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Our vessel, NISKA 4, a 42 ' sailboat handled everything the wild ocean could muster up. With Peter as our brave skipper and Kathleen as the ship's concubine we were in terrific hands We visited many islands such as Hook, Hamilton, South Molle, Hay Man, White haven and lazed in many of their secluded coves. A "standard" day included a fish off the back of the boat for brekkie, a snorkel over the incredibly vibrant and active reefs, a swim to white sandy beaches and an afternoon siesta. This left plenty of energy to sip stiff tequila margaritas and enjoy the bountiful feast from the ocean. Life on a yacht sure is GOOD. The activity in the blue seas is phenomenal. Dolphins in the wake of the ship whales breaching as you eat your cornflakes reef sharks stealing you catch from you in the shallows as you spearfish handfeeding a moray eel with fish guts up on dry land snorkelling face first into an 8 foot wide manta ray as you swim over a reef drop off really makes you know you are alive Living in a confined space is testing.... we adapted pretty well a really good head but makes you automatically duck for the rest of your time aboard!!!!!!!!!!! The beer was always cold and we deadest ate like we had Bernard king in the galley brewing up all types of culinary delights. Following many days at sea we would stop into an island and taste the delicacies it had to offer a hot shower swaying stable land people food with table service (not as good as the food on board our trusty vessel) tap beer. White haven beach.... the whitest sand of any beach in the world. We spent a few days here mesmerised by the talc like sand and the aqua water it does not seem real????? This is one place we will never forget Setting sail with the breeze in your face and the sun shining down is a classic way to get around. Travelling over cobalt waters with the only ripple being from the wake of our boat... A trip out to the Great Barrier reef was awesome the reef lies about 100 km from the mainland. We caught a high speed ferry for a day of submarine activity the reef is teaming with life schools of thousands of small tropical fish giant trevally GIANT Maori wrasse...8 foot long parrot fish a submarine ride was a different outlook as well A stop at Airlie beach as lee had to come back home. A great town that is the base for all trips out to the reef and the islands... it has great food and good cold beer. VIC HISLOP'S shark show is there... he has an 18-FOOT. GREAT WHITE ON ICE FOR ALL TO SEE. It is about 12 foot wide which is even scarier With all this knowledge on board, Pete (Raphael) and I returned to battle the harsh elements of the unforgiving seas. We were hearty old salts of the sea ready to pillage and plunder any land or any vessel that stood in our way.... Perfect weather was the ingredient that made the entire trip a success 25 degrees (80 if you are a sepia) the water was almost the same Alas a journey must come to an end for a couple of old sea dogs such as us... life on the high seas is an adventure EVERYDAY as DEAN MARTIN says..."HEY BROTHER ...POUR THE WINE..." until the next adventure...yeeeehhhhaaaaaaaa!!!! Todd | 
