Over the next 11 years nothing surpassed that first trip which took me 3 months.      The slowness was simply due to the marvellous feeling of freedom to stop whenever I felt like it at many Islands or visiting Yacht Clubs.    I met real down to earth friendly Yachties whose motto was “we are here for a good time not a long time”     I stayed in the Whitsundays until October and then followed the sun south to the Gold Coast.   This was to be my life until health gave out in 1998.

 Each spring I would head north with the Trade Winds sometimes going as far as Cairns then south when the northerlies blew in October.    Mostly to the Gold Coast but one year to Coffs Harbour.

I had a brief break in late 1990 when I thought with age catching up I should return to the land.   I sold the yacht and a good friend insisted I stay with him until I had decided what I was to do next.    Just under a month later I decided I had to buy another yacht.    There was an economic depression and I figured yachts would be selling cheaper in Sydney.   This proved to be the case and I bought a 32 foot Cavalier which was a knot faster than the 28 foot Herreschoff.   A 25% increase in speed made a big difference.        Life was very pleasant despite some near misses in bad weather.

 CLICK TO  SEE PHOTOS    http://www.flickr.com/photos/ronrainy/

 A number of short clips from may hours of Video are below.   Click on them to activate:

       (9 minutes)    Stills 1987 - 1990  --  Sailing to North Stradbroke Island

 http://video.google.com.au/videoplay?docid=8607226354543529220

      (11 minutes)  Stradbroke Island to Mooloolaba

 http://video.google.com.au/videoplay?docid=5069898083859046751

 

      (22 Minutes)  Mooloolaba to Sandy Strait

 http://video.google.com.au/videoplay?docid=4404964599631323729&hl=en-AU

 

        (11 minutes)   Tin Can Bay To Mary River 

    http://video.google.com.au/videoplay?docid=7433430338822279366     

 

        (11 minutes)    Mary River to Maryborough.

http://video.google.com.au/videoplay?docid=-501194758607313612     

 

        (17 minutes)   Mooloolaba to Fraser Island

 http://video.google.com.au/videoplay?docid=-1049092076045811260&hl=en-AU

 

       (24 minutes Maryborough to Southport (Gold Coast)

 http://video.google.com.au/videoplay?docid=-7879802325495636519&hl=en-AU

 

    (13 minutes )         Sydney to Port Stephens

  http://video.google.com.au/videoplay?docid=-2419294901157539037&hl=en-AU

 

    (4 minutes)     Port Stephens to Port MacQuarrie

 http://video.google.com.au/videoplay?docid=-1993218756626391734&hl=en-AU

 

   (12 minutes)       Port MacQuarrie to Gladstone

 http://video.google.com.au/videoplay?docid=-6845430445057533443&hl=en-AU

 

My daughter   www.helgasailing.bravehost.com