CLIENT: Sail and Walk Voyage
VOYAGE NUMBER: 20250531
FROM: Townsville To: Townsville
DATE: 31 May 2025
POSITION: Horseshoe Bay, Magnetic Is
REPORT: White Watch
Boarding at 7.30am, I was greeted at the gate by Mark, the gently spoken Canadian volunteer who escorted me to the ship. On boarding, I was shown to the sleeping quarters and what was to be my place of rest for the next six nights. Relief set in as I realised that my claustrophobia was not going to be triggered, thanks to a spaciousness that I had not expected.
Going out on deck into the beautiful day that Townsville provided us all with, I enjoyed meeting fellow crew members and finding my way around the ship. No time was wasted and the tuition began. Confusion set in reasonably quickly with lots of new language (belay pins, cleats, halyards etc.). I was blessed with patient instruction and reassured that the confusion was normal!
We motored out of the marina and headed towards Magnetic Island. The breeze was warm, the skies blue and the water a gorgeous aqua. As we got closer to the island, we raised the sails and the actual sailing began. I discovered a newfound respect for the strength required to hoist the sails and happily realised I was in for a few days of reasonably vigorous exercise.
On arriving at Horseshoe Bay, we anchored and made our way to shore for an afternoon of swimming, walking and relaxation. My two new friends and I enjoyed the Fort Walk. We were blessed with blue skies, a koala siting, some World War II history and wallabies happily skipping off the path in front of us. We were all back on board the ship by 5pm and got straight into some knot tying instruction and a knot tying competition (that very sadly, my team did not win).
Dinner on the ship with the sun setting was pretty special. My team was first on watch after dinner, so under the new moon and the southern stars, more new skills were acquired. That’s my day so far. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what tomorrow brings. Thank you to all the crew, volunteers and new friends for making my first day on board the South Passage a wonderful experience.