Kent, Mourilyan and Normanby Island

The small islands on the approach to Kent Island look like a trail of echidnas, all weathered in the same pattern by the trade winds.  Although we struggled to keep wind in the sails most of the day, Kent Island anchorage was surprisingly choppy, so we sailed on to Mourilyan Harbour, which is difficult to see from the ocean, a small gap in the forest-covered mountains.  

For a sugar port and ship loader it was very quiet, day and night.

The approach to Mourilyan Harbour

Normanby Island looked like a good anchorage, but by early morning tide change it became very lumpy so it was good to reach the beach and explore the island.  The walking track around the island is not easy to find, but the short section through the thick pandanus and casuarina forest held lots of birds:   orange-footed scrub-fowl, white-breasted woodswallows and white-gaped honeyeaters, plus flocks of  pied imperial pigeons migrating from the coast to breed.  One the beach a juvenile sea-eagle was practicing his fishing skills while the beach stone-curlew was keeping a few steps ahead of us, looking back to check our speed.

It’s obvious this is a popular snorkelling spot as there are several dive platforms and glass-bottomed boats on moorings and the water is crystal clear.  Just beyond the Green Zone was busy with fishing boats, mostly congregated at a spot called “Jones’ Patch”.