Back in the southern hemisphere, after a short delivery from Fiji to Vanuatu. Now getting ready to do the Fremantle to Bali race on Jon Sanders Yacht, Rolly Tasker Perie Banou. Wish us a fast, safe and successful race and to follow our progress log onto http://fremantlebali.com.au/ Bali here we come!

To all the girls out there, doing what they love best, sailing. And sharing their passion and inspiring others to get out there and explore the world and oceans.

If in the bay area, and need to learn to sail you have Kristy Lugert at Evie Too Sailing www.evietoo.com to show you the ropes and take you out on s/v Kitten.  As she says, if you can learn to sail in the bay with all the currents, winds and shipping you can sail anywhere. To Liz Clarke who has been out cruising and surfing the south pacific for 6 years, she shares her positive attitude and love for the world and inspires you to get out there and pursue your dreams no matter what. www.swellvoyage.com . To the young girls Laura Decker and Jessica Watson who defied all the nay sayers and sailed the globe solo at such a young age.There are so many girls and ladies, past and present, out there doing it on their own and it’s fantastic to see and read about!

Whether your dream is too learn to sail, race, hitch hike round the globe, cruise, or cross oceans, wishing you all fair winds and success.

So here’s a big thank you, to all the girls for inspiring me and sharing your love and passion for the sea.

40 year old chain plates out! new ones in. Trying to put back the cabinetry that I had to rip apart, not such a success story. Mounting deck hardware to run my lines aft, new rigging going on,moving the VHF to the top of the mast, electrical problems slowly being sorted out. As I pull the boat apart, its looking very much like a war zone. Slowly slowly she is all being put back together.

But sometimes you got to get out of the yard and play tourist, and enjoy the people,sites and the Bay area!

 

 

 

Finally back in the bay area after sailing Brians boat down the coast from Seattle, and dealing with bar crossings, crab pots and waiting out 50 knot winter storms to blow through but at least there was no fog in winter, (alas a little bit colder offshore.) And bringing my boat up the coast to meet somewhere in middle called the Bay area! Back where it all started.

In Newport where the local Oregonians don’t burn they rust! Where the redwoods embrace and love the fog, and it seems like you have stepped into an enchanted forest. To the endless sandy beaches, getting battered by the winter storms, which are starting to march there way across the northern pacific, remnants of typhoons in Asia. To the fisherman braving the seas and fog to put the seafood we love on the table. The estimated 20,000 grey whales that migrate down the coast to Mexico to breed, to the seals playing in the cool water and staying out of the way of the big sea lions belching on the rocks. And to Noaa, who are based out of Newport, keeping us updated  and safe with weather forecasts..
What a beautiful place to visit.

 

I have just bought my new boat and new home, a Sparkman Stephens 34, and getting ready to refit her and head off down the blue ocean highway once again. After Brian, Bruce and I finish our cruise of the west coast.

We are waiting out the weather in Oregon on delivery of Brian’s S&S 34 Gitano. We left from the beautiful straits of Juan de Fuca, were there is snow on the tops of the mountains and lush forest every where. Down the coast, dodging fishing boats, tankers and the fog. We spotted 15 whales along the way, dolphins and seals. Am happy to see so many whales about, flapping their tails and fins. Then breaching beautifully in the air

My beautiful girl Yemaya, has finally sold, and she could not of gone to a better home. I hope she enjoys her new life up in Airlie Beach, basking in the tropical sun and island hoping around the Whitsundays. I will miss her dearly as she was my first boat and always kept me safe, she sailed so beautifully and was such a strong brave girl.

Now its time to head back to California to get my S&S 34, the new Yemaya. And farewell all my family and friends in the southern hemisphere.

Migaloo wows tourists in Port Douglas

By Liam Parsons, Cairns Post

Picture: Marc McCormick

 

 

The elusive white humpback whale known as Migaloo has surfaced off Green Island on the Great Barrier Reef in North Queensland. Picture: Marc McCormick

MIGALOO, the world’s only all-white humpback whale, has dazzled tourists in a rare sighting near Port Douglas.

Local snorkeling company Wavelength had 30 passengers on board when a crew member spotted a “white flash” in the water near Low Isles about 10am Cairns Post reports.

Green Island on the Great Barrier Reef in North Queensland was the spectacular setting of the latest sighting.

Skipper Peter Kelly said the rare white whale put on a show for about half an hour, thrilling tourists and the three crew members on board while coming within 30m of the boat.

The elusive white humpback whale known as Migaloo has surfaced off Green Island on the Great Barrier Reef in North Queensland. Picture: Marc McCormick

“One of my crew members saw a spout and we looked over and saw this white flash, so we thought we might have a look and we turned the boat around and saw that it was Migaloo,” he said.

“When you see it, it’s just something else.

“It’s just a brilliant white, like white snow.”

Migaloo has been the talk of the town after two reported sightings of the mammal in consecutive days near Fitzroy Island and Port Douglas last month.

But the whale managed to elude hordes of camera-ready tourists and locals until yesterday.

Mr Kelly said it was the first time he had seen Migaloo after 15 years of trips out to the Reef.

“It was very much a thrill, I’ve been coming up there for 15 years and I’ve never seen anything like that.”

Tourism Port Douglas Daintree executive officer Doug Ryan said Migaloo continued to be a draw card for visitors to the region.

“Spotting him is a pretty rare occurrence and he’s become a bit of an icon up here,” he said.

Mr Ryan said it had been a bumper whale season, with almost daily sightings.

“A lot of the diving boats are getting in late because they see whales, which is fantastic for customers,” he said.

 

Dawn breaks, silently over the countryside of gum trees, cane fields, creeks and rolling pastures. Burnt orange, slowly fanning out across the darkened sky. A beautiful time, as the countryside wakes from its slumber.

Today is a new day
You got to make the best of what you got.

There is so many people , who embody this attitude, to name them all would take forever. At the moment, I look to our Olympians who have put everything and more into their sport. The long hours and years of training, dreaming and pushing them selves to reach the pinnacle of their sports, the Olympics. Such discipline and fierce determination is inspiring.

Congratulations to all our Olympians for making it there, an amazing achievement in itself. Our first gold for Australia went to laser king Tom Slingsby, 49er stars Nathan Outteridge and Ian Jensen claimed gold, followed by  Gold for Mathew Belcher and Malcolm Page in the 470 class. Our girls Kimberly Crow, Brooke Pratley and Lucinda Whitty just missed out on a Gold and claimed Sliver. An amazing effort from our Australian Sailing team!

As I read about their success, I look up to them and remember NEVER, NEVER,NEVER GIVE UP!