Yesterday’s headwinds increased spectacularly after sunset. By 9pm we were hove to under deep reefed main with 40-45 knots of westerly over the deck. Not too uncomfortable, but a big ask for our poor mainsail.…

What next? 40 years old, and after 12 years at sea, any cruising yacht will require a major refit. Tainui is no exception. In Sydney she will be given a new engine (John Deere, probably),…

Australian quarantine clearance for yachts is no light-hearted matter. For rather opaque reasons the federal government department (AQIS) deemed Tainui “suspicious”. AQIS was worried about termites aboard, apparently because of the boat’s age, her lengthy…

Re denouements, conclusions, epilogues and things, I have found myself reluctant to pen this blog. Posting to this website has become such an ingrained habit that I don’t know how to stop. More importantly, I can’t…

I have found an excellent mechanic here on the Gold Coast – “Irish Pete”, as he is known. He has taken control of our engine issues for us. He knows boats intimately and he’s fast,…

  We flew to Moscow, ostensibly to spruik our book. For me Russia is becoming less unfamiliar territory now. The more so given my new, rudimentary understanding of Cyrillic. Conquering my fear of the sprawling…

After a 7 month absence, Little Miss Perfect has returned to Tainui. I had been anxious, and with good reason. Her eagle eye rapidly found the flaws in my strenuous preparation for her arrival – she…

Iluka then Camden Haven river bars were crossed without incident, but we had to wait between sets to enter the latter. In strong onshore winds with ebb tide these river bars can be fearsome, but…

With a bone in her teeth Tainui roared down the coast from Camden Haven in 35 knots of wind. Maxine was overjoyed and even the elderly skipper was a bit chuffed. A 9 knot average…

Last night, at the Royal Australian Naval Sailing Association, I attended friend and sailor John Vallentine’s launch of his new book, “Sailing Through Russia — From the Arctic to the Black Sea”. It is a great read…

…now there’s a word! In preparation for it, Lucy and I took Miss Perfect down to Tasmania to ogle at the eccentricities of MONA and visit Port Arthur before she (Miss Perfect) fled back to…

Back in Sydney After deep and pathetically indulgent exploration of my navel I am not at all happy about casting aside Tainui, my wonderful sailing companion over the last 15 years. What will the sale…

…I didn’t think I’d ever write that. It feels strange and more than a little unpleasant. But that’s my burden. Such rich memories.  As Fitzgerald said, “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back…