Sailing adventures

We learned to sail in a 12 foot dinghy, racing on inland lakes around Johannesburg 1976-1979, then on a 14 foot Hobie catamaran, racing in Hout Bay, near Cape Town 1981-1982.

After our return to England, we completed a Yacht Cruising Association course, in 1984, on the Solent in Hampshire, on a YCA 29 yacht, prior to our
sailing holidays in England, and the Mediterranean from 1984-1987.

The photo here is part of the Royal Yacht Association log books which we had for completing a Day Skipper Course and Coastal Skipper course, in 1986/7, to improve our sailing and navigational skills. The left log book shows my Coastal Skipper certificate. Having these certificates and log books made it easier to charter yachts in England and the Mediterranean.

The right one is part of Ian's log of actual voyages, with yacht names, dates, days on board, etc. Mine is similar, although Ian had one extra trip when he sailed around the Cape of Good Hope in a Sadler 32.
See my log book detailed entries, in my photostream.

Before Examination for the RYA/DoT Coastal Skipper certificate the following sailing experience is required:
20 days living on board
400 miles logged at sea
12 hours night sailing

When we moved to Australia we had sailing holidays in the Whitsundays, and other places, mostly chartering yachts. Then we had our own boats from 1991 to 2001.
See album "Our Boats"

In 2002 we moved to Noosa, which has a shallow river unsuitable for deep keel boats, so we chartered a few times, and did various day sails.

Sailing is such a joyful experience, using the power of the wind, and enjoying the freedom of being out on the water. It does require a level of agility and fitness.
Nowadays we are trying out large cruise ships, the last one being the Cunard Queen Elizabeth, a short trip from Melbourne to Brisbane, via Sydney.