Our boats

Our last boat, Cavalier 32 Yacht "Conquero" (built 1981). We sailed around Moreton Bay and joined the RQYS (Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron) cruising group, mooring in the sheltered anchorages. Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Sold in 2001, last seen in Bateman's Bay, NSW. The Cavalier 32, affectionately known as the “Cav32″, is perhaps the best production cruiser to be produced in New Zealand, and certainly one of the most successful. Right from the get go, when Sea Spray magazine in July 1971 took the first production boat for a sail they were impressed by both the spacious interior, berthing up to eight, and its on-the-water performance; noting it was fast, responsive, incredibly close-winded and with good acceleration. The boat went on to compete very successfully as an ocean racer with a half ton rating, eventually finding its place among the cruising community as a comfortable and reliable blue water vessel. Many have cruised the South Pacific extensively, while others have circumnavigated. History Designed by Bob Salthouse in 1969, the prototype Cavalier 32 made its debut at the 1970 Auckland Boat Show. The concept was for a hull with high racing potential; a boat that would be satisfying to race inshore as well as offshore, yet have family-size cruising accommodation. It immediately proved popular with 14 boats sold by the time the first boat was launched in Jul 1971. bluewaterboats.org/cavalier-32/

Our last boat, Cavalier 32 Yacht "Conquero" (built 1981). We sailed around Moreton Bay and joined the RQYS (Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron) cruising group, mooring in the sheltered anchorages. Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Sold in 2001, last seen in Bateman's Bay, NSW. The Cavalier 32, affectionately known as the “Cav32″, is perhaps the best production cruiser to be produced in New Zealand, and certainly one of the most successful. Right from the get go, when Sea Spray magazine in July 1971 took the first production boat for a sail they were impressed by both the spacious interior, berthing up to eight, and its on-the-water performance; noting it was fast, responsive, incredibly close-winded and with good acceleration. The boat went on to compete very successfully as an ocean racer with a half ton rating, eventually finding its place among the cruising community as a comfortable and reliable blue water vessel. Many have cruised the South Pacific extensively, while others have circumnavigated. History Designed by Bob Salthouse in 1969, the prototype Cavalier 32 made its debut at the 1970 Auckland Boat Show. The concept was for a hull with high racing potential; a boat that would be satisfying to race inshore as well as offshore, yet have family-size cruising accommodation. It immediately proved popular with 14 boats sold by the time the first boat was launched in Jul 1971. bluewaterboats.org/cavalier-32/

in Joburg, South Africa We learned to sail on a 12 foot dinghy, racing on inland lakes, in the Johannesburg area, from 1976-1979 - a Miracle dinghy, kit build by Ian. The first Miracle dinghies were built and launched in 1975. Since then, the Miracle's success grew strongly, and sail numbers today exceed 4,121. The Miracle was supplied initially as a plywood kit and designed for home building, based on the slot and glue method of construction. It is a forgiving and versatile sailing dinghy, ideal for beginners or experts, children and adults alike. Wikipedia

in Hout Bay, South Africa When we moved to Cape Town, the surf created problems with launching a dinghy, so we changed to a 14 foot Hobie Cat, 1981-1982, sailing and racing with Hout Bay Yacht Club. This was the first sports catamaran that was ever invented! Created in 1968, the Hobie 14 is unique and universal. It was a real revolution in water sports and continues to make the adrenaline run! The Hobie 14 is known for its forward mast and very bent banana shaped hull... hobieclass.com/hobie-classes/hobie-14

After learning to sail in a dinghy, and Hobie cat, we had sailing holidays in England and the Mediterranean, and it wasn't until we had moved to Australia that we had another boat in 1991, "Elissa", a fixed keel, Cole 19, sailing and racing with the Canberra Yacht Club, in Australia. Peter Cole is a well-known Australian boat designer and sailmaker.

After the fixed keel Cole 19 we changed to a lifting keel trailer sailer, "C'est la Vie" Cole 23, sailing and racing 1992-3, in Canberra until we moved her to Moreton Bay, Brisbane, cruising from RQYS Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron. Cole 23 is a 7 m monohull sailboat designed by Peter Cole and built by North Shore Associates (AU) starting in 1982. sailboat.guide/cole-23

at RQYS Manly, Queensland, Australia Our previous boat, the Cole 23, with its lifting keel, proved to be slow in the choppy waters of Moreton Bay in Brisbane, so we moved on to a deep keel boat, which would handle the conditions better. We sailed "Blue Bonnet" 1994-1996, cruising from RQYS Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron in Manly. Clansman 30 - Built by Bruce Fairly at East Coast Yachts The Clansman 30 is a 30-foot class of narrow-beam full-keel yacht manufactured on the New South Wales Central Coast of Australia. Production ran from 1965 through 1985, with hull numbers from 1 to 108. The last Clansman was launched in 1994. The Clansman was one of the first fiberglass production yachts in Australia and arguably was one of the strongest. It is an exceptional sea boat that has stood the test of time in performance in adverse conditions, with one of the class (hull number 7) having been sailed from Australia to the east coast of the US. An active class association still exists. Wikipedia

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. These are some pages from my Royal Yacht Association log book which I had for completing a Day Skipper Course and Coastal Skipper course, in 1986/7, to improve sailing and navigational skills. Having these certificates and log books made it easier to charter yachts in England and the Mediterranean.

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.