Surfing from Darwin to Ambon
Caroline Strainig shares some memories and pictures of the 2008 Darwin to Ambon Yacht Race & Rally and reports on plans for this year's event. Surfing the net can get you into trouble. For years I had thought it would…
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.
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….
From Melbourne to the Whitsundays – a cruising plan
From the land of fine dining to tourquise waters and white sand, William Merritt details his warm weather escape plan. Speaking as a Melbourne-based yachtie, I’m aware that our northern neighbours rarely consider sailing south. To be honest, I can’t say…
From the Gold Coast to Lady Elliot
Tony Little combines work and pleasure when he cruises his Seawind 1000 from the Gold Coast to Lady Elliot Island to teach a first-aid course. In addition to teaching Coxswains courses for the Gold Coast TAFE and invigilating radio courses…
Loading: Just Cruising by Keith Fleming
Adding weight onboard can make quite a difference to stability, performance and even comfort. There are two points to be considered. The loading of fixed items like furniture and tanks, and the loading of everything else that you take on…
Good company in the Louisiades
Destination: PNG Guy Chester, who helped organise the event, was among those who set sail in the first-ever official Louisiades Rally. In 2002 I was sitting on the beach at Nanuya Lailai of Blue Lagoon fame in Fiji. I had…
The most beautiful place
Destination: Suvarov Meryle Thomsom's world circumnavigation is now long behind her, but there is one place in particular that she will always remember – Suvarov in the Cook Islands.“Suvarov is the most beautiful place on earth, and no man has…
Seychelles landfall
Destinations: West Indian Ocean World girdling sailor Lynelle Parker and husband Lloyd found their voyage west towards Africa an intoxicating mix of scenes and scents. A popular passage west across the Indian Ocean from both northern Australia and from South-East…
Colourful Yellowpatch
Destination: Queensland Jill Knight explores Curtis Island's Yellowpatch, a dramatic sand-blow-coloured orchre south of Queensland's Keppel Islands. Just as there are fashions in après-sail wear, I think there may be fashions in anchorages. When my brother regularly cruised the Queensland…
Electrics: Just Cruising by Keith Fleming
Electrics are the hidden but essential part of any cruising boat. Nothing will work without a good electric system. So many problems occur during an extended cruise because of breakdowns in electrics. If you cannot start the motor, it is…
Stacking Up
How does Australia stack up compared to other countries when it comes to visas and officialdom? Maria Grigg asks international cruisers for their candid opinions. In the past few years I've met many overseas cruisers and often asked how they…
Planning for a world cruise
Feature: Circumnavigating Five years into a part-time world circumnavigation, Aussies Don and Agnes Reed reflect on the destinations they have visited and the options open to the would-be circumnavigator. A voyage from Australia around the world could be done in…
Stopover at Tathra
Destination: NSW South Coast Bob Couper finds a gem among gems when he stops for a break on the east-coast trek north from Victoria. If you're cruising along the southeast coast of Australia or towing the trailer-sailer up its roads,…
Feeling powerless
Petrea Heathwood explains how to check voltage drop in your power system.It can pay to check the voltage drop (or resistance) in the charging circuit wiring between power sources (engine alternator, solar panels, wind generator) and your storage batteries at…
Queensland: Rediscovering the Newrys
Jill Knight revisits one of her favourite get-away-from-it-all destinations – the Newry Islands 25km north of Mackay. “I hear they've done a lovely job there.” The cruiser I had met casually on the dock in Mackay was responding to my…
Coming home
Judith Thomson describes the last leg of a two-and-a-half-year voyage. Across through Shark Bay, we were chased by a squall until we dropped anchor in the lee of intense red Pindan sandhills. The cliffs jutted above narrow creamy beaches and…
Better buying
Heading along to the local chandlery? Chandlery assistant Kerry Ashwin has some tips. The very nature of boats means they have a myriad of parts and those parts inevitably need repair at some point. You don't need to be an…
Slow boat to Colombia
Eaine Kleiss and husband Chris enjoy a slow ride to Colombia after the wind deserts K-Sera. Sea fog drifted in, blanketing the feet of Cartagena's skyscrapers as we drifted towards the city. Only two more miles and we could drop…
