Nik only made us be 40 minutes early this time which Hannah considers to be progress. Bus journey was quiet and went without a hitch, bringing us to Mackay Airport. We saw some good sights along the way, including some amazing derelict buildings, a sugar field being burnt and also all the shops that we kept seeing dodgy local tv adverts for. Mackay Airport was an excellent small airport, which was super efficient so we were on the plane in no time for what was a pretty decent flight on Jetstar. We arrived into Brisbane around 8pm, by which time nothing was open at the airport giving Nik coffee withdrawal. You also couldn't get an airport train or bus to town which was odd and annoyingly meant we had to get a cab. The cab driver couldn't understand what Nik was saying - in general, no foreign people can, we think Nik must have a weird voice - but we got to our backpackers ok. It is huge and in an amazing heritage building literally in the centre of the CBD so will be a good jumping off point for the day we have in town. Room was adequate, but due to being on the roof, was absolutely freezing cold, to the point where we both slept badly - Hannah had another nightmare.