Hi from the East Coast of Australia

[ty1on]

Hi i haven't done much sailing but want to get into it, its been a long time dream of mine to get a small sail boat and do some coastal stuff then maybe get a bigger one and do some longer trips.

I live in a pretty good spot for sailing on the east coast of Aus in the Byron Bay and Ballina area.

I have joined just to try and get as much information as possible and become more familiar with the whole thing.

Thanks.

[Talbot]

Welcome. Reading through here should keep you quite busy for a while, and there have been a number of different threads on how to start.

[Chef to Sail]

I am a new user myself and there is some incredible information on these forums!

I find the search tool at the top of the site very useful in helping with specific questions. Other than that I recommend just cruising around the site and reading what other people are saying. There are many people with vast ammounts of knowledge on this forum and seem to really want to help!

Welcome

[waverider]

Welcome Aboard!! Feel free to ask away, there is no stupid question so dont worry about it and dive right in.

[MarkJ]

We didn't stop in Ballina when we passed by last week. And their ain't no place to stop in Byron bay, unfortunately.

Have fun, its a beautiful part of the world


Mark

[scallywag]

Welcome Aboard--Hope you enjoy the site. A lot of knowledgeable individuals on this site.

[ty1on]

Thanks for the friendly welcome everyone.
There is some great information here im already wanting to buy a boat.

Originally Posted by MarkJ

We didn't stop in Ballina when we passed by last week. And their ain't no place to stop in Byron bay, unfortunately.

Have fun, its a beautiful part of the world


Mark

Wow! i just checked out your web site, what an amazing lifestyle, you guys must of seen some fantastic sites in your travels, it makes me want to sell up everything i own and go sailing the world.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

We didn't stop in Ballina when we passed by last week. And their ain't no place to stop in Byron bay, unfortunately.

Have fun, its a beautiful part of the world


Mark

To setthe record straight, the roadstead at Byron Bay is a very useful anchorage in S'ly quadrant conditions. We regularly use it as such.

Cheers,

Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II lying Gladstone Qld oz

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

the roadstead at Byron Bay is a very useful anchorage

Hmmm I better have a look at the book again!!

Hmmmmmm Alan Lucas.... OK. Yep, there it is.

We havn't done an open roadstead yet. We have just to the pinacle of fear of river bars! Roadsteads next!

[Chef to Sail]

MarkJ-

How do you like your Beneteau?

I am considering buying a Beneteau 38 in the next few months, it is a 1998 and it looks to be in great condition. Any advice, information, anything about you might want to share?

I am having the boat completely checked out in about a month or so.

Anything would be Great!

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Chef to Sail

How do you like your Beneteau?


I am having the boat completely checked out in about a month or so.

I probably would be shot if I hijacked this thread.... but ....

Ours is great

Get a surveyor who has done a coupla Beneteaus (they all have) and they will be able to spot any problems.
Look under the floorboards fore and aft of the keel and see if theres any fiberglass splintering there that may indicate the boat has been on the rocks - a surveyor will show you.

You can send a sample of engine oil to a lab in the USA for about US$30 and they will tell you if the engine is fried. I think that is a great investment.

Sail it hard close hauled with the plotter on and then tack and see what you are doing on the other close hauled tack. Your surveyor will be on the test with you so discuss why it doesn't point well - sails old, poor rig, design, etc.

Check every gadget fully to make sure it works. e.g the shore power water heater... cost a coupla hundred for a new one if it doesnt work etc.

They are great boats and while some will be looking down their snout at your production boat you will be able to spread out in the huge cockpit, have lots of friends in the huge saloon and find a bed where two can actually do some smoochin!

All the best


Mark

[Chef to Sail]

Thanks MarkJ!

Yeah, sorry if we disrupted this thread everyone. I just saw that Mark had a Beneteau and had to ask.

Let the custom boat snobs look down on me, I like most want to Sail for myself

Thanks again and GREAT website by the way!

[ty1on]

Originally Posted by Chef to Sail

Thanks MarkJ!

Yeah, sorry if we disrupted this thread everyone. I just saw that Mark had a Beneteau and had to ask.

Let the custom boat snobs look down on me, I like most want to Sail for myself

Thanks again and GREAT website by the way!

Im not worried, it doesn't bother me.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by ty1on

Im not worried, it doesn't bother me.

Great! Thanks Now see below

Originally Posted by Chef to Sail

GREAT website by the way!

Thanks

Here is a new photo I took just the other day near Ballina when we were on the way from Camden Haven to the Gold Coast.

I took this with my new Cannon 40D




OK, I'll admid one thing. The camera does 9 frames per second! Its the only way we have been able to get good dolphin piccies. I took 450 photos in about 1 hour of a very close experience with these cute critters. Try doing that with an old film camera!

[Tempest245]

Great Shot Mark!