Sailing in the Whitsundays - Whiteheaven Beach

Since the day before yesterday evening we have been on the road. I am sitting here on the roof of the cabin of our ship and trying to tell you what we have experienced.

Yesterday: I actually slept quite well and didn't fall out of bed either.

In the morning, a delicious breakfast awaited us on deck in the sunrise. The sea was very calm and smooth! Unbelievable! We anchored directly in front of South Mole Island. I was there with Klaus back then and have more beautiful memories of it.

The Solway Lass is an old sailing ship - it was built in 1902 or so in Holland and looks like a pirate ship! Everything is old here too... the ship has experienced a lot - from floating alone on the sea for 2 years as a ghost ship to being sunk several times. It has also been used as a tourist ship in Sydney. I think I know it from back then! I'll have to ask if that's true.

After breakfast, we were taken by dinghies to go snorkeling!

There was a cyclone here at the end of March that caused a lot of destruction. Even parts of the reef and the trees on the islands look terrible. Many have fallen over or lost their leaves! So many things look pretty bare!

The visibility at the reef was rather poor, right after the cyclone the visibility was only a few centimeters. Anyway, there was a great variety of corals and many fish - you could see that, but it was very turbid. Back on the boat, we went to the next spot with better visibility - supposedly the best since the end of March. Many people saw turtles, but unfortunately we didn't! 😏

In the afternoon, we were at Whitehaven Beach - one of the top 10 beaches in the world! The sand is white and very soft, it really looks like snow!

Unfortunately, the nice New Zealanders are leaving us. The junior is sick 😷!!

Great dinner and Mau - Mau with others on the ship.

The next morning we visit the white beach again with 2 hours of free time! It is really incredible how white it is and how extensive! Daniel, Mika and I spend the time making funny videos in slow motion and we laugh ourselves to death! That was really nice!!

The others see many stingrays while walking around. Not important to us!!!

Back on the ship, the sails are set, which is really elaborate and exciting, and we sail away quite fast. The moment when the engine was turned off - it became quiet and we only hear the splashing of the water - is beautiful!!

Enough wind for sailing also means many waves and a lot of movement. Mika spends the next 2 hours at the trash can! 🤢!

At some point we sail into a bay - the sails are wrapped again and the ship is calm again! It is actually true that we feel less sick when we always look at the horizon.

Sunset on the roof - beautiful!!! Here in Australia I have seen sooo many sunrises and sunsets. I especially love the sunrises! I would get up early for that immediately, it is simply beautiful - the world is so fresh and it is so calm and quiet, as if everything belongs only to me!! 😉

Good night to all of you!!