Koala Bay, Jervis Bay, Australia

At dawn the bay bed glows peachy yellow. The waters above blue-green and gleaming. Further out a grey shroud of ripples entraps the yachts with lace nets en-snaring a flock of hulls. Yet farther out still, the sea surface glistens and sparkles. Then, the bay yawns and stretches, waking up, refreshed. The first breaths of wind seep in like fingers grabbing to get a finger hold to pull the windy gusts in, with big blow coming. Soon the sea is a field of grey ripples, which grow to wavelets lipped with flecks of white spray. Now the yachts wake up and jostle like horses pulling at their moorings, dragging side to side. Listen, you can hear the dash of splashes prancing on wave crests as the winds build up in the bay. Sea's morn color and transparency now blurred. Dawn's calm serenity and beauty now forgotten Koala Bay's agenda has shifted to: Up anchor, Set sail and Play The boat skippers and crew flock bayside to make it happen. Both sailboats and sailors love to rock and roll in bay streaked with gusts driving white horses with jockeys wearing white caps. Hoist the sails, drop the mooring lines, tighten the sheets. The yachts surge forward, like race horses, with muscles and sinew straining. They leap through the waves with leaps, bounds, thumps and jumps. The spray flies, flung by the wind against weather beaten faces It is noisy now, with bash and splash and skippers yelping and barking at the crew. Koala Bay loves the performance, loves to entertain. Tonight the bay will be calm and serene again. Time to herald the bay's softer underbelly of shear stunning beauty. Tomorrow the wind will conduct and conjure up another day of rollicking fun and adventure.