The beginning...

When really was that?

The dream was always to do it, but life, in the form of work and providing for four children delayed that dream until our fifties. Then, we decided - now or never...

So the search began, we were going to have a "real" boat - a monohull, classic, very seaworthy, ocean going, built to stand the test of all that was put in front of her.

What happened?? 

Well after about one or two years of looking, checking out a few actual yachts, sailing with Ian Cooper on his Schionning Cosmos catamaran, "Nicky C" to New Caledonia in June 2015, and after going to the 2015 Sydney Boat Show, Jamie suddenly says - what about a catamaran???

I'd never thought about a cat either, but when we started looking, they were much more liveable - they are more comfortable to be living on long term than a monohull. So we started to look seriously at them. And missed out on a perfect one for sale in Greece, we weren't ready to buy as we hadn't sold our house!!

So kept looking in Europe as we really would like to spend some time in the Med and travel through Europe while we were there. But with the Aussie dollar at the moment it appears to be better to buy in Australia and then sail through to New Zealand and then the Pacific and then maybe up to the Med, but actually with the dramas in Europe with the ISIS and terrorism right now it maybe the further away the better!!

Anyway, we saw a cat we liked the look of, in fact three to look at - So a couple of weeks ago, my birthday weekend, - I said to Jamie - lets go boat looking - so we set off to eliminate some. And decided to eliminate a couple!!

Friday night, July 8th, 2016, we headed north on our boat hunting expedition flying into Cairns on Saturday morning at the ungodly hour of 1.30am.

We had 3 days and 3 yachts to see which included 9 hours of plane travel and about 16 hours driving.

First up was SOL, a Schionning Wilderness 41, she was in Townsville, but we just happened to pick the weekend that the supercars were racing in Townsville, so all flights and accommodation were well booked out.

Hmmmn, only way was to fly to Cairns, about 370km north then hire a car and drive to Townsville and meet Sid, who was looking after the broking business while the broker was away. Sid was super helpful and patient and gave us a good look at SOL.

After that it was back to Cairns to fly to Brisbane, hire another car there to see "Cruis'n Hues" a  Fusion 40, about an hours drive south, on the Sunday, then drive to Mooloolaba, (north of Brisbane, of course - couldn't be in the same area!!) to see "New Tricks" another Fusion 40.

And in the middle of this I just had to get a nasty tooth abscess that required many painkillers and a visit to an emergency dentist late on the Sunday afternoon for it to be drained and to get stronger painkillers and antibiotics. Jamie was really concerned that I was so out of it with the pain and the painkiller meds I was dosing myself up on that I would not remember seeing the boats and the differences between them!!

We were home on Monday night, heads buzzing, but decision made...
We would put in an offer for SOL



SOL

   

More stressful than buying a house - especially when you still have to sell the house! And SOL is two and a half thousand km away. So what with looking, then going back for survey and sea trials has meant a fair few miles covered even before we take possession.

OFFER ACCEPTED !!

Whoop whoop - we nearly own a boat!

Back to Townsville 3 1/2 weeks later, 3rd August, for survey, haul out and sea trials.
This time it was just a flight to Townsville, and we got to stay in the same place for three nights! No hire car and hours of driving either - bliss. Almost holiday-like.

Haul out and out of water survey having been done yesterday, today we were meeting at the office of the broker (Ron) then going to SOL to meet her current owners, George & Corry, and the surveyor, Bligh.

Survey completed and the "thumbs up" from Bligh then off with Ron, Sid, George and Corry for lunch at Townsville Yacht Club. Just the sea trials tomorrow...looking good!

Dinner again from a super fish and chippery, "Simply Tops", on Palmer St. We had grilled garlic Morton Bay bugs and a nice piece of Coral trout - neither of which we had tried before.

Thursday 1pm Ron picked us up for our sea trial. Rather nervously we boarded SOL and sailed out into Cleveland Bay, we hoisted all the various sails, tried out the auto-pilot, checked the chartplotter and other instruments. Everything seemed to work just as George and Corry had said. It was a perfect afternoon out, and two hours later we were back in the marina sharing a bottle of wine with George and Corry.

WE WERE SOLD !!!

Sea Trial Track

So with settlement down for the 19th August all we had to do was to organize insurance, marina, and transfer of the money.

Then the logistical exercises begin. We will have to leave SOL in a marina about 4 hours flight north of where we live and still work until the house sells. Then, pack up the house and store all our "stuff" in preparation for life aboard. We aim to move SOL down to a marina or mooring that's closer to home - but will probably have to leave her where she is for a month or two as the prevailing winds are not good for the trip south until possibly October.

The Boat ...

