Gale force winds at Fraser Island and a lunar eclipse.

Arjuna in finer weather - note keel positioning.

The low pressure system from Cyclone Ita met with a high pressure system from the Tasman sea somewhere over the southern Coral Sea to bring us gale force south easterly winds.

We found a good anchorage at Sheridan Flats on the west coast of Fraser Island on Sunday morning, set our anchor well, crossed our fingers and toes and bunkered down for a storm that lasted through Monday and Monday night.

Fortunes were won and lost as cabin fever set in. 

The captain taught the crew how to play BlackJack, but had to refer back to the Positive Parenting Program after cutlasses were drawn.



During inclement weather the Captain elects to retire below decks and deploy the emergency wine, crystal and candelabra.

When we recorded wind gusts up to 33 knots, the Captain and First Mate took turns on anchor watch, but our anchor held and eventually the wind started to abate to a more manageable 15 knots on Tuesday morning.


The crew had been in their pyjamas since Sunday afternoon, but were finally able to lather on the Bushman's 80% DEET and commence a zodiac assault on Yankee Jack's creek for some much needed shore leave.

Yankee Jacks



The First Mate becomes excited by vegetation after not setting foot on land for 4 days.



The rare Fraser mudskippers



Don't tell Bear Grylls, but provisions were adequate so we didn't need to harvest these.



We then set a course for Kingfisher Bay, where the skies miraculously cleared and we were able to observe a spectacular lunar eclipse as the almost full moon rose in the eastern sky over Fraser Island on Tuesday 15th April.