From the Captain Garry McKechnie 18/03/06

This morning we will drop Paul, Jo and Gill off at Airlie Beach for their return to work at GBRMPA headquarters. They will be sorely missed but of course we will see them again in Townsville where their replacements from GBRMPA will also join our crew. We will also pick up Johnston's daughter Alice who will join us for the passage to Townsville.

From the Pelican Office in Melbourne, Natalie, in collaboration with staff from GBRMPA, has been organising a run of activities and Media events to coincide with our stop in Townsville. Further north a cyclone has been building off the coast. This morning it was officially upgraded to a category 1 and given the name Larry. It is currently heading west towards the Queensland coast near cairns. We are hoping that it will dissipate or move out to sea. In any event we anticipate we will be in Townsville well before it can approach the coast. We will be keeping a close watch on its progress.

Happy sailing, Garry McKechnie