Cairns - Port Douglas & back

Trinity Creek mooring

Harlequin spent the next 3 weeks on a swing mooring up the river (Trinity Inlet), courtesy of Smithy's Slipway.

Once we had managed to track him down (he'd clean forgotten about our arrival on 3 Aug), Roger Smith had very kindly shuttled us all to and from our mooring to Marlin Marina by tinny, which is far more convenient for the airport.



Jobs list

Jim & Sue returned later in the month for a week or so of cruising and, oh yes, cleaning & fixing...

The 'to-do' list in the log just kept getting longer and longer. However, parked back at Marlin Marina for a few days made it all very civilised, even allowing a trip up the mast. Runs ashore were easy & frequent, as well, given the marina's downtown location. And this has got to be the best time of year in Cairns: warm (not hot) sunny days and coool evenings.

Re-sealing the portlights

Jobs done (mostly), it was then time to go out and explore the GBR at Upulo Reef. Oh, and scrub the hull. Smithy had warned us that the growth in the tidal creek would be 'fierce' and so it was.

Snag was, Upulo Reef (a sand-bar at best) disappeared at high tide, and so did any shelter from the chop, so snorkelling to clean the waterline & hull involved much swallowing of seawater.

After a 'sloppy' night at anchor, we sailed up to Port Douglas, known simply as 'Port' hereabouts. Well, motor-sailed...


View from the masthead

Heading north, the usual sailing rules applied: when routing downwind the breeze drops to a zephyr; when beating back home again it pumps up to a Force 8. Sue was not impressed, but the deep second reef in the main proved its worth yet again.

River growth

Port Douglas was interesting though. Not least of all timing the tide for arrival & departure. With our 2.1m draft, we still had to drag ourselves into our B-dock mooring at mid-tide.

Very pretty, and all that, but not much to do there. Except to frequent the many over-priced cafes & restaurants with all the trendy tourists. Lovely beach, mind you...


Triathlon on 'Port' beach

We returned late to Cairns after a 60 nm / 9 hr beat down the coast, entering the passage at dusk and feeling our way up the river and onto our swing-mooring in the dark. Dinner under the stars, then sleep was not long coming!


Back at Marlin Marina briefly, we were witness to another aspect of CIQ into Australia - when they don't know you're coming! The German crew's e-mailed arrival notification had gone astray (the address was wrong, apparently) and the authorities were not happy. There was a steady stream of Customs officers over the next 48 hrs and much talk of a $1,500 fine...
 

Leaving Port Douglas

We were also introduced to one of our other neighbours: a lorikeet called Bob. Will try and upload a video of him to demonstrate where the name comes from. A friendly chap - he certainly took a liking to Sue!


Sue & Bob

More pics from the masthead in Marlin Marina...