On Wednesday evening we were alerted to a big weather system approaching the south west coast of Western Australia. This caused the cancellation of our intended 2-day visit to the Abrolhos Islands, where in 1629 the Dutch Eastindiaman the Batavia was wrecked followed by mutiny and massacre.

Fremantle, our disembarkation port, and all other ports nearby were closed to us. We took refuge in the sheltered waters of Shark Bay, which was Australia's largest bay with 1000 km of beaches. The weather was a cool 21 degrees with 20 knot breezes. We had our first rain squalls with 35 knot winds.

Cape Peron from Shark Bay

Setting sun

Multi-coloured cliffs further off our second achorage

Looking back to Cape Peron with Dirk Hartog island behind

The contrasting sand colours in the Shark Bay cliffs further into the bay