23 Feb, Day 49 Coral Sea

The 23^rd at noon we had covered 13,161 nm, traveled 918nm from Sydney and show 344nm to go to our next port. The wind was SE at 67knots, force 12 and we were sailing in the Coral Sea along the coast and off Mackay. Soon we would slip between the Great Barrier Reef and the mainland and continue Northward. The seas have been noticeable (20') and were following (coming from behind) but there was very little pitching so the ride was quite fun.

In the afternoon we attended a briefing on the state of HAL by the President of HAL and Captain van der Waard with the Hotel Manager and the “frequent floaters” chief. That was followed by a Q&A session. The crew had been busy and a special event awaited us. The Lido Atrium deck had been transformed for “A Taste of Australia” night. The pool had been drained and refilled with a tower of wine barrels surrounded by live vines, basted with a mister. The hot tubs had been covered with planks painted in aboriginal art and there sat an aborigine descendant playing the didgeridoo. At the back of the pool, in the bandstand, the Sydney group Snake Gully Band played Aussie songs. 

the pool was filled....with casks and vines

All around the sides of the atrium were food stations serving fresh oysters, shrimp, bugs, fruit, salads, grilled crocodile, kangaroo in gravy, roast emu, kangaroo soup and more.

yabbies and oysters

Our friends from the Pinnacle staff and the Neptune Lounge in the fruit stand

Between the food stations were wine tasting stations enabling us to sample wines of the country. The wine flowed. Our cruise director stood in a tub of grapes and stomped away for a couple of hours.

one wine station

Many of the Officers and crew were present as well and a few off duty were enjoying the food and drink as well. Those working the event were to be treated to special after-party. Interspersed with the stations were dining tables and Australian made bean bag chairs. Beer stations were a hit as well. Chocolate art was displayed in the buffet restaurant where the same Australian food was available. 

Chocolate: Art and Artist

There followed a stage show vocalist of better quality. Facing an early arrival tomorrow, we decided it best to retire after the show and found the seas calm.