A short sampler of boating (and flying...) Aussie style

[MapisM]

With apologies to AndieMac for the delay, here's a brief sampler of what boating looks like down under...
...in a rather wide range of boats, from a quite substantial ferry - seen from a privileged position - all the way down to a 5kt wooden boat.
And with a bit of wind assisted stuff in between, together with a rather unusual take off and landing!

 

[AndieMac]

Nicely put together P, I didn't realise you were taking video footage in the ferry wheelhouse, thought it was just still shots.

We really enjoyed meeting you both in Sydney, and hopefully again soon either down here or in the Med.

If I PM'ed my new email address, I'd be interested in seeing any extended footage of your Oz adventure.

 

[Pinnacle]

With apologies to AndieMac for the delay, here's a brief sampler of what boating looks like down under...
...in a rather wide range of boats, from a quite substantial ferry - seen from a privileged position - all the way down to a 5kt wooden boat.
And with a bit of wind assisted stuff in between, together with a rather unusual take off and landing!

Great vid - as usual - MapisM!

 

[crazy4557]

Fab video, been there a few times and luv it..Was my aim to live on Hope Island on Gold Coast with boat moored at the bottom of the garden. Recession came along and ruined that dream

 

[scubaman]

Really nice vid, M! That very last craft was very interesting. Looked like a dinghy hydrofoil with a wind surf sail?

 

[rafiki_]

Great vid. Brings back many happy memories of Sydney Harbour.

 

[Pinnacle]

Really nice vid, M! That very last craft was very interesting. Looked like a dinghy hydrofoil with a wind surf sail?

Looks like a foiling moth.

 

[Kawasaki]

Looks like a foiling moth.

Christ what are the wasps like!
Great video thanks

 

[AndieMac]

Christ what are the wasps like!

 

[MapisM]

Really nice vid, M! That very last craft was very interesting. Looked like a dinghy hydrofoil with a wind surf sail?

As Pinnacle said!
Amazing craft indeed, the video doesn't do justice to her speed and iper-reactive behaviour.
One of the crew members of AUS21, the San Diego America's Cup boat now used for cruises on Sydney Harbour from which we spotted the moth, tried to explain me how many controls the helmsman has to deal with on those thingies. I don't think I actually understood more than a half of them...
Here's a better view of the beast.

 

[MapisM]

Fab video, been there a few times and luv it..Was my aim to live on Hope Island on Gold Coast with boat moored at the bottom of the garden. Recession came along and ruined that dream

Yup, very nice area indeed. From a climate viewpoint, possibly one of the best we've ever seen.
But if you like swimming/snorkeling/diving, the area further north along the Great Barrier Reef is just too good to miss.
All considered, somewhere between Cairns and Port Douglas would be my first choice for keeping a boat.
As long as she would have a good A/C system, that is!

 

[AndieMac]

As Pinnacle said!
Amazing craft indeed, the video doesn't do justice to her speed and iper-reactive behaviour.
One of the crew members of AUS21, the San Diego America's Cup boat now used for cruises on Sydney Harbour from which we spotted the moth, tried to explain me how many controls the helmsman has to deal with on those thingies. I don't think I actually understood more than a half of them...
Here's a better view of the beast.

We were at the start of the Tasmanian Three Peaks Race on Good Friday and saw a similar craft "flying" (broad reaching) just ahead of the start line, looked like fun.

BTW Kwacka: They had a team of Welshmen in this years local Three Peaks.

 

[AndieMac]

Fab video, been there a few times and luv it..Was my aim to live on Hope Island on Gold Coast with boat moored at the bottom of the garden. Recession came along and ruined that dream

I picked up a big boat from the bottom of one of those gardens in 2005.....I know what you mean, it's an envious lifestyle alright.

 

[Kawasaki]

We were at the start of the Tasmanian Three Peaks Race on Good Friday and saw a similar craft "flying" (broad reaching) just ahead of the start line, looked like fun.

BTW Kwacka: They had a team of Welshmen in this years local Three Peaks.

