Am I crazy? Sailing around Oz

[Pinhead]

For a while now I've had this yearning /desire to learn to sail and then sail all the way around Oz. Am I nuts?

From websites I've seen the trip is approx 6,500 miles and depending on how much of a hurry you're in could take between 3-6 months. I've never sailed before but have always loved the water and the freedom you'd get from sailing.

I've been looking at sailing courses in Melbourne which I think would take a couple of years plus putting in the sailing hours before I'd even think of doing the trip.

Anyone out there with extensive experience of sailing have any thoughts?

[Lazy Cow]

I should think it beats walking....

Yours facetiously,
LC

Sounds great really so here's hoping you follow your dream. I'm just in a silly moo

[sheena]

from a person who has had a boat and done sailing, i would say do it!!! you dont know unless you try it!! what a great feeling it is!!!


sheena

[Pinhead]

Cheers Sheena, at least one person out there doesn't think I'm nuts.
I was beginning to doubt my sanity.

[Stuju]

Pinhead,
fab idea, hope you know ya port from ya starboard & red from ya green LOL
You got for it & have a great time, what type of vessel are you planning on
stuju

[moving2melbourne]

Just watch for the sharks and the pirates

[docboat]

Great idea. I have the designs for a George Buehler 43' double ender traditional keel (Ruarri - check the web site) which should do very nicely. If you get a boat before me, and you want some crew ....

[Pinhead]

I was thinking of going for a proper sailing boat rather than one of these diesel driven pleasure cruisers, small enough to be crewed by 1 person if necessary but big enough to sleep on in comfort.

At the moment it's a dream but hopefully once I get to Melbourne and start taking some sailing courses I'll get a better idea of what it entails and the best boat, equipment etc. As I said it'll probably take me a couple of years to pass all the courses and get enough confidence in my abilities. I'll probably do a Melbourne to Sydney trip or Melbourne to Adelaide as a dry run.

I figure the most difficult part will around the top end between Cookstown and Darwin and Albany to Adelaide, basically there isn't much between those points. I'd look to set off mid March from Melbourne going anti clockwise arriving back in the Spring i.e. get the best weather all around. Time wouldn't be a factor so long as I'm not at the top end during the Cyclone season or on the South coast in the winter.

Anyway it's just dream at the moment.

[Ian&Lou]

Sounds like a great idea to me and something I would LOVE to do with Ian. For me being out on the water is a fab feeling and you get to go to lots of little beaches/coves etc that you cant get to by road.

I once was thinking about going on one of those trips where you volunteer to crew on a yacht across the atlantic. Then reality set in and I realised that leaving my son for 6 weeks + was not really an option!! But who knows, when he's grown up and flown the nest, I might just do it yet!

Lady Lou

[sykestykes]

I think that's a lovely idea, just be sure you have enough room for a waterproof laptop in your boat so you can still natter to us !!

Sue x