Welcome to wonderland
Cruising The Whitsundays Well here it is 2008 and the world continues to become a different place. We have a new federal government, Britain has a new Prime Minister and the good ol' US of A is looking for a…
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.
Resorts and marinas at a glance
Cruising The Whitsundays Want to wine and dine during your holiday, or simply plan your cruise around reprovisioning spots? This handy-at-a-glance guide compiled by John Champion will help you do just that. Peppers Palm Bay Long IslandSwing moorings either inside…
Boom times continue
Cruising The Whitsundays What's making the news? Plenty, says John Champion, who details here the latest on-water and on-land developments. On the waterMuddy Bay Marina, officially known as The Port of Airlie, continues to be built. Numerous trucks and excavators…
Timeless Tonga
Destination: South Pacific David Isom discovers a timeless land unspoilt by its increasing popularity when he calls in at the archetypal island paradise that is the Kingdom of Tonga. If you really fancy cruising around Tonga, there are only two…
Anchoring: Just Cruising by Keith Fleming
Laying the anchor: Well done, it's the difference between a good night's sleep at an anchorage or a restless one filled with anxiety.Unlike the tinnie sailor who simply throws the anchor over the side and hopes for the best, the…
Sail Thailand in 2008
Destinations: Thailand Fronting both the Pacific and Indian Oceans, Thailand has over 1700 nautical miles of tropical coastline to entice both racing and cruising sailors, writes Fiona Harper. Whether your interest is sprinting around the buoys, or cruising among the…
Water management: Just Cruising by Keith Fleming
JUST CRUISING BY KEITH FLEMING Once you start your cruising life water takes on a new meaning so catching rain can be an important way to keep your tanks full. To design an efficient water catcher you need to look…
Southern Shores
DESTINATIONS: ADELAIDE AND PORT LINCOLN Will 2008 really be the ‘last time’ for South Australian yachting legend Dick Fidock’ Richard. H. Fidock AO has sailed in and probably won nearly every keel boat title or event that South Australia has…
Making your own backrest
Practical: Seating Sick and tired of having an aching back? Bob Couper solves the problem of the lack of back support on many boats with this handy $46 do-it-yourself transportable backrest-cum seat. I find sitting in the cockpit of Spindrift…
Working with an endangered species
High seas With his tongue firmly planted in his cheek, David Daniel muses on the problem of finding a reliable tradesman when necessity dictates. Have you played yet? It's the new national pastime and it's called “waiting for a tradesman!”…
Where West Wind went
Feature: Bluewater sailing Jackie Parry joins a classic thoroughbred for a delivery trip to Hobart. Will West Wind make it? Jackie tells the story. The tangy smell of the salt-laden breeze and the late afternoon muting of colours surrounded the…
16 tips for Stretching
Practical: stretching it Coastal and offshore sailing can place unusual stresses and strains on the body, with long periods of inactivity and then sudden periods of intense effort. Maria Grigg outlines the exercise routine she uses to ward off injury….
Carnival times in Trinidad
Destination: Trinidad Jim and Linda Collier take time out from circumnavigating the world to experience one of the world's great events – the Trinidad-Tobago Carnival – and to do some much-needed maintenance. Our 31-day Atlantic crossing astern but still fresh…
Seven golden rules for boatbuilding success
Practical: Building a boat When accountant Fraser Petrie told his friends he was going to build a boat, they thought he was crazy, even more so because of his profession. But – as Fraser explains – you can come in…
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…
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,…
Heading to the hotpots: Just Cruising by Keith Fleming
Heading to the hotpots The most popular cruising grounds for longer range trips lie in the northern Pacific and SE Asia, but the magnificent Kimberley's could also be included because of their remoteness. Our closest major cruising area is Papua…
Quality of life on board: Just Cruising by Keith Fleming
JUST CRUISING WITH KEITH FLEMING When transferring from shoreside living to living full-time on board a cruising boat, there is no reason to downgrade your lifestyle. It is just as important to keep healthy and live a comfortable life. This…
Puttering in Patagonia
DESTINATIONS Following their ice adventures in March, Commitment completed a 4-week expedition heading north through the famed Patagonian Canals of Chile and Tierra del Fuego. Tony Mobray reports the boat is now berthed at Puerto Mont in Chile, at roughly…
Loch Ness family flotilla
Loch Ness family flotilla That monstrous thing, sibling rivalry, reared its ugly ahead amid the majestic Scottish Highlands, recounts Kevin Green. The competition began long before we'd even got on the water with my little sister racing up from the…
Destinations: Tonga
Island honeymoon Heading off into the unknown with a few friends and 50 or so complete strangers on a sailing regatta is perhaps not everyone’s idea of a romantic honeymoon, reports Traci Ayris. Tonga’s Kalia Cup Rally in July suited…
Postcard from Dubai
POSTCARD FROM: DUBAI Training base for the mighty America's Cup winning Alinghi team and very likely a venue for some of the Acts in the next Cup, Dubai has a lot to offer the travelling sailor who may want a…
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…
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 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…
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…