SOL

SOL is a 41ft Schionning Wilderness catamaran, built in Townsville, Australia, over a period of about seven years by George and Corry Brinks. She was launched in 2013 and we were lucky to find such a beautifully made and maintained boat to call our own. We bought her on 19th August 2016 and will sail around parts of Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific and further all going well.

SOL is short for "Spice of Life"  - she was named this before we bought her, and we probably would not have named her this, however it's not a bad name for a boat or a lifestyle.

Entering the saloon the galley is on the right and nav table on the left.

There are four steps down into each hull - on the port side is the separate shower and toilet aft and forward is our cabin. As you go up and down the stairs you can see through the escape hatch a great view of the water below.

Stairs down to cabins

Above each of the beds are a couple of natty vents that go direct through to the anchor hatch so there is always fresh airflow no matter what the weather. Each side of the bed is space - no you can't quite walk around the bed but there is easy access to make it and certainly no climbing over another body when you get up. In our cabin we even have a walk-in robe - never had one before!!!

The shower has a full length mirror - luxuries that you don't expect really in a small space, and in a corner of the bathroom there is even a laundry basket.

Back through the saloon and down on the starboard side there is again a double berth and storage forward and aft is a single cabin.

In the passageway between the starboard cabins is my pantry storage, cupboards with numerous wire baskets and so much room I have yet to fill it all.

The fridge has both a top and a side opening, frequently used things are easily accessible from the galley through the top opening, the side door being down in the pantry passage. The freezer is beside the fridge, with a top door. Both are fairly large - certainly big enough for our needs.

In two years I have not managed to fill even half the storage areas on SOL - and I'm actually not sure that I ever will.

Powered by two 30hp Yanmar engines with shaft drives, SOL moves along pretty well at about 6knots running both engines and 5.5knots when only using one - so, as often as possible we only have one going and therefore only burn about 2litres of diesel an hour - something we have to be aware of as we only have two small (40 litre) fuel tanks.

With 470watts of solar power and a wind generator unless we get an extended period of windless, overcast days (hardly ever) we have enough power in the 600amp hour batteries. But also we have a cheap Chinese generator for those very infrequent times.

SOL has a watermaker, making 30litres/hour, we run it about once a week or so, and it runs well from just the solar power which is great. 

We have been really happy with her - although the engine bays are so tight that even routine maintenance is not easy due to the restricted space, and the four extra jerry cans for fuel fit into the locker like tetris blocks!!

She is a great boat to sail, and to live in.

 Good enough for an adult but a perfect cabin for a grandchild!!

About Us ...

Jamie and Linda are giving up the life on the land for now and starting in Townsville, Queensland, Australia at Easter 2017, will spend the next months getting used to living aboard SOL, then plans are to head offshore to New Zealand around October/November, spend the summer sailing around the beautiful coast there, then off again April/May 2018 to places further afield - all this can and will change depending on the weather and the mood of the day.

Jamie was born in Sydney,  the family moved to London when he was 10yrs old. He attended the London Nautical School where his interest in sailing began. He learned to sail on the Thames and reservoirs around Southern England in small sailing dinghy's, successfully racing a Cherub for a number of years. Then after leaving school he sailed around the English Channel between England and France on a 38ft Ketch owned by the uncle of his dinghy sailing mate, Peter.

He and Linda met in Sydney then moved to Western Australia (at the same time as the America's Cup was sailed off Fremantle) where he crewed on a keeler racing out of the Swan River (not one of the America's Cup yachts!!). He continued to sail whenever he had the chance over the next few years both in Australia and in New Zealand, where they lived for 7 years. He did his Yachtmasters Certificate in New Zealand and has completed many other courses over the last 10 years including Marine Radio and Diesel Engine maintenance in preparation for this new life.

Linda is a Kiwi - what more can I say!! All New Zealanders grow up with salt water in their veins!

Born in Auckland - the City of Sails - in the suburb of Castor Bay, just a stones throw from the beach. The family had a holiday bach on Kawau Island and all their childhood summers were spent over at the island messing around in boats, first P class then cherubs then lasers.

Over the years, they have bareboat chartered, first in the Whitsundays, Australia, and then in Thailand, off Koh Chang - down by the Cambodia border, spending two weeks in those magical waters.

Preparation for this life and to build up sea miles was helped with a trip from Brisbane to Auckland on a 46ft Halberg Rassey in 2012, then from Brisbane to New Caledonia in 2015 on a 46ft Schionning Cosmos Catamaran.

They have been encouraged all the way by their four children (Phil, Marnie, Amy and Grace) who along with their spouses/partners have many sailing holiday adventures planned on mum and dads boat - we hope!