The evenings have been attended by members who may, or may not race ‘seriously’ but who also love to sail when there’s no pressure – when the main aim is to complete a journey, short or long, pleasurably and safely, to enjoy the wind, the waves, the freedom, and maybe even the sunset with a sundowner.
Whether you have previously attended or not, we would like to invite you to our next ‘Spirit of Cruising’ meeting, during which David and Jill Henry will talk of their exploits and a report will be given on Lake Macquarie as a destination.
Like many other Australian sailing clubs, we want to join together for non-competitive cruising events – for an afternoon, a weekend, a month or even six. Let’s not lose the gains we made at our first ‘Spirit of Cruising’ evening – come again, even if it is only to enjoy the camaraderie.
Tuesday 8 March
CYCA – Freya Room
6.00pm until whenever
$25 per person will cover simple light dinner refreshments
(A reminder: the word ‘cruising’ can be confusing. Here it does not refer to racing in any way, as in a ‘no spinnakers’ race. ‘Cruising’ here means not racing, merely sailing for the love of it.)
The Sweet Return of Sweet Chariot
Jill and David met on a yacht racing out of MHYC, some 49 years ago. Within a few years we were messing about in our own boat and producing our own little crew of 2 sons. We have sailed ever since on a succession of yachts all named Sweet Chariot.
On November 15 ,2015, we delighted once more in the spectacle that is Sydney Harbour, thereby completing our clockwise circumnavigation of the World. We had covered 37,600 n.miles in just under 10 years in Sweet Chariot IV, our Buizen 48, and had spent almost 7 of those 10 years exploring the marvelous Mediterranean.
In the 14 years that have slipped past since she was launched in 2001, we have put 55,000 n.miles under Sweet Chariot’s keel, in conditions ranging from calm to gale, from mill pond water to 5 metre crested seas.
Her Significant Voyages to date:
Feb / Mar 2001
Shake-down cruise Sydney – Tasmania 1,800 n.miles.
May 2002 – May 2003
Anti-clockwise Circumnavigation of Australia including Tasmania in the wake of Matthew Flinders12,000 n.miles
Feb / Mar 2005
Sydney – New Zealand Return via Lord Howe Island 3,000 n.miles
April 2006 – Nov 2015
Clockwise circumnavigation of the World via the Red Sea 37,600 n.miles
We officially entered 47 countries during our voyage around the world and look forward to sharing anecdotes and insights at the Spirit of Cruising Night on Tuesday 8 March.
