The Solway Lass

During this school holiday we decided to head north to Cairns, QLD. Our first stop was Airlie Beach where we took a lovely 3 day cruise around the famous Whitsunday Islands of the Great Barrier reef aboard the tall ship, Solway Lass.  We flew to Airlie Beach in the a.m. after a typical  delay in Brisbane Airport.  After checking in, we spent the day puttering about Airlie and enjoying the sun. At 7 pm we headed out to the Solway Lass.  After leaving port we headed out to our overnight in the Hook Island passage where we had snacks and soup.  The 19 people on board seem like nice people.  The crew is:  Reggie - captain, Elliot - Bosun, Lauren, Brendan, Dave -cook, Tom -volunteer.  Our berth near the bow is TINY! For those of you who are interested, she was built 1902 in Holland of German Steel with timber decking as a sail powered cargo vessel and was originally named Stina. In 1905, she was sold and renamed "Adolf" and worked in and around the Baltic and North Sea. In 1915, she was seized as a prize of war by the British and used as a Q-Ship during WWI. At the end of WWI, she worked as a coal, produce and stone carrying vessel between Liverpool and Scottish Ports.  In 1924 she was sold to a Scottish firm near Solway Firth where she was renamed Solway Lass. When WWII broke out the Germans seized her as a prize of war where she was used to supply their armed forces.  During the war she hit a mine and was badly damaged, however the Germans repaired the hull because she was useful as a sail-powered icebreaker.  After WWII she served in the South Pacific as a cargo vessel.  In 1983, a Sydney Businessman purchased her in Fjii.  From 1983 to 1985 she was rebuilt and in 1988 took pride of place in the 1st Fleet re-enactment of the Tall Ships into Sydney Harbour.  Enough maritime history!

Airlie Beach

Our berth

The next morning we were up early for continental breakfast on deck, and the sails were hoisted for a sail to Whitehaven beach. Boyd and I rode in the bow net for part of the way. Very peaceful with the sails and no engine. Spent a few hours at Whitehaven Beach, known as one of the prettiest beaches in the world. It was lovely!   We swam/paddled about - cold - and walked the pure white sands. We went up to the lookout and saw the shifting white sands and turquoise waters below - just beautiful. Back to the boat for lunch and a sail back through Hook passage to South Molle Island where we dropped anchor for the night.


Breakfast

Deck of the Soloway Lass

We're off!

On the bowsprit

Relaxing in the bowsprit net

Whitehaven Beach

Whitehaven Beach

Looking good in lycra!  We wore stinger suits as protection against jellyfish (and the chilly water)

Whitehaven Beach

Whitehaven Beach

Whitehaven Beach

In the yard arms

Two - Six - Heave!  Pulling up the top sail

Sailor Nancy

Putting the sails up on a nice breezy day

Can't stop cleaning up!  Winding ropes on deck.

3 guitars on board had most people strumming.

 

On Monday we went on a bush walk up to the peak on South Molle Island with a spectacular view of the Whitsundays. The walk was lovely, through rainforest, grasslands, and lots of grass trees with flower spikes. After the walk and reboarding we sailed north to Hayman Island for some snorkeling at Blue Pearl Lagoon. There were TONNES of fish - including Elvis the huge potato cod - and lots to see - but the water was COLD despite being on the Great Barrier Reef!  After snorkeling, many (including Boyd) jumped off the rope swing on the boat afterwards. We anchored a little ways off Hook Island for the night.

Golden orb spider about the size of my hand.  We heard that their silk is so strong that a web can last for 2 years!

Grass tree flower spikes.

Looking down at our ship (third from the left) at South Molle.

The giant batfish - as big as a platter.

Sailor Boyd raising some sail or other

 

Modelling the lovely lycra stinger suit - all the rage in these waters.

Boyd getting ready to jump

 

They had a pirate tickle-trunk onboard which we took advantage of!

On the last morning several  people went SCUBA diving, so as we waited for them, Boyd went snorkeling again.  I went along in the boat and was dropped off at a lovely little coral beach to sit in the sun (and out of the wind) and read for a few hours.  After, Boyd swung on the rope swing again, and jumped off the bowsprit and the side of the boat.  

 

Many of the beaches are made up of bits of coral.

Boyd jumping from the bowsprit

and on the rope swing

 After lunch, we headed back to port (Airlie Beach), arriving about 4 p.m.. After goodbyes to our fellow passengers, we were dropped at our motel for the night. We unpacked and went for a run along the waterfront and the docks. Nice to stretch our legs again!  Tomorrow we head north for the next part of the adventure.