Hope Islands Lat 15 degrees 43.7' S Long 145 degrees 27.4' E `5 15/05/13

Well, here we are at the Hope islands. We had all sorts of big ideas of overnight sails but were so knackered we spent a day yesterday just resting and going ashore to have a gecko at the tourist island of Low Isles. Tourist boats from Port Douglas come out every day and there were 3 in total. There's an antique lighthouse there (1870's we think) and it is still in use, albeit unmanned. Not a bad anchorage but a bit rolly around high tide.
We left there this morning at 0700 along with 2 other boats from Bluewater - both catamarans ("Even Bet" and "2XS"). The latter boat is also in the Sail Indonesia rally in July. We had intended to leave at 2am and go straight to Cape Bedford 75 miles north. However, we hadn't sailed any distance now for nigh on 9 months and so we took the easier option and left at 7 and just came as far as Hope Is. That was 40 miles and was enough. It was a good enough sail - very light winds to begin with but we needed power and water so ran the engine for just over 2 hours by which time the wind had improved and we sailed thereafter. 4-5 knots with main alone so wasn't too bad and not so much rolling as yesterday. There is a ship channel all the way inside the Barrier Reef from south up to Thursday Island and at times it is busy. Probably we were passed by 6-8 ships going north and south. They always have a Reef Pilot on board to guard against any major disasters. The thought of a fully laden coal carrier hitting the reef is just horrifying for the possible environmental damage.
The approach to Hope from south is a little tricky and requires passage between 2 islands with reefs and then eyeballing for coral bommies as one comes into the anchorage. We didn't hit any and all we have to hope now is that we can retrieve our anchor from a bottom which apparently is quite foul. Still, we've rigged a trip line so hopefully all will be well.
Just another item of stress to overcome but generally these things are trouble free when one actually comes to do them. But, we'd have to say that we both feel very stressed at the moment because we have a long way to go and many tricky situations to overcome. However, we are finding that as we carry on the stress becomes easier and by the time a week has gone by we should be finding everything 2nd nature - hopefully!!
Cape Bedford tomorrow ( 34 miles) and then Lizard Is. ( 40 miles) where we will be spending 3 days or so for R & R. After that all plain sailing!!
Watch this space,
Love from us
Jean (Gina) and Jim

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