Given the ideal outlook, we decided to go straight to the northern end of Saumarez Reef and spend the evening there before venturing on to the even more remote Frederick Reef.

On Monday Bruce, our skipper, announced the news we had been hoping for. Winds were easing, tonight we would sail for Saumarez Reef. The plan was to leave at midnight which would have us arrive at the western edge of Saumarez at first light.

I have a feeling I owe the man upstairs....Bigtime. Two cyclones, then a week of strong southeasterlies had made me a little apprehensive about how the weather would treat us as our departure date of Saturday, April 15 approached.Incredibly, the wind abated, the weather pattern stabilised and we were treated to almost an entire week of blue skies and near flat seas.