20:32:533S 149:06:538E Mackay to Thomas Isalnd
Shaya Moya
Don & Susan Smyth
Sun 27 Jul 2014 06:22
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Arrived in Mackay, Western Australia, as
scheduled to a warm welcome from Captain Don and First Mate Tom Pedley
from the UK. I was greeted by a familiar flag, fairly rare in this part of the
world.
 The hospitality was typical and before long a
traditional meal was being prepared. Don at the 'braai' and Tom in the
galley.
  Shaya Moya was looking pristine and awesome save
for the issue of a diesel engine short on top-end power. While the local diesel
guys were busy we did some general maintenance and upgrades to the safety and
comfort of what will be my new home for the next few months.
  Unfortunately this delayed our departure by a week.
While we were waiting we considered our options as far as craft
were concerned. When we finally set sail on Friday
25 July it was Tom, who had been here over a month, who bade
Mackay the biggest farewell. He was overjoyed to once again see those 'white
flappy things' on the mast.
   We were heading for the Whitsunday group of Islands
to the north in what is a beautiful part of the Great Barrier Reef. Our first
sailing day could not have been better with a good F5 south east trade wind
pushing us along at around 8.5 knots. The Yellowbrick is now functional and
sending out the four hourly updates. First day anchor point was off Scawfell
Island in Refuge Bay. Strangely the Pirate ship we had joked about
was along-side for the night. Next stop Goldsmith Island and then on to
Thomas Island on Sunday (specially for Tom)
    The area is pristine and very interesting. Can't
wait to see more.
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