Seisia, Cape York, top of Australia

  After leaving Lizard Island we did a short 8 mile hop over to Eagle island, a small islet in the middle of nowhere.  It had tons of birds on it and you could walk around it on the beach.  Nothing on it but some strange thick brush you could not walk through. 
We left here about 4am to do the 79 miles to Flinders island.  It was another great day of sailing but as we neared Cape Melville near end of the day the winds suddenly increased from 18 knots to 35 knots in a matter of a minute or two and I but a third reef in main as I had just put 2 in because we had been warned about accelerated winds around this huge Cape. This lasted for the next four miles and then eased off and we reached Flinders just before dark.. It is a nice protected anchorage with lots of room and a nice beach to walk on.  
We spent a extra day here at Flinders and then went on to Morris island and then another day to Portland Roads which has a tiny community of people.  Here we walked around and then a few miles up the dirt highway for some badly needed exercise.  There is nothing much in the village here as in is in middle of nowhere.
We also had our first crocodile encounter.
We saw a nice beach on a little island  a half a kilometer away and we dinghyed over and just as we were about to get out and walk the dinghy through a few rocks to the beach Dorothy shouted to turn the dinghy around and get out of here.  I then saw a large crocodile sliding into the water about 4 or 5 meters from us.  We had not noticed it amongst the few rocks on the edge of the beach as it is the same color.  So we scooted out of here as fast as the dinghy would go and back to the boat.  We had a happy hour before dinner with a nice German couple on their boat that evening before dinner.
It rained later sometimes heavy during the night. It was our first real rain in a long time but I collected about 5 gallons to top up our supply.  Our pilot house roof has a rim around it with a hole in each corner, port and starboard and then a hose to inside the boat with shutoff valves on making it easy to collect water.

The following morning we did the 40 miles to Cape Grenville and Margret bay which is a very good anchorage and pretty spot.  We left the following afternoon noon about 2:30pm to do a overnight passage to Seisia on the West side of cape york the top of Australia.   We had a great sail all afternoon and night, but the wind did not ease this night like it has been the last few days so we were going too fast and getting to Albany passage to soon before the tide changes, so reefed the sails to slow boat down and making for an uncomfortable motion on the boat as we had too little sail up for the wind and size of seas.
From Albany Passage North is strong tidal currents and we did not want to get there before the flood tide starts up this part of coast.   We were both tired as it had been a hard night as you can not catnap since there is coral reefs all along our route that you can hit if you don't watch. Also we were on main shipping route.

  We managed to arrive at Albany Passage just after dawn when the flood started and soon were doing 7 and 8 knots between the tidal current and the wind.  Some of our best sailing ever as there was no waves either do to protection of the nearby islands.  We soon sailed around Cape York the highest point in Australia and then down the other side to Seisia.  The whole time doing 7 and 8.5 knots.  The same flood tide goes up North Cape York and down the other side for a bit taking us to Seisia.
As we started to turn to follow leading lights in, the line up seemed all wrong on chart plotter so we turned around and went back out to sea to figure things out as can run aground in the shallows.   After looking closely at chart we tried again  and soon realized it was the strong current that was giving us so much side ways drift  that the leading lights would not line up unless you turned boat off 45 degrees to compensate for current.
So now here we are safely in Seisia and going to spent a couple days here before the big 330 mile crossing of the Gulf of Carpentria.   We plan to stop at Cape Wessel on other side for a rest.
We found a great grocery store with lots of Fruit and veggies and a Laundromat in the campground we can use and the showers for $3.00. Perfect.
INFO
After Cairns we went out to Upolu Reef on Barrier reef. (See Lucas Guide) then moved to Double Island for the night 18 miles asway.  Anchored in 18 ft at 16 43.661S   145 40.613E.  Got some Internet here.  Anchorage was good though we had light winds.  Do not get VMR weather on VHF here anymore but can get it on your HF radio at 7:30am local time and every 4 hours after that on 8176KHZ or 12365KHZ

Next it was 20 miles to Low island, picked up a mooring here at 16 22.885   145 33.835.  Tour boats use this island .  There is also a resident caretaker.  Did some snorkling here , good, and walk around island  is nice.   A NW wind late in night made it a bit bouncy here.  But it is a great spot.
   Next it was 40 miles to Hope Island and anchored in 20 ft at 15 43.727   145 27.385.  Don't try this place in the dark, lots of coral patches to hit and chartplatter is off, had us anchored on a coral patch.   Was ok in daylight.
Next, Cape Flattery 48 miles.  Anchored in 17ft at 14 57.001S   145 19.738E is a good spot.  Did not have time to go ashore, but can, some friends did.
Next, Lizard Island.  This is a great spot to spend a few days.  We got internet here intermintatnly.  Anchored in 28 ft at 14 39.575   145 26.927   Good hike up hill to Cooks lookout and nice walk over to lagoon and another over to reasearch station to see their dvd and book swap or brouse their library.
We moved over to Eagle Islet, Eyrie reef about 8 miles away since this was burning week by parks on Lizard island and got smoky.  Is not to bad of a spot anchored too far out  behind some other boats in 32 ft at 14 41.451   145 22.374. Can do a 10 minute walk around island.

Did  79 miles to Flinders Island next.  Watch winds as go by Cape Melville, they often accelerate greatly as you get even with cape.  Boats on previous days had same winds.  Anchorage in Flinders between islands is good but just a small beach to walk on.  Anchored in 33 ft at 14 10.643   144 13.711 
Next, 60 miles to Morris Island and anchored in 33ft and 13 29.318   143 43.403.   Good island to see birds as we walked around it.  Anchorage ok but we were next row of boats and it got quite bouncy for a few hours in middle of night as a S wind came up.