July 2004

Maiden Voyage from Sydney to Tweed Heads

Most people I spoke to said I was crazy buying a yacht and sailing to Brisbane, never having sailed one before. I figured it wasn't rocket science and if I was properly prepared I could do it safely. Looking back I had no clue how to sail and did the entire trip with the boom locked into the boom gallows. But what an adventure it was sailing 600 nautical miles up the East Coast of Australia. Below are some of the photos from the trip.

Forster/Tuncurry stopover

Leaving Forster/Tuncurry - Dolphins giving me an escort

Just another day at sea

What a sunset - North Coast of New South Wales

Early Morning

North of Coffs Harbour

A beautiful sight - wind in my sails.

Anchored off Byron Bay

another photo anchored off Byron Bay

Julian Rocks - Byron Bay. There was no light on these rocks the night I came into the anchorage.

Cruising at a leisurely 5.5knots

the deck is loaded up with junk which I will be glad to get rid of.

another glorious day

The clueless sailor! It was the middle of winter, I was cold and tired from only sleeping 15 minute intervals in the cockpit. This was taken just after a gale warning was issued over the VHF.

early signs of the encroaching storm

and here comes the storm. This was not a happy time for me, not having ever sailed a yacht before and racing for shelter still 8 hours away.

The next morning at Tweed Heads marina after safely arriving at around 9.30pm the night before.