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Pietro returned from his holiday with the Irish boys aboard Avocet and we set off to cruise to Darwin in company with our Norwegian friends aboard Saphir. Lack of wind meant an overnight motor to Lizard Island where we spent two lovely, relaxing days anchored in crystal clear water. Our hull being in need of a scrub, the four of us jumped over, scourers in hand to clean the slime accumulated from sitting in marinas. It was only after we’d finished the job, we were informed about the resident 3.5 m ‘Saltie’ in the bay. Having thoroughly enjoyed our first swim in several months, suddenly it lost its appeal.

We dinghied ashore to explore the island and waded our way along 3 km of deep sand track to the very impressive research station which hosts researchers from all over the world. Lizard island was badly damaged by a cyclone which sat over the island for over 11 hours in February 2013. Luckily the research station was largely in tact but the same cannot be said of the formerly, exclusive and hugely expensive resort in the bay. It is now a building site but is slowly being restored to its former glory worthy of its $1400 per night price tag.