Sydney Harbour: Jim Murrant
Then and now I hope you’ll forgive me if I wax a little nostalgic. It won’t last long but it is necessary to set the scene for this month’s column. I first arrived in Sydney by ship late in 1947…
Cruising
Dedicated to Cruising the world under sail including destinations, navigation, sailing tips, safety ideas, yacht & multihull reviews along with stories and insights for the sail cruising life in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
Out of cruise control
Practical: Sail-training Can race training help a cruiser? Caroline Strainig finds out when she enrolls in the Eastsail ready-to-race course. There were yachts within a few metres of us on both sides and about another 20 or so within 200…
Don't leave home without it!
Practical: Bluewater cruising Now an old salt after a cruise through Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, Trish Comer reflects on the things she definitely would not leave home without next time around. The old catch-cry from a…
Communicating in cruiser-land
Practical: People skills Having trouble meeting people, or getting on with them when you do? Or don't quite know how to repel unwanted advances in a way that won't cause offence? Chris Sharpley takes some of the mystery out of…
Investing in a charter yacht
Practical: Buying a boat Putting your yacht into charter is one way of financing the repayments for that brand-new, you-beaut production yacht you've been dreaming of, says Ross Moncrieff, who did just that with his Hanse 34. In late November…
Outboard on board
The fewer the fixed weights aboard a performance trailer sailer the better. We all know there are fixtures aboard such as the rigging and centreboard that can't be moved to windward to keep the hull as flat as possible upwind,…
Record Reward
The Adelaide-Lincoln record was smashed and the Lincoln regatta remains as enjoyable as ever, by Bob Ross, words and pictures SOUTH AUSTRALIA'S most dedicated offshore campaigner, Geoff Boettcher earned a milestone reward when his Secret Men's Business 3 broke the…
The cruising life – managing the dream
Crossing oceans, exploring remote islands and being self-sufficient are just some of the interesting aspects of living the cruising life, reports Lynelle Parker. If we were to start our cruising days over, I think we'd have a much better idea…
How couples cope
Holding onto that “lov'in feeling” can be hard when you are cooped up together for long periods. Rosemary Jilderts interviews cruisers for their tips. Ron and Trish Steineck,Geraldton, WA.Scuttlebug, 11.6m Jensen Coral Sea Catamaran The Steineck family has spent four…
Taking the waters
Destination: Brisbane Water The small, land-locked destination of Brisbane Water has a lot to recommend it, despite a bar and bridge, says Alan Lucas, who has made it his land base when not out cruising in Soleares. Brisbane Water is…
Outboard Motors: Just Cruising by Keith Fleming
JUST CRUISING BY KEITH FLEMING. Every cruiser has one and many catamaran owners have three of them. The outboard motor is an essential item for any cruising boat and making the right choice of size and brand can be one…
Self-suffciency: Just Cruising by Keith Fleming
Self-suffciency I suppose you could equate cruising with the original hunter and gatherer, where you have to rely on your wits and be self-sufficient in food. As cruisers, we live on water so our natural element is the water rather…
Major hotspots: Just Cruising by Keith Fleming
JUST CRUISING BY KEITH FLEMING. Preventing sudden gear failure can be avoided if you identify the problem areas early. OFTEN the first indication of trouble with a boat is catastrophic, like the mast suddenly falling down. Now why the heck…
Destinations: Indonesia
In a bid to restore links with the beautiful Molluca archipelago, a flotilla of Darwin cruisers set off for the region, reports voyager Cathy Gillett. Our voyage began in July 2006, when 18 boats sailed the 295nm to the Taninbar…
Destinations: Sri Lanka
The voyage across the Indian Ocean to the beautiful island of Sri Lanka was well worth the effort, reports cruiser Lynelle Parker. Some of the happiest times on board our yacht Chappie are the first days of a new passage;…
Destinations: East Coast
Heading up the far north Queensland coast is about as good as it gets, reports Keith Fleming from the deck of the cruiser Sealark 2. Coral Sea cruise The magical islands and coastal wilderness of north Queensland are a big…
The Paradise Experience
Tahiti Pearl Regatta Even minus wind, sailing in Tahiti provides a tropical feast for the senses. Photo essay by Andrea Francolini. A REGATTA without wind? Yes, this year. But that proves to be a minor detail when you are in paradise….
Sailcare Tips by Norths
Sailcare Tips by Norths An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Proper sail maintenance is easy and takes little time, and can make a big difference in the life and performance of your sails. Whether you have…
The A-Z of cruising
Feature: Cruising jargon Cruising Helmsman March 2009 Simon Kent gives us a crash course in cruising and cruising jargon in this fun A-Z. Ais for anchor The earliest anchors date back to the Bronze Age and were simply big rocks….
