I awoke at 9am from a deep slumber to discover we were only 8 miles off Magnetic Island(yippee!) My estimation of arrival time being 10.30am was potentially a little overcooked, although everyone else had picked us arriving later so those hot chips were starting to look good!

The anchor hit the water at 10.19am I let out a triumphant cheer! The hot chips were mine!

Silver Fern were yet to be seen as they’d overshot a few lay lines through the night and we’d managed to sail past them. We managed to get the tender into the water(which is no small feat), before we saw Silver Fern poke their nose around the edge of the Bay.

Everyone then headed ashore for a highly anticipated pub meal at the local restaurant. Peter the chicken parmy connoisseur rated his parmy a 2.5(out of 10!) but I was more than happy with my steak and chips.

The rest of the day was spent touring around the island seeing the sights. My determination to spot more Australian animals in the wild paid off as I saw some bush stone curlew and a wallaby that almost bowled me over on the walking track.

We had a Thai chicken curry for dinner which I accidentally made too hot for anyone to actually eat(whoops!). Barb and Steve then treated us to a concert of singalongs as Steve played ukulele and Barb played her makeshift bodhran by using a container from the galley. Barb then gave us a lesson on how to play the spoons which was heaps of fun, although there may be more practise required.

Tune in tomorrow for news on our adventures ashore and the beginning of our last passage up to Cairns!

Chief Mate,

Jess