24th Sep Esk Island To Manta Ray Bay to Stonehaven 18nm

I woke early and decided to go for a fish in the dinghy. The area around this island is protected so I went to a nearby reef and trolled a lure along the edge of the reef. Again the fish were responsive and must have been their feeding time. In no time at all I bagged 6 stripey perch. I was back at Billabong by 8am. I gave 3 fish to Echo Beach.

 The beach at Esk Island

We slipped the anchor and headed to Manta Ray Bay having breakfast as we traveled. We arrived at Manta Ray Bay but the conditions were sloppy with the wind blowing from the north. There was a mooring vacant and we stayed just long enough for me to get into the dinghy and go swim with the fish. The fish here are regularly fed by the myriads who visit this bay during the day. Lucky I was there when someone was throwing bread in the water and I managed to get right in the thick of the fish. Again the Maori Wrasse were friendly and would let you touch them. It is a great experience to be able to do this. It was school holidays with boat loads of children and those children who were in the water snorkeling amongst the fish will never forget that experience.

We left the bay as quickly as we arrived as the conditions were terrible. We headed around to Stonehaven where we were hoping to find a mooring and stay the night. On the way around we came into mobile reception. We had not had any mobile reception on the eastern side of Hook Island. A few messages came through. I listened to the first one from my friend Eric Knowles. He informed me Steve passed away that morning. I told Tamara and we were both devastated at the news. We found the mooring and sat back in disbelief. We were cruising with him only 2 months ago. He had only just got Boomeroo back to Mooloolaba and was going back to work. I phoned Maureen to offer our deepest sympathy. She was with him at the time I called and said he is now peaceful. It was a shock to her as he appeared to be responding to the treatment.

Tamara and I both shed a tear and spent the rest of the day disbelieving.

We had 5 0’clock drinks with just the two of us. We did not feel like socialising. As the sun went down we raised our glasses to Steve our “master mariner” friend. We hope you will be “knee deep in the water somewhere”. Good bye mate.

Steve and Maureen with Steve's favorite bottle at the Bundy Rum factory in June.

I played the song we used to play at 5 o’clock drinks when we were cruising together - “Knee deep in the water”. I also played “The last Farewell” and we said our goodbyes. It was a sad evening and we wish Maureen and the family the very best for the future. We will visit Maureen on our way down the coast and have a wake for Steve and provide any support needed.

We had our dinner in silence not wanting to talk too much about it.

It was tough to go to sleep even though the water was calm with no wind. You cannot help but think how precious life is and you must pursue your dreams while you can.

I am so glad Steve and Maureen managed to get 3 months of cruising in. We were together with them in October 2011 in Mooloolaba on the last leg of our 2011 cruise and the plan was hatched then that we would cruise together up the coast in 2013. Steve got 3 months off work and it happened. It was all Steve spoke about to the nurses and staff at the hospital before he passed away.

I will never forget this sunset of Boomeroo in Island Head Creek.