Anchorage Marina Port Stephens
Fancy a night in a luxury resort? Or simply dinner at a top a la carte restaurant? Caroline Strainig checks out a marina with a strong resort flavour where cruisers are welcome. At the marinaMany sailors believe the best thing…
Lexus Port Lincoln Regatta
Destination: Lexus Port Lincoln Regatta Commodore's welcome South Australia is a land of big skies and cascading peninsulas falling into azure blue gulfs, as typified by the beautiful Port Lincoln. For those who've just sailed from Adelaide or elsewhere to…
Security: Just Cruising by Keith Fleming
JUST CRUISING BY KEITH FLEMING. Cruising in foreign waters can be dangerous so considering some basic security matters makes sense. Just as you would make plans for your navigation on a partial or complete circumnavigation so you must make plans…
Sailing a classic
CLASSIC CRUISE Taking the famed Gypsy Moth IV cruising along the Top End while also being part of a social sea-going experiment was an amazing experience, reports Andrew Bray. Many places on the north Queensland coast were named by British…
The adventures of Dreamagic: Heady stuff
Alan Littlefield tackles some heady heights on his Bavaria 44, Dreamagic, on the eve of the 2009 Cairns-Louisiades Rally. I am not generally fond of toilet humour. It's not a funny subject, but heads on yachts seem to be a…
The Adventures of Dreamagic: Stories of the cormorant
By Alan Littlefield Recently a cormorant has taken to sitting on my starboard spreader at daybreak and watching the sunrise. I am partial to do this myself, (watch the sunrise, not sit on the spreader) and I am glad…
The Adventures of Dreamagic: Preparing for the Louisiades
By Alan Littlefield Dreamagic (a Bavaria 44) has now successfully completed her voyage from Pittwater in NSW to her new home in Cairns. On the way we managed to fit in the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race, a few…
The Adventures of Dreamagic: Racing the family home
By Alan Littlefield We can't help it can we? Get two boats on the water and they race. I can remember my early days of sailing home in a Cole 23 under the Harbour Bridge. It was a beautiful…
Tales of Hybresail: Singapore
By Anne Wilson A land as old as time itself swathed in the mysteries of the exotic east has expanded to become arguably the world's largest floating warehouse. We crossed the shipping highway between Batam Island Indonesia and the island…
Electronics with Navico: Broadband Radar
By Chris Radford, Navico I know some of you will be thinking “well he works for Navico, so of course he's going to say it the best thing since sliced bread”, so I'll leave the introduction to Navico's Broadband…
In the wake of Banyandah: Going fishing for monsters!
Walking aft to our tower, I saw our Ocky strap bowstring tight and the trolling line singing. Shocked and alarmed I jumped back shouting, “Hey Jude. Oi! Come look. Something huge is hooked up.” We nearly always troll a fishing…
In the wake of Banyandah: Lucky, lucky, lucky
By Jack Binder “Lucky, lucky, lucky,” that's how my sister described it. I should have known better. Tradition says beginning a voyage on a Friday is a bad omen. Fuelling this ominous portent – our last shakedown began Friday the 13th….
In the wake of Banyandah: The people you meet
By Jack Binder Hello seafarers and settee sailors. I thought I'd offer two glimpses from our life that happened while preparing Banyandah for her Southern Ocean crossing When guests of the Fremantle Sailing Club, I awoke feeling a bit old…
Sailing with the Smallwoods: Life in the fast lane
Sharon and Julian Smallwood enjoy life in the fast-lane (well sort of) when Airlie Beach and Hamilton race weeks come to town. The cruising life follows a different agenda to most, but that doesn't deter us from entering into…
Sailing with the Smallwoods: Hitting the cruising highway
by Sharon Smallwood Leaving Bundaberg at the end of July, I had assumed we'd be a little late in the season to find many other boats, especially this far south. Surely those with any sense would have already escaped the…
Sitting out the cyclone season
By Fiona Harper. Sitting out the cyclone season Cruisers heading north, who find themselves waiting for the cyclone season to finish do have an alternative to sitting out the hot windy summer in Fremantle. There are a number of safe…
Sewage and the sea
John Champion delves into murky territory when he boldly goes where few cruisers would go if given a choice. Our cruising homes, like land-based ones, require toilet facilities that can reasonably be expected to work when needed. Unlike shore-based plumbing,…
Memorable Mooloolaba
Sharon Smallwood profiles one of SE Queensland's most memorable ports – Mooloolaba. Mooloolaba is probably best known as one of the towns collectively comprising Queensland's Sunshine Coast. For the cruising sailor, it is not only the gateway to this region…
Working holiday in the Whitsundays
What do you do when you have a few days up your sleeve before or after a bareboat holiday in the Whitsundays? Well, if you're a sailor who wants to improve their sailing, some sail training, of course! While in…
Across Arnhem Land
Cruising Helmsman March 2009 By Sharon Smallwood Sharon Smallwood and her husband Julian explore one of Australia's most remote regions. Perhaps it was the lure of places closed to casual visitors. This certainly aroused my interest. Perhaps because Brilliant II…
Virgin yachtie
Having a novice friend along for a cruise? Caroline Hynes tells what the experience is like from the crew's point of view and gives tips for others following in her footsteps. I had just started my summer holidays from school….
