The satellite phone dock is on its way back and should be here by the end of next week. It looks like our departure date may be next weekend at the latest – touchwood!

There was fun for all at the CYC Regatta on the weekend. We trialed the new Go – Pro taped to the top of our Cherub’s mast. The result was simply amazing. We had Gratis up on the slip for hull cleaning, spot anti – fouling and adjusting the prop yesterday.

My parents are up and we are enjoying some relaxing moments exploring the region with them. Sunday saw us heading out in Gratis to a spot favoured by the Carnarvonites and this was the result. Three ‘big Mammas’ in the bag! Dad caught his first ever edible salt water fish and these were the largest […]

What a perfect evening! Gentle breeze, dolphins hunting, fish a leaping, egrets feeding. Water ‘cold’, but refreshing for swimming in. The strengthener for the bowsprit is now installed. A good day’s work.

Yesterday I learnt how to change the spark plugs on Little G2’s outboard. Bob has the new wind generator, which provides twice the number of amps, up and running. It’s been a day of washing and indoor boat cleaning for myself.

New page on the blog. Making the Perfect Yacht Tender

Bob was up the mast this morning reattaching the repaired wind vane, changing the light globes to LED and carrying out a check of all attachments as he went. Items are gradually being stored away, and I commenced making the first of our snacks for the journey to Cocos Keeling.

The cyclone season has drawn to a close and the cruisers are on the move!!! A mass exodus occurred this morning as several of our new found friends departed Carnarvon and headed northward bound.

After a sunny start to the day, the air is muggy, sky overcast and rain intermittent. The helm station is almost completely oiled, the food list well under way and Bob has worked on some of the welding.

Rain, soft and gentle, a calming patter during the early hours. However, now arrives the wind with a roar! It can be heard rushing in for miles.

The air has that heavy feel that comes with an incoming front: barometer falling, a grey sky and wind speed picking up means it’s well on its way. Listening to music, Bob is working on the last of the lighting whilst my job is attacking the food and storage list.

This was the yummy creation I made over the weekend. It was enough for 20 people. Very rich and filling, so could have easily halved the serves per person. Invented by the chef, Adriano, I found the Pavlington in the January 2014 copy of ‘Taste’. It took me about 7 hours over a period of 3 […]

Happy Easter to all Up early yesterday. The earth moved as we motored Gratis out of the berth for the first time since early November last year. In a first, with just a gentle breeze, I felt confident enough to reverse our girl out. With a pre – discussion regarding how to undertake the manoeuvre […]

Yesterday afternoon saw us heading out to the One Mile Jetty in order t0 take some pics: tried some different effects with the camera. Meanwhile, today Bob is cleaning Gratis’ hull and I am sorting through the front cabin.  

Bob in a Firebug. A bit squeeze – y, me thinks!!

Hot Cross Buns, Bread Rolls and Rum Slice today.

One moment it’s the 1st of April, then all of a sudden the 11th has arrived!! Where does time go? Bob is completing the laying of the new flooring, whilst I am going through the stores in the bilges to check dates and amount of stock remaining. Study is on hold until next week. The poster for the Yacht […]

It was the day to commence collating our food supplies once again. For a while there this afternoon, Gratis looked as though a bomb had ripped through her. The mattress filled the galley area, whilst food packages were spread across the floor and bed base. By 1700, the initial rearranging of supplies was completed and […]

This morning’s sunrise.   Yesterday’s sailing.   Only two months until departure.

  A beautiful sail out to the south cardinal mark and back. A good turnout at the club as both Cherubs and small cats participated. In all, it’s been quite a busy week. Assisting David in mooring Calm Horizons who returned after spending a few days on the slip scraping the cat’s hull. Commencing the cutting and […]