Defender - Live the Legend
Trip Start
Nov 10, 2003
1
17
32
Trip End
Jun 30, 2004
Hervey Bay, Australia
Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Upon arriving in Haymen Island the amusing farce of getting into our 'stinger suits' ensued... basically you have to wear them due to the high amounts of Box Jellyfish, also known as a sea wasp and is the most poisonous sea creature in the world - nice. The simple act of stepping on a tentacle can signify death in four minutes. Also there were Irukandji which are almost invisable and only as big as the tip of your finger and requires immediate hospitalisation after being stung!! We couldn't wait to get in! The stinger suits look like a cross between a wetsuit and a pair of tights - very fetching.. but it was worth it for the excellent snorkelling and the incredible amount of fish that we saw. Back on the boat for lunch and then off to Hook island having raised the sails for more snorkelling in the afternoon. It has to be one of the best feelings in the world of setting sail with the sun going down behind you over the Whitsunday islands - absolute bliss with photos to match. We dropped anchor overnight in Nara Inlet, which is apprently a breeding ground for the Hammerhead shark (stingersuit rendered useless). Had dinner on deck under the most amzing amount of stars we'd ever seen and coupled with the amount of phospheresence in the water made it an evening to remember. Slept on deck for the night under the stars (albeit very badly).
Suprisingly the next day was much of the same having woken up at 6am and set sail shortly after - however, we also went to Whitehaven beach - rathed in the top three beaches in the world and it was easy to see why! Due to the extremely high amount of silicon, the beach is as white as you can imagine and stretches litterally for miles. After the necessary photo shoot we headed down to the waters edge for swimming, cricket and football before heading back to the boat a few hours later. Sunbathing, Snorkelling, Eating, Drinking, Sailing later we arrived at our evening destination just off of whitsunday island, again sleeping out under the stars. A lazy morning and an afternoon sail back to Airlie beach completed a fabulous three days on our first ever sailing trip...but surely not our last. The trip was completed with a few beers with the crew that evening in one of the livlier bars in town.
