The News, Culture and Practice of Sailing woodenboats
in Australia, New Zealand & The South Pacific.
Harry Pidgeon's “Around the World Single-Handed”
It is interesting to compare Slocum to Pidgeon, and their boats. Slocum was the hard-bitten sea captain who'd come up through the hawsepipe, and who had fallen on hard times. His voyage was a way of fighting back, and he did a magnificent job of it. Harry Pidgeon seemed to breeze through life, guided by his sunny disposition.
Dinghy Cruising- Part II
Dinghy cruising is closely analogous to backpacking/wilderness hiking, especially in the fact that you are carrying your food, water, bedding and shelter with you-but stowed in the hull space of the dinghy—thereby leaving your back and shoulders unburdened.
Nipaluna Revisited
Sal and Mark - Editors of SWS - walk you through what’s to be undertaken in the 8 weeks prior to departure.
By Gale to Paradise
“I don’t think I will ever forget the hours at the helm, three on -six off. All woollen clothes soaking wet under oilskins and seaboots; safety belt hooked into the eye of the cockpit; and end of the main sheet around the waist, made up on one of the jib cleats It was bitterly cold but I didn’t feel it.”
Pioneers and Trail blazers
We just said to family and friends, that we would contact them in about a month when we arrived. “We'll see you when we see you”.
“The only journey is the one within.”
A Photographic Essay-450NM, five friends, a 66 year old boat, a home made tender, a double rip swimmer, a mainsail with 12,000NM on the clock…(time for a new one!)
Don’t Be Scared, Just Be Careful
It seems to me that wooden boat owners, perhaps more than others seem to understand that rushing is not always good, and that good preparation provides rewards that aren’t available to those who stick to the shiny marinas springing up around our coasts.
“not spoiled by the influence of any rating rule”
“If you love and cherish her you can learn to draw sweet melodies from her and she will carry you through all the scale (Beaufort scale) of gales and calms, for she is based on well proven principles”
The Ocean Cruising Club Announces Awards for 2021
The Ocean Cruising Club exists to encourage long-distance sailing in small boats. A Full Member of the OCC must have completed a qualifying voyage of a non-stop port-to-port ocean passage, where the distance between the two ports is not less than 1,000 nautical miles.
From Gadigal to Nipaluna Country. A Not Race
In many ways ocean racing has become a monoculture. To succeed you must be skilled and tough and rich, but for most owners with a realistic chance of victory, the broader values, ambitions and motivations of the founders of the event have disappeared amid the ruthless need for a trophy.
A New Custodian for Sunstone?
The famous Sunstone is for sale in Nelson, New Zealand, and for the right custodian she would be the most rewarding combination of form, function and provenance.
A Twist In The Tail
With just a week remaining in this bizarre year, it would have been surprising if there wasn’t a twist in the tail of 2020.
Flotsam #2
Every week you’ll find snippets of stories from around the globe. This week in Flotsam - The AGE profiles Wyruna.
42 Boats in 42 Days
“When Melbourne went into stage three lock down in July 2020, we lost the opportunity to go sailing in our beautiful wooden boats.”
The Life & Times of Yacht Ida
In the spring of 1895 Charles Bailey Jr and his younger brother Walter, trading as “C. & W. Bailey”, built the 5 rater Ida for their good customers, merchants Jagger brothers and W. Frater Jr. …. The restoration process commenced with cutting off the rotting, cabin top, decking and beams.
Australian Wooden Boat Festival
it’s good to see that despite the cancellation of the 2021 Australian Wooden Boat Festival, the organisers led by Paul Stephanus, have decided to go ahead with the spectacular biennial Parade of Sail on the Derwent. on Sunday 7th of February 2021.
This Week’s Flotsam
Every week you’ll find snippets of stories from around the globe. This week in Flotsam - A library book is returned 33 years overdue.
Podcast ONE: Pizza With Beer
PODCAST ONE - In this our very first podcast we speak with ANT PERRI, BOAT COOK EXTRAORDINAIRE! Get a pen and paper to jot down his tips and tricks.
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