Along the coast of far north Queensland, the barrier reef comes much closer to the coastline. After leaving the Johnstone River and the townof Innesfail, we headed out to Gibson Reef in calm flat conditions, and then spent the next few weeks moving north along the cays and reef anchorages such as Flora Reef and Sudbury Cay, right through to Vlassoff Cay off the coast of Cairns. Some day were so calm and hot that the glassy ocean had no horizon as it merged into the hazy sky.