We haven't started the trip yet, as a matter of fact we go up to Hamilton Island in only 12 days time, and will spend a little time getting the boat ready, before heading down the coast a couple of weeks later, so we are very excited, this being our first adventure outside of fairly protected charter cruising grounds.
The biggest challenge so far has been getting the gear we want on the boat up to Hamilton Island, but the last hurdle cleared only yesterday when we managed to arrange to get the batteries we want up there. While we have owned the boat for 5 years, and know her well, she has been a charter boat in the Sunsail fleet, which has been a great experience as we have had reciprocals all over the world in the 5 years, and always on a sister to "Stealing Beauty". Still, it does mean that we have to upgrade some of the equipment as she is now out of charter, ready to move to her new home in The Hawkesbury River in NSW.
We are aiming to do the coastal trip in day sails as far as possible, but we know that we will have to manage some overnight passages. We have plenty of time, so will hopefully be able to wait out any bad weather.
So for us the adventure begins. An adventure that we have been looking forward to for years. We bought the boat, and put it into charter service so that we would take it back just as we planned to be able to retire, or at least semi-retire. So a coastal journey as a start, and we will see how we go, and perhaps venture further afield in the future.
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