06/07/2020

left Lady Musgrave Island at 8:30am. Heading to Great Keppel Island. Waves are relatively big, making the boat rolling a bit. I’ve checked everything before leaving except the water filter kettle, so it was not tied up. As a result, water spilt out and seep into the food cabinet below, which cause us cleaning up a lot, but I discovered more snacks.

J turned off the auto pilot and took the helm by himself. He seemed to have magic in his hand and could find the best angle to cut into the waves and then smooth out. After adapting to the rhythm of the waves, the 15-hour 90-nautical-mile voyage requires a bit of music, put on my headphones, tried to give the sea a tune. What music belongs to the sea and what is the rhythm of the waves? Was it Debussy’s impression of the sea, Blues, Jazz, Post-rock, Avant-garde or ambient…? The sea seems to be inclusive. Searching among old albums saved in my mobile phone, the first performer I invited into my virtual ocean stage was Miles Davis playing the album Kind of Blue, he truly described the various blues in front of me. I have heard Freddie Freeloader countless times. At this time, I was given the image of incomparable freedom… Then Muddy Waters told ‘You can’t lose what you ain’t never have’ Mazy Star’s lazy and sweet I’m sailin’, Alice Coltrane described the torrents with her harp, Nicolas Jaar’s ethereal sound collage… I was enjoying being an ocean DJ, hours passed. The afternoon sunlight dyed the foam pink, while waves were purple and blue.

In the afternoon, after bypassing some coral islands in the way, we tuned the course slightly to the north so we had wind pushing us from behind. J used the Spinnaker pole to support the jib, together with the main sail to form perfect goose wings. The boat traveled much smoother.

Arrived Great Keppel Island before midnight, well within schedule. Silently sailing into the small bay with much gentle wind, quietly dropped the anchor, we had some wash and went to sleep.