Mike goes to check that the generator is ordered and confirmed for delivery and arranges to be back in Mackay to have it fitted.
No generator means no air conditioning and the humidity is high. Basically, this means very wet boat, which will only get worse. Having five people on board (all with nice hot breath) and a low sea temperature means that the boat is filled with condensation even before we set off. Even though we were able to use the shore power to attempt to dry the boat out last night, it didn’t really work, so this does not bode well for a comfortable boat over the next week. Ah well. Nothing we can do about it.
By 9 am we are ready to move from the dock but have to wait just a short time for Liza to refill with water before we can move as they are berthed behind them. We wave goodbye as we pull away and head round to the fuel dock, Liza going before us.
There is no one to take our lines so as we approach, I jump off and take the lines myself, tying them on at the the stern and the bow. Pressing a button on the dock, I talk to a disembodied Aussie voice and give her our boat name so that the pump can be switched on. and we can buy our 300 litres of lovely diesel.
Luka finishes refuelling first and comes over with his uncle to say goodbye. It’s so weird to know that realistically we will never see people again. They are sailing down to Sydney then Luka is flying home. I have no idea what is happening to Liza, the boat.
As we leave the marina, which is bathed in sunshine under a blue sky, we look out to sea and can that the clouds are really low, obscuring the tops of the cranes and tanks at the oil storage depot but they don’t affect visibility as we can see clearly beneath them.
Photo: Blue skies over Mackay and the marina
Photos: Low clouds over the sea as we exit the marina
Once we are out to sea, the clouds start to lift, and we are once again greeted with patchy blue skies, although there is no wind to speak of and we end up having to motor. Mike does try to put the genoa out, but it just flaps pathetically so he winds it away again.
Photo: Isabella adapts to lounging around on deck very easily
It only takes a few hours to motor to Brampton Island and we finish off yesterday’s bargain hors d’heuvre platter en route, along with a bottle of sparkling wine. Three other World Arc boats are already in the bay when we anchor, which is to be expected as this island is one of the nearest to Mackay. We all have an afternoon nap, emerging from our cabins one by one to drink tea. Afternoon naps are not something I want to really get into this week – time is too precious this week to waste it on sleep.
I put a garlic loaf on for tomorrow and cook a curry for our evening meal. The quality of chicken is excellent - the best I have had since leaving the UK. Everywhere else it has been tough (if it is breast) or full of bone and fat and covered with skin (if it is thigh meat). I am going to enjoy provisioning in Darwin!
It turns very chilly in the evening and we all take to wearing fleeces. Soon the decks are wet and slippery and the steam from the cooking creates a warm fug inside. It’s like being in a caravan in the Lake District (not that I’ve done this). Yuk. Johanne and I share a bottle – one of Mike Browns recommendations – it’s good.
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