CLIENT: Sail and Walk
VOYAGE NUMBER: 20260530
FROM: Townsville To: Townsville
POSITION: Horseshoe Bay, Magnetic Is
DATE: 30 May 2026
REPORT: White Watch
The day began with breakfast followed by local coffee. It was a fine clear day with light breezes. We returned to the ship for an induction by the captain. We were then instructed on rope handling skills including knot tying, belaying, flaking, coiling, hitching and snubbing. We had repeated practice enroute to Magnetic Island. We hoisted the Mainsail enjoying the teamwork and putting our new learnings into practice.
After raising the sails, we were called to lunch. We dined on delicious fresh salad rolls out on the deck. It was then our turn to go on watch duty but after hardly starting, the captain ordered the sails to be taken down as we entered Horseshoe Bay. The captain steered the ship into the breeze to make it easier for us to take the sails down.
We went ashore on the zodiac ably steered by our handsome sailing master, excited to explore the island. Our walk along the path up to the WW2 fort ruins rewarded us with beautiful vistas of the bays, and lots of wildlife including three gorgeous koalas along the path, a wallaby a gecko and a praying mantis egg-case.
We returned to the boat via the zodiac as the sun set with a full moon rising. We had round one of the knotting competition in the twilight under torchlight followed by a delicious dinner cooked by Cath. What a great day!