searcher

[searcher]

Hello everybody, my name is Paul.
I live on my yacht "Searcher" in Nelson New Zealand.
She is an Eric Cox offshore 40ft cutter rigged sloop, built in Auckland in 1965.
The boat has been up to the islands at least 7 times and over and back to Aus at least once.
I bought her 3 years ago and am bringing her back up to Cat 1 standards as she's been let go a bit.
I intend on taking her offshore myself, probably to Tonga first trip?
I've saied to Fiji and up the East coat of Aus to Darwin on a friends yacht so am keen to go in Searcher.
See you...............Paul

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Paul,
Welcome aboard!! Good to have you in the forum.
Kind Regards,
JohnL

[searcher]

Thanks John,
looking foreward to some interesting "stuff".
Regards........Paul.

[swagman]

G'day Paul,
Another welcome from an expat Ozzie sailing westward. Hope you enjoy the site.
JOHN

[searcher]

Thanks John, what part of Aus are you from?? I lived in Perth for 13years, thinking of heading back to Aus to make some $$$'s so I can go cruising.
I'll check out your site.
Spotya..........Paul.

[emmo]

Hi Paul,
I am a Kiwi, living in Perth, good to hear from you,
Cheers, Emmo

[Anitabreak II]

Hi
Headed to Tasmania in Feb. Have any of you been?
Anita

[searcher]

Hi Anita,
my sister lives in Launceston and I've driven around the island a couple of times.
It's nice but a bit small for me, I liked Hobart and Devonport, Hobart was good but it was colder than NZ when I got there. They had fresh snow on the mountains brrrrrrrrrrrr.
A bit cooler than mainland Australia but still very nice in it's own right.
Well worth a visit.
all the best Paul.

[Boracay]

We visited Tassie a few years ago. Some thoughts...

We went from Melbourne on the ferry. The service is redolent of Australia in the 1950's. ie The crew seemed to have good jobs. I found the trip uncomfortable.

Driving off the ferry is not in a predictable order, complicated by a major quarantine check(not in the travel brochures). The locals know but by the time the dumb tourists get off all the restaurants have shut and it is difficult to get well priced accomodation.

The roads are good, which is just as well as the only way to get arround is by car.

Restaurants were not of a quality that I appreciated. Better to buy your own food (there are some excellent roadside stalls) and cook it yourself.

The Tasmanian police welcomed me by locating a radar trap on a downhill slope in an area that was not obviously built up. I only found out about it when I got back to Sydney.

We took our young niece. It was difficult and somewhat expensive to get appropriate family accomodation.

As with the rest of Australia accomodation during holiday times can be chockers. Best to book ahead with known reliable companies during those times.

Tasmania on a budget is not all that comfortable. Splurging on better quality accomodation could make the whole trip more enjoyable.

The rest is just like the brochures.

[searcher]

Thanks Boracay, yes I did find the first trip a bit disapointing too. Differant when there is family involved on the second trip.

Emmo, So where in Perth are you? I lived at Scarborough. I used to teach driving for Ajax. Now drive tour coaches in NZ. what's the job situation like in Perth for truckies?? cheers Paul.