Every year an increasing number of cruising yacht owners depart points south to spend weeks or months in north Queensland waters, mostly between April and October. Some have wide experience, others are first timers. There is a cruising mantra that says you should give yourself plenty of time to get home safely, and above all don't be governed by a timetable so you can wait out the weather. The reality is that too many overlook or ignore this advice and as a result there are many tales around the marinas of how close they came to losing their yachts (and maybe their lives) because they had to be home for work or other reasons and set off in deteriorating conditions. Sometimes yachts and lives are lost. I guess my point is that whatever our calling and interests the same rules apply and the same mistakes can be made, and there but for the grace....etc