Maiden Voyage

A quick check of the Bureau of Meteorology (http://www.bom.gov.au/) weather site indicates favourable conditions for our first trip to the reef. The boat is now fueled up, safety gear checked, batteries charged, lunch, sunblock and hats packed and we're ready to go.

Its down to the Smith's Creek boat ramp, (Trinity Inlet, Cairns) and into the water she goes.

Calm conditions are encountered as we make our way through the Cairns leads heading east. After a short time, Green Island appears on the horizon. I point this out to Jacinta and whilst doing so, I look at her to see if she is yawnng. Yes yawning. Apparently, she tells me that if she starts yawning it is the onset of seasickness. However, so far so good, no yawning.

Michaelmas Cay is our first stop to have a look at the migrating seabirds and to do some fish feeding. We then headed to Vlassoff Cay, another sand cay not to far away. We decided to have a fish at a little bommie I know of and it is there I caught the first Coral Trout from this boat. Jacinta also caught her first reef fish, although not a keeper, it was still very cute, and still not yawning.

We then decided to be a bit more adventurous and crossed over the top of ArlingtonReef (high tide of course) and made our way to Thetford Reef. We stopped there for a short time to fish before heading back home.

Our return trip home was without incident, however the clouds had moved in and the wind dropped even more making the sea oily and it became quite spooky.

We were soon back at the boat ramp and put the boat back on the trailer and drove home. The whole day was rather unevuntful which is what a "maiden voyage" should be. The boat has performed faultlessly and everything works as it should. With sea trials complete, it is now time to get some serious reef fishing done.

Until next time.....its a reef adventure.