During late July I placed the sale of Mirrool into the hands of a yacht broker and caught a flight back home to Darwin for a short visit. Attended to some personal matters. One morning while reading the paper I noticed an advertisements for Positive Sub-Conscious Mind Therapy sessions. Since I wasn't having much improvement with my anxiety or depression, I figured I had nothing to lose except money. I attended 3 x sessions and was warned it may take anywhere up to 6 months before I noticed any improvement. My brain had to re-learn how to process things apparently. I was also told to watch for anything different. Within a week I noticed one of my recurrent dreams was markedly different, which was encouraging.
Drove back to Cairns. Having a vehicle made a huge difference when I resumed living on the boat. Nothing was heard from the boat agent so I decided to attempt another run out to Fitzroy Island.
Wednesday 15 August 2012
0940: Drizzly day but clearing at times. Only slight winds as Mirrool leaves the marina under power. Engine hrs 20856.
Have a good run to Cape Grafton under sail. Not necessary to tack at all. See two humpback whales crossing Mirrool's patch directly in front at about 30 metres. Have to turn the boat to avoid them. Beautiful. Autopilot fails. Have to hand steer for the rest of the way.
Afternoon: Drizzle starts. Wind and waves pick up making it hard to get a good course to Fitzroy Island. Having to start tacking. Getting cold and wet. Raining heavily over Fitzroy Island. Am deciding whether to turn back to Cairns but the weather clears over the island, so continue on.
1500: See two more humpback whales in the distance back towards Cape Grafton, flapping the water with their big flukes. Quite gusty while closing to the anchorage.
1600: Anchored up. Run time is the best yet at 6 hours 20 minutes. Put the kettle on. Notice hardly any tremors. They're still there but nothing like the last time. Start feeling a little bit confident that maybe those therapy sessions might work.
Thursday 16 August 2012
1000: Quiet night overnight. Start raising the anchor. Bright, sunny day. The winch works perfectly this time.
1030: Turn motor off. Using headsail only in a light breeze getting 4 knots. This takes me all the way back to the shipping channel into Cairns Harbour, before I turn the motor back on.
1415: Tied up in the marina. Did the trip in just over 4 hours. Best time yet.
Wednesday 6/7 September 2012
Completed another trip to Fitzroy Island and return. No incidents. Once again did not experience any obvious tremors in my hands, teeth or forearms. No anxiety symptoms - shortness of breath, heart beating hard, racing pulse, cold sweats. Am really beginning to think there must be something in these PST therapy sessions.
7-24 September 2012
Had a visit from a potential buyer. Price agreed upon pending finance. John Lucy, an old mate from the Army came and stayed for a week. Drove down to Bundaberg to visit my sister. Good break.
Week Monday to Friday 24/28 September 2012
John has joined me again. This time for a trip down to Innisfail and return.
Monday 0915: Depart the marina. Engine hrs 2115.8. Hot day. No breeze. Calm sea. Forecast is for 5-10 kts SE-NE winds in the morning and 10-15 kts NE this afternoon. Motoring. By around lunchtime we have Fitzroy Island in sight. Decide to head further south to High Island. Winds has come up a bit so change to sail.
1530: Under sail and 6.5 miles from waypoint off High Island. Making good time. Winds 5-10 kts SE.
1745: Anchored High Island. Quiet night at anchor.
Tuesday 0830: Raised anchor and got underway. Good sailing throughout the day.
1600: Reached waypoint off Innisfail. Set anchor to wait for tide to rise enough to clear the bar over the entrance to the Johnson River.
1800: Anchored up directly out the front of the foreshore at Innisfail.
Wednesday/Thursday: Leisurely day resting on board, reading, or going ashore to stretch the legs, have a coffee and/or something to eat.
Friday: A flotilla of around 2 dozen boats headed out on a local fishing competition. Some rigged up for marlin fishing while others obviously will only be fishing more closer waters inshore. Followed them out. Took almost 2 hours to get out of the river and over the bar due to strong headwinds.
0930hrs. Finally able to set a course northerly and set sail. Hardly touched the sails for the rest of the day. Excellent sailing averaging over 5 knots.
1600: Anchored up a Fitzroy Island again. Great day's sail.
Saturday 29 September 2012
Another good day's sailing back to the Cairns marina. Tied up at the marina mid afternoon.
October 2012
Still now word from that potential buyer. Seems to be having problems getting finance. Moved the boat to another marina - The Bluewater Marina at Yorkey's Knob which is about 8 miles north of Cairns. Much quieter here and definitely much cheaper rates. Wish I'd known about this place earlier. As I sit here in the middle of October, I am going to give it one more week then start plans to sail the boat down to Bundaberg to get out of the wet season belt.
