Australia - Pacific Crossing Notes: A Sailor's Guide to the Coconut Milk Run - page 443

The Catch?
The only catch was that the timing: March and April fall into the shoulder cyclone season.
Over the past three years, we'd been avoiding cyclones like the plague, taking thousand-
mile detours to stay out of their way. Australian sailor friends we asked advice of, however,
had no reservations about sailing north. “Oh, you'll be right!” they declared in their happy-
go-lucky way. The chances of a cyclone were small, they said, and there are plenty of
creeks to seek shelter in along the way. Even so, we decided to wait until April before de-
parting to reduce the statistical risk of encountering a cyclone. Our excitement grew as de-
parture day approached, thanks to the promise of enticing cruising grounds ahead. Much as
we'd enjoyed Australia thus far, East Coast sailing had consisted mostly of long dashes
between the few easily accessed harbors along an uninviting coastline. By sailing on to
Cairns, we'd be exploring real cruising grounds again: island groups with nooks and cran-
nies that invite a sailor to linger and explore.
And so we set out on a month-long trip that was equal parts ocean passage-making and
coastal cruising, alternating between overnight passages and easy days at anchor in choice
locations. Theoretically, a boat can day-trip all the way up the Queensland coast, but with
“only” five weeks to enjoy it all, we decided to start the trip with a 72 hour / 300 mile run
to make a dent in the overall distance. Thanks to prevailing southeasterlies, finding a win-
dow to head north was an easy enough exercise. We set off in early April, delighted to have
one last encore at sea.