Phase2: Lizard Island

Thursday, 3 October 2013 to Sunday, 13 October 2013

We left Marlin Marina in a light north easterly and motored the 18nm to Vlasoff Reef. The mooring was surprisingly comfortable in the easterly swell and we wasted no time going ashore on the small island for a snorkel. Just as we were entering the water a helicopter circled and signalled if it was ok to land. Apparently they have to get permission if there is anyone on the island. Good coral and fish just off the beach.

Friday morning we checked out Michaelmas Reef before setting the spinnaker for the Low Isles. Michaelmas is a bird rookery so the noise and smell of hundreds of birds spoiled the ambience somewhat!

Warren was keen to get to Lizard Island in time for the footy final on Sunday night so Saturday we covered 70nm to Cape Bedford with a good spinnaker run most of the way. Our AIS blew a fuse today (and the replacement) so can’t be used until we find out what the issue is. Warren caught 2 spanish mackerel that were both returned as one was too big (120cm) and one was too small (65cm). We steer clear of anything over 100cm to reduce the risk of ciguatera poisoning.

Sunday we had a quick sail to Watson’s Bay on Lizard Island in 20-25kn winds where we anchored with 30 other cruisers including Len and Isla on Waterfront. On Monday, with good weather forecast for the next few days, Waterfront and about 14 others left.

We walked to the Research Station on Monday morning for the tour. Our guide Julius was an Italian post grad student with a British accent who studied the sounds of the reef.

He explained that the crackling noise that you can hear when you film under water is actually pistol shrimp firing off water at prey. When I get better internet I’ll upload a video! Apparently you can find these creatures on every coral reef around the world. He also talked about the Crown of Thorns starfish and the current outbreak which is damaging the reef. I was disappointed to see that the reef at nearby Turtle Bay has had significant damage since our last visit 2 years ago.

Warren with Hugh from San Souci

During the week we were on Lizard Island we also climbed to the top of Cook's Look (where Captain Cook found a passage through the Great Barrier reef), snorkelled and kayaked.

On Sunday the Lizard Island Gamefishing tournament started. 29 boats made for a crowded anchorage but the sailpast and race to the fishing grounds was quite spectacular.