georgebackhus on July 4th, 2004

June 30
My sailing mates Ellen McArthur and Neil Spencer flew up from Auckland to Noumea Sunday to join me on the 800-mile trip across the Coral Sea to Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
A nasty tropical disturbance delayed the start of our passage by a day. The low that passed over Noumea Sunday night brought gale force winds [...]

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georgebackhus on June 9th, 2001

 

Well off the beaten “Coconut Milk Run” track, I think that Lord Howe Island could be one of the best-kept secrets in the South Pacific. Located 225 nm northeast of Sydney and 675 nm southwest of Noumea, New Caledonia, this ruggedly beautiful island sees relatively few foreign cruisers.
On our second morning out of Sydney, I [...]

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georgebackhus on April 30th, 2001

April 28, 2001
It was crisp and clear this morning as we motorsailed out of the Sydney Heads, destined for Lord Howe Island, about 420 miles northeast. A ferry penguin noisily chased us as if to say a final goodbye to Moonshadow after her summer in Sydney.
One of the few bad things about cruising is moving on [...]

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georgebackhus on April 27th, 2001

 

 
Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park, Tasmania

It’s Autumn in Sydney and just about time to head north for the winter. We are savouring our last few days in the “big city” while attending to the all the last minute details, provisioning and yacht preparation necessary before an ocean passage.
We have immensely enjoyed the time [...]

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