From the Captain Garry McKechnie 12/03/06

We drop anchor just before first light in west Bay. We have the anchorage and the beach to our selves. We will head for Mackay and civilisation some time later today but in the mean time we can enjoy the pleasures of a sheltered bay and a coconut fringed beach.

Everyone on board takes the opportunity to go ashore, to swim and to take in the islands sights. The A frame, the tree house, the boat harbour, all island icons, are visited. Ewan, Frank, Pedar, Matty, and Marina make the walk up to the homestead near Middle Percy's summit and meet Nick and Loran who are caretakers on the island for the new lease holder (refer to previous logs on web site for potted history). They continue a long Percy Island tradition of hospitality to cruising yachts people and make their guests welcome. Listening to the boys and Marina they become interested in what we are doing and return with them to the boat to meet the rest of the crew. Paul signs them up for GBRMPA's coral watch program. Paul's team despite trips such as this cannot maintain close watch on more than a small fraction of the reef. With the assistance of volunteers they can maintain a network of observers who can phone in with news of any important developments. Nick and Loran are more than happy to participate. For our part we hear a little of their idyllic (read hard) island lives.

As the shelter of West Bay at Middle Percy falls behind us the waves reassert their control over every aspect of our lives. Despite this we have a comfortable and relatively quick passage to Mackay with the wind behind us. Our time here is extended by the strengthening winds which are now assaulting much of the Queensland coast. A raft of maintenance and organisational tasks keep the expedition team busy albeit with one eye on the weather.

We are sorry to hear some sad news. Frank has decided that a life at sea is not for him. He will get off in Mackay and return to Palm Island. Life at sea does not suit everyone but Frank promises to catch up with us in Townsville or on Palm as we sail by in a few weeks time. Chris, Magnus and David from the Uni of Qld and CSIRO remote sensing team also get off as planned . Their humour and spirit will be missed but the absence of their equipment and their bodies create a sense of space aboard Pelican that seems positively luxurious.

Ewan meets up with some old fishing mates form the coral trout boats he used to work on in Cape York. Work on Pelican continues at a frenetic pace. In a single day the entire pressure plumbing for the water supply must be replaced as it has stated to burst with monotonous regularity often pumping hundreds of litres water into various dry storage areas, engine rooms and other unsuitable spaces. Strong winds continue to hammer the coast and in consultation with Paul we decide to drop several of the dive sites that are most exposed to the south east. Frank's sudden departure, the weather delays and other problems lead to a degree of soul searching and questioning. In a group meeting of the Pelican team feelings are aired. Rifts are exposed and suggestions made. It is a measure of people's involvement that their passions are engaged. It wouldn't be an expedition without an element like this. In response I appoint Ini as sailing master to oversee all aspects of sailing, watchkeeping and sail training for the boys. Nick will add the role of support person and coordinator for the boys to his other roles. Marina and Jayne will continue as before. I will learn to step back a little and let people get on with what they are good at.

That night, Mar 14, Lwayne Boslem from Ingham joins the crew to take Franks place. We will depart the next afternoon at 1700 hours. Marina and Pedar spend the morning at the local pool with Lwayne to bring him up to speed with the diving. Pelican's decks gradually reappear from under a mountain of tools, supplies, spent hose, provisions and other rubbish and finally we are ready to go again.