While I’m quite happy sailing Sunny Spells on my own, doing so 24/7 is probably not the most sensible thing to do. So I advertised on FindACrew.net. The passage from Mooloolaba to Hamilton Island would take place during the school holidays, which must have suited a lot of people, because I was inundated with interest. Let’s face it, sailing the Whitsundays is not an unattractive prospect either! I was spoilt for choice, so I could select what I thought would be a good mix: one experienced sailor, who could be watch captain, and two competent crew, to be… competent crew! I also tried to match the ages, so they ended up all being in their late twenties.

Matching the personalities was harder to do. While I spoke with all of them on the phone, trying to judge their sailing experience, it is impossible to really assess personalities on the phone. All I can say is that it’s worked out great! Sarah, George and Vicky got on really well with each other and it’s been fun watching them work and play.

Everyone has participated one hundred percent and it has been great to see them settle into the boat and start working together as a team. The cooking has been fabulous and we have lived like kings. Even more remarkable has been the willingness with which everyone has pulled his/her weight when it came to cleaning up. The dishes always seemed to wash themselves and whenever we anchored the crew immediately, and without prompting, started cleaning and tidying the boat before relaxing. Very impressive!

I’ve obviously been very lucky, but finding these people certainly has restored some of my faith in humanity. It’s marvelous what you can find on the internet these days…

After a very rolly night at Middle Percy Island, we set sail for Scawfell Island at 0645 on Saturday 5 February 2008. The forecast promised 20 to 25 knot south-eaterlies so we played it safe: poled-out no.2 genoa and main by the lee. The wind averaged around 15 knots all day and we managed a consistent 6 to 7 knots boat speed. By 1630 we were dropping the hook in Refuge Bay, Scawfell Island.

We spent a lazy day at anchor, snorkelling and fishing (I should say angling because we caught nothing…). In the evening we played a game of monopoly, which the skipper won despite the collaborative best efforts of the crew to prevent him by any means, however devious – sorry guys!

The guide books (Alan Lucas) recommend the Percy Isles as a stopover on the passage to the Whitsundays and I reckoned it was sensible to go with Alan’s recommendations for my first passage up the coast. The Percy Isles certainly exceeded all our expectations!

We arrived at South Percy Island at midnight after a long day of trade wind sailing under spinnaker we eased into our anchorage for a peaceful night.

The following morning, in deference to the late night, I enjoyed a quiet morning on deck with coffee and my “Ouma” rusks while the crew slept peacefully. At about 9AM we set sail for Middle Percy Island and anchored West Bay for the day.

We spent a delightful day at Middle Percy. After cleaning the boat (great crew!) Sarah swam out to the beach while George and Vicky paddled out. They spent a lovely morning exploring the island and the shed on the beach (the “Hilton”!)that has the greatest collection of artifacts left by yachties over the years.

I, meanwhile, set about doing some essential repairs.

First on the list was the alternator… While it was still charging, more or less, it wouldn’t get over 12.6 Volts, and I suspected the engine electrical panel and alternator warning light/field circuit. When that checked out okay, I stuck my head into the engine room where the fault was immediately obvious: the earth wire to the alternator had broken off! This was easily fixed by crimping a new lug on the wire and. voila she was charging at 14 volts or better again!

My second task was to re-splice the anchor chain to rope connection. This had started to fray after a couple of trips through the windlass gypsy. Now it got jammed in the windlass every time and I was also worried about the strength of the splice. I soon had that spliced and was well chuffed with the appreciative comments from the crew!

Later that night, after a lovely beach barbeque, the crew took a (surplus to reqs) danbuoy back to the shed suitably inscribed it and left our token.

The crew decided that preparing food on dry land was a good idea and a barbeque was soon planned. While we swam and fished Sarah put everything together. George and Vicky were on the beach already, collecting firewood, and Sarah ferried me to the beach at sunset.

Having a barbeque on the beach was a lovely change of pace. We were treated to a stunning sunset, the food was great and the three trips back to the boat in the dinghy felt like just the right way to end the evening.