The criteria for this adventure were always stay safe, test run a lifestyle change (cruising in warm climates while continuing to earn income) and stay safe. Our intended destination has always been Noumea; partly because it’s a beautiful spot and partly to visit friends. Perhaps mainly because it gave us a concrete destination to aim for, with a (huge) stretch…
Finally under sail … (very) temporarily!
An early start and a bit of a treat; finally under sail in a 12 knot westerly with just a little bit of swell. Richard makes the most of the quiet time with the motor off. Belinda and Yves do a bit of morning whale spotting. For the moment they’re a long way offshore. When I hear ‘Are they getting…
Waiting for the front…
As expected, a southerly front is coming through which would have caught us before we reached Port Macquarie. A frustrating but sensible decision to pull in at Port Stephens to wait it out, but one which will avoid us being caught out in a gale warning. A lovely overnight sail (motor) from Pittwater with a mild moment of panic as…
Hello Pittwater….
Despite our enthusiasm, Ray the trusty autopilot wasn’t on board. About an hour past Pittwater the hydraulic arm gave up and a crew conference decided we were best to head back to Pittwater where there was a specialist Raymarine service centre. Dan from BME in Newport couldn’t have been more helpful; organising a berth in his marina for the night…
Farewell Sydney, it’s time to stretch our wings…
Reaching Sydney was a bit of a milestone – celebrated with delightfully hot showers at Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron. I was surprised by how small the Harbour seemed compared to both my memory of sailing on it as a teenager, and to my home waters of Port Phillip. The original plan was for a quick trip to Sydney, getting at…
Getting back on the horse…
We’ve had a week in Eden recuperating and giving the boat some TLC. I’ve managed to get a bit of work in, as well as 2 coaching sessions so am living up to the goal of proving I can work from the back of a boat to some degree. But we’re all ready to go now; we want to get back…
Crossing the paddock…
Monday 15th June 2015 – Refuge Cove Yay for Telstra’s offshore mobile coverage – it allowed Ian to give as some helpful onshore navigation tips. Based on the easterly winds, we decided to pull into Oberon Bay on the western side of Wilson’s Prom rather than going around to Refuge Cove. Arriving at 4:00am, Richard was frustrated to find the windlass…
Follow our progress
12 hour position updates on the Yellow Brick Tracker – http://my.yb.tl/oziyoti OR Constant position updates on Marine Traffic App for iPhone or Android – search for ‘Children of Phoenix’
We’re off!
My new tomorrow begins today… Thursday 11th June 2015 – Farewell to Flo It seems this story is to be bookended by sadness; we lost my father a week after I decided that my dreamed-of future would be real and now we’ve lost Richard’s Mum, Flo, just as we were due to leave. The courage, humour and goodness of this woman…
It’s happening!
It feels like the past 6 months have gone by in a blur of frenzied intensity with no down time between work, study and boat preparation. Staying focussed on the end goal has helped with juggling the multitude of balls, hopefully without dropping too many. And now that end goal is in sight, or at least a road test of…