Day 23: Saturday 16 May - Lizard Island
Listened to the weather, would you believe a strong wind warning for this area! We took it easy and just went for a walk along the beach and checked out the water pump
and the camping sites which are very nice. There were about eight boats in the bay and we all met at 5pm on the beach for sundowners - take your own drinks and nibblies. 
Day 24: Sunday 17 May - Lizard Island
Still a strong wind warning. Met Cheryl and Geoff on the beach at 9.30 and headed to the other side of the island to the Blue Lagoon, walked along the beach and then up through scrub, grass and rock and then skirted along sheer rock faces (thank goodness for non slip shoes!) and came to a rope which we used to get to the bottom and came to Coconut Beach where we had lunch. There is heaps of flotsam and jetsam washed up on to these southern beaches. Its amazing how many thongs people lose - always only one though - never a pair! There were lots of floats of assorted sizes, a stainless steel thingy off a long line fishing boat - even a motor bike helmet! Headed back and met at the Marlin Bar at 3 to play pool. The three policemen off the police boat came for drinks too. A good night.Day 25: Monday 18 May - Lizard Island
Started cloudy but turned beautiful. Went for a snorkel - one reef had good fish and the other had good coral but not as good as we remembered from last year! Went to the water pump for a shower and did our washing - kind of fun under a water pump. Had drinks on the beach again and said our farewells.
Day 26: Tuesday 19 May - Lizard Island to Ingram Island
We left at 6.45 in company with Tookawile and had a wonderful sail. We just went the direct route and Geoff and Cheryl sailed all over the place trying to catch better wind. We went past Watson's Island which is where Mrs Watson floated to shore and died. A huge ship (923 feet long, 103 feet wide and a keel of 11.5 metres) was due to come through Howick Passage which as far as big ships go is quite narrow so we opted to go between the reefs between Ingram Island and Coombe Reef. A little disconcerting knowing that you have reef both sides of you. Anchored in windy conditions off little Ingram Island. Peter spent his evening fishing - got a few small ones.
Miles: 43 Total 1091 nm
Day 27: Wednesday 20 May - Ingram Island to Flinders Group of Islands
What a beautiful day - unfortunately not a breath of wind so we had to motor the entire way. Crossed the shipping lane after three ships had gone through and just motored up the coast which had some pretty awesome scenery. Peter finally caught a large Spanish mackerel so he was very happy! We passed Cape Melville which has a fearsome reputation for very strong winds - in fact people call it Cape Hellville. But it was Cape Smoothsville today. Tookawile opted to go into Bathurst Bay to check it out but I had read that there are heaps of snakes in there so we continued on to the Flinders. We came into the passage between Flinders and Stanley Islands and it was like a millpond. The countryside was awesome - all the reds and greens on the north and craggy hills and bits of mangrove. Very pretty. Anchored on the east side of the sandspit behind the German boat Frejya.
Miles: 47 Total 1138
Day 28: Thursday 21 May - Flinders Island
At about 4.30am the wind turned to the SW and we were rocking and rolling quite a bit so moved to the north eastern side of the sandspit. Tookawile came in at 11.30 and anchored nearby. We took the tender (dingy) - after much trepidation about crocs - and headed about a mile away to a water tank but the tide was too low for us to get in so had a long wet trip back. Went to the other side of the sandspit and joined Geoff and Cheryl in gathering huge oysters (mission accomplished) and trying to find an aboriginal painting (mission not accomplished). We had sundowners and oysters (natural, lime & chilli and Kilpatrick) on Tookawile. Vulcan came in and after a little trouble managed to anchor nearby (they have a broken anchor winch). Anchorage pleasant - no wind so stuck here for a while.
Day 29: Friday 22 May - Flinders Island
I have spent the morning confirming that I have no natural talent for either sketching or water colour painting. Peter has finally started to read his book and Whitby Lass has just come in so now there are four yachts here. We are hoping to get some decent wind on Sunday to leave.
Missing my little dogs and Jessie. Hope you are all well and haven't been blown or washed away!
Fair winds
Dell and Peter
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