FIRST DOUBLE-HANDED ALL-WOMEN CREW. “I’m thrilled to be partnering with Lisa Blair as the first double-handed all-women crew in the ORCV Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race.” Details: Working in partnership with d’Albora Marinas, Lisa, with Jackie co-skippering are set to make history as the first all-female double-handed team to race in the ORCV Melbourne to […]
Melbourne to Hobart Race Read More »
Our first trip on our 1920s Dutch Barge in France If you’d prefer to listen to this story, click here for the podcast. We’d done the right thing – waited for the geese to indicate south and followed them. It was our fifth day on the move as we puttered past Lyon. We were in
Freedom is a moving boat and two bicycles Read More »
Today we are discussing Fear and how to face your fear head on. If you’d like to listen to this story, click here. In this episode, I’d like to take you on a journey by writer and Author Jane Jarratt. Jane’s story, Facing Your Fears, is published in our book Facing Fear Head On
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Let’s go on a journey – to find a Dutch Barge in France with an Aussie. If you’d like to listen to this story – Click here. ‘Frankly, I wouldn’t take one of those boats if they were giving them away!’ Our first search for a barge for the European canals was not going well. A
Buying a Dutch Barge in France Read More »
What’s it like to live aboard? Well, you could always visit a friend with a boat, but it’s not as simple as turning up, there are things to learn BEFORE stepping on board! Rules for Staying on Our Boat We briefed visitors with a short email or telephone conversation before they arrived. But many boat
What’s the point of a course when you can learn as you go and find information online? A similar question was asked in a forum recently, which got me thinking. In Australia, you can set off in your own boat (non-commercial) without any license or qualification at all (over a certain speed you do need
Top 5 Tips for Emergency Steering An emergency tiller is an important back up to have on board. Stow the tiller in an easy-to-grab spot while at sea. Ensure everyone on board knows where it is and how it fits together and operates. A sea trial in a calm, relaxed situation is the time to
Are you just stepping into the cruising world? Or are you a seasoned salty? I’ve journeyed from newbie to professional mariner – I get it – I understand what it is like. Here I look at it from both points of view – both will learn something from this story. (As well as a gem
Surviving is nice but getting rescued is better! If you’d like to listen to this story – click here for the podcast episode. The grab bag has several different names: ditch kit, jump and go bag, flee bag (sounds like my old dog), but whatever you prefer to call it when creating your bag, ask
Ditch Bag, Grab Bag, Flee Bag Read More »
The Beginning of the End Reality Reflections (You can listen to this via podcast here) I didn’t talk to my husband for two days because his peculiar answers to my, perhaps, naïve nautical questions left me bewildered. Back then, as a mere fledgling to sailing, my raw researching met brutal honesty head-on. With travel and
Top Twenty Tips for Living on Board – Fun, but with some gems! Read More »
