Cruising Stories
Longer stories written along the way — many first published in cruising magazines. They cover the voyage from Australia through Japan, Russia and Alaska, life in home waters, and a few salty tales best read with a mug of something warm.
The Voyage
Around the world in DulcineaLeaving Port Moresby in Oct 1980 we set sail in a westerly direction to see if this was to be the life we wanted. We continued west for 3 years and finally arrived home in Sydney, December 1983 - very different people. The story of Dulcinea's beginnings are found in: - Taking Delivery - First Passage Read about the trip from Australia to Israel below. The story was written in Galle, Sri Lanka and finished in Port Said, Egypt Sadly, the area we visited then has since been severely damaged by the huge Tsunami of 26.12.2004
Australia to JapanThis CCC article is a summary of passages from Sydney to Japan between 1996 and 1998
Canada to AustraliaHere is our story of the planning and voyaging of our trip home from Canada. Click here for: Canada to Hawaii Hawaii to Tuvalu Tuvalu to Vanuatu Vanuatu to Townsville
Canada to HawaiiFrom Vancouver, Canada, illywhacker heads for Townsville, Australia, a journey from the North American continent to our own island continent. The first leg renews our respect for the big ocean.
Dulcinea - First PassageThis is the story of our delivery voyage in Dulcinea - novice sailors in a brand new boat from a foreign land across a rough ocean. The article was published in Australian Modern Boating in June, 1984 (pp88-92). Remember this was in the days of a sextant and photcopied charts!
Hawaii to TuvaluAfter 3 weeks recuperation in Honolulu, Lyndall and I head off to the South Pacific - to our first sight of the Southern Cross in 5 years. Our plan takes us direct to Tuvalu.
Japan to KamchatkaHere is a CCC article written as an update of illywhacker's travels in May/June 2000
Oriental OdysseyHere is an article which appeared in the UK magazine Yachting World in Nov 2001 -
Passages we've made
Russia to AlaskaHere is a CCC article written as an update of Illywhacker's travels in June - August 2000
Townsville to GizoA letter written to sailing friends in Townsville that indicates a tenuous start to our adventures aboard illywhacker Another letter from the Solomons - life improves
Tuvalu to VanuatuA sad event in our family back in Sydney necessitates an urgent flight back to Australia for Lyndall from Tuvalu. Illywhacker's Pacific Ocean passage now becomes a delivery trip to Australia without my cruising buddy. I was very happy when our eldest son James saved the day and took 3 weeks off work to help me sail back to Townsville, his home in North Queensland. He has travelled extensively around the Pacific Island States and making a quick flight to Tuvalu was no trouble for him - it took less than a week for him to arrive!
Vanuatu to TownsvilleWith a crew of 3 aboard, (#1 son James his friend David Haynes and I) Illywhacker completes the last leg of our passage - this time across the Coral Sea from Luganville, Vanuatu to Townsville in North Queensland, Australia.
Japan
Huis Ten BoschA summary of our time in a delightful Dutch village theme park in Japan
- JapanThe Best Ever sailing destination - Cruising Helmsman article Postcard from Tokushima - A CCC article Huis Ten Bosch - our home in Japan Some great destinations in Japan West coast to Hokkaido Oriental Odyssey
Japan — Simply the BestThis article was published in the April 2001 issue of the Australian Cruising Helmsman
Japan's West CoastHere is a CCC article written as an update of illywhacker's travels north along the Honshu coastline in April 2000
TokushimaA lucky break in our choice of destinations finds us dancing in the streets
West Coast of JapanHere is a CCC article written as an update of illywhacker's travels north along the Honshu coastline in April 2000
Alaska
Cordova AlaskaOur home for 2 years - we loved it! For more Alaskan stories click: Prince William Sound Alaska by Pickup Laurence in Alaska Russia to Alaska Passage Data - Alaska to Canada
Laurence in AlaskaCruising Prince William Sound with Laurence, one of our grandsons and his Dad
Prince William SoundCruising Prince William Sound - CCC Article 2001
Australia & Tasmania
Antarctica by ShipAn expedition to the world's most southern continent in comfort while illywhacker waits patiently in Tasmania.
Barrier Reef Cruise 2005Illywhacker and crew have an easy 2 - month cruise north from Townsville stopping at anchorages on Australia's Great Barrier Reef as well as at various islands and small coastal towns .
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Barrier Reef Cruise 2005 (part two)Illywhacker and crew have an easy 2 - month cruise north from Townsville stopping at anchorages on Australia's Great Barrier Reef as well as at various islands and small coastal towns .
Port DaveyFor true wilderness cruising at high southern latitudes, nothing beats a trip around the bottom of Tasmania to it's rugged SW corner .
TownsvilleA tour of a cruising yachties ideal stopover, surprising Townsville situated on Australia's northeast tropical coast.
Townsville 2006Due to Lyndall's failing health our cruising is limited in time away from our berth but the quality of the anchorages around Townsville is great.
Overland Adventures
Alaska by PickupIllywhacker winters in Cordova We borrow a pickup in Oct 2001 and drive to Santa Rosa CA then fly home to Australia. The return drive in March 2002 is a below-zero challenge after the 40C temps of Australia over Xmas.
California by RoadA 2 week break away from illywhacker before we set sail for the long trip home to Australia takes us to the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas. We get a taste of the vast geography and the excesses of consumerism that America has to offer. Views of the rich pastures and rugged coastline along the west coast remind us of home and convince us to sail direct to Hawaii.
Overland Adventures- Some of the side trips away from illywhacker provided their own adventures: Alaska by Pickup 2002 California and the Grand Canyon 2003 Tasmania and Phillip Island 2004
Tasmania by Road- Illywhacker is cyclone-proofed in Townsville and we head south to escape the humid tropics for the hottest 3 months of December, January and February. - Cruising friends on Phillip Island in Victoria and in Tasmania kindly invite us to visit their corner of the world.
Cruising Tales
- A Spooky Story
Cruising QuickstepThis article was published in the April 2001 issue of the Australian Cruising Helmsman
Gone Fishin'This little story was published in Modern Boating September, 1984 (pp56-57)
Loss of the SeabirdThe name of the boat and crew have been changed but this story is true.
Sore-Head SkipperThis little story was published in Yachting Monthly in May, 1984 under "The Confessional" (p90) and shows what disrespect children sometimes have for their parents The upside was that I received this sketch from the YM artist, Peyton.
