(This feature originally appeared in the September 2013 issue of Windsurf Magazine. Print and digital subscriptions for readers worldwide are available HERE.)
Our boat is punching into a stiff south easterly breeze 35 kilometres off the coast of Cairns in Queensland, Australia.
Myself, Ian Fox, Sean O’Brien and Luke Baillie are taking shelter from the spray in the cabin while our skipper, Cameron McLeod, steers his trusty vessel through the shallow coral reef passes as we close in on our destination.
Feature John Carter and Sean O’Brien Photos John Carter
High overhead, broken clouds shield us from the blazing sun. A slight worry, but hopefully it’ll clear up later when we get down to business. At last we spot a tiny sandbar poking out of the azure blue water and we anchor up close to the shore as Cameron dares to venture. Finally we’re on the verge of pulling of a vague plan that initiated over six months ago. We’ve made it to Vlasoff Cay on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and now its down to the weather Gods to shine down on us to complete this mission.