Woah! that's a 'reverse role' as you know I showed some Kiwis the way through the Swellies etc over ere
Well
Not 100% the right way
Owed they get on, or hasn't it happened yet?
Hey-- was u over here just lately?

 

[jfm]

Very nice video mapism, thanks. The moth is quite a machine but is proper hard work and reference your comment on build thread I think at my old age I'll stick to the very underpowered, by modern standards, Laser (aka Kirby Torch). Also you'd need an hour with spanners just to rig a moth! Wonderful toy though and big respect to the folks who have mastered sailing/flying them

 

[MapisM]

Also you'd need an hour with spanners just to rig a moth!

LOL, yeah, I didn't consider that, but based on what that former racing sailor explained me of its components I can easily guess that one hour could even be underestimated.
Otoh, I must reject the "old age" argument. At OUR age, we're not old at all, for chrissake! Not in our minds, anyway...

 

[michaf]

We live 25 nm from the Abrolhos Island in Western Australia, in fact the Abrolhos get mentioned in the latest MBM issue (p 14). We get there whenever the weather is good. Full reef, full full of stuff, all year round... Bliss. This is my first boat, and it's the best thing I've owned. The moments we've spent on it were some of the best of our lives. Temps are good all year, in fact I'm often thinking about others when I wash my boat in my shorts! We are upgrading to a Voyage 42.

Here some pics:

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B_zRa2U6Fn4beVBBa05tRW9pTXM&usp=sharing

 

[AndieMac]

We live 25 nm from the Abrolhos Island in Western Australia, in fact the Abrolhos get mentioned in the latest MBM issue (p 14). We get there whenever the weather is good. Full reef, full full of stuff, all year round... Bliss. This is my first boat, and it's the best thing I've owned. The moments we've spent on it where some of the best of our lives. Temps are good all year, in fact I'm often thinking about others when I wash my boat in my shorts! We are upgrading to a Voyage 42.

Here some pics:

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B_zRa2U6Fn4beVBBa05tRW9pTXM&usp=sharing

View attachment 30957

Nice pics there mate, I'm not jealous at all!

You must be happy with Jeanneau.

 

[MapisM]

We live 25 nm from the Abrolhos Island in Western Australia, in fact the Abrolhos get mentioned in the latest MBM issue (p 14). We get there whenever the weather is good. Full reef, full full of stuff, all year round... Bliss.

Wow, that's awesome! I recently spent 3 months in the Land of Oz, but missed WA completely.
Actually, I wasn't even aware of this Abrolhos Island, and I thought that the "only" (huge as it is) Aussie reef was the GBR...
Otoh, SWMBO already has in her radar another long trip down under, probably next winter (EU winter, that is)...
Actually, she's mainly looking at Tas and NZ, but maybe it's worth thinking to include also the Western coast, after all.
Where are you based exactly, around Geraldton I suppose, looking at the maps?

PS: how's the situation with regard to dangerous creatures in your area?
On the other side of AU, there's nowhere without some warnings, be them for crocs, sharks, jellyfish... You name it!

 

[michaf]

We don't have anything like the east coat has in term of wildlife, the only thing is sharks, but noting ever happens. I spearfish a lot, I do have the occasional one wanting to get a free meal, but it's fine.

Western Australia is a wild coast. It is magnificent at it's core wilderness and you have to embrace it as it is. Boating is not an easy affair. Yes I do live in Geraldton, but we do not decide when we want to shoot off the the Abrolhos, the weather does. Fortunately we have full flexibility and therefore get there when it's good. Otherwise basically it blows 30 nots from november to march and add to that 3m of swell and the crossing gets really rough and your stay over the island not that pleasant. The weather protect the islands, otherwise it would be full of Perth boats.

April May are the best months, but you are never sure. Further north is the Ningaloo reef and that gets a bit lighter in terms of weather, but you can get cyclones. It's fine during winter thought. I have been on the Ningaloo reef in July August and it really is incredible. BTW, the Ningaloo reef is a not so well known gem that features some of the best dives this planet offers.

All this to say, if you don't live here you're better off on the east coast visiting the Whitsundays or something like that.

Just PM me if you need more info, no worries as we say