Mischief Newsletter No 1
Hello All
As many of you are aware d-day for the start of our crusing adventure draws near! I hope to get around to developing a website to cover our adventures but in the meantime, here's an update of what we've been up to in preparation for the next phase of our life - literally a SeachangeL
I had an idea that planning a trip like the one we're about to embark on takes time, but boy.. there's so much to do.... I also can now confirm that WA stands for Wait Awile, as the trades have really held us up.
So here's to what's happening.
MISCHIEF is a 15 year old MOODY (Forty four feet overall) that we acquired in really good condition and ready to take to the oceans. It was sailed by the previous swiss owner from Spain over the Atlantic and the pacific to New Zealand, where we bought her, so she's well tried and tested.
A friend of ours sailed her over from Brisbane after she was brought across from NZ, and I joined the boat in Darwin for the sail down to Perth, and managed to sail to Carnarvon before I had to catch a plane to get back to work. I am happy to report I am now fully 'retired'!
She's a fine and very comfy cruiser, and since getting to Perth at the end of August, I've been chasing trades to do the work which has involved changing all the portholes and hatches (the perspex mainly), new upholstery foam and cushions throughout, including a new queen size bed for the skipper and her mate, new carpet and curtains etc.... all mostly cosmetic to refresh the boat and make it 'our home'. It has been quite challenging moving from a large house onto a boat, and much had to go to auction - but I love my new home!
With some help from our able delivery skipper, I sanded and varnished the boat from bow to stern, and she really looks lovely and fresh now. Bjorn and I moved on board just before Christmas, and then set off on the two week cruise to Quindalup (down south of Perth). The galley is very well designed with everything handy. I had the benchtops redone and have also been chasing for the canvas work to be redone.... so it's been quite hectic.
Meanwhile we have been going through electrics, motors etc and checking everything in preparation for our big trip. Departure date is now set for April 24 heading north to the Abrolos Islands outside Geraldton for around 10 days before continuing up the WA coast. The rough plan is to go through to Broome and then sail across to Indonesia, probably to Kupang or to Bali and cruise there for 1-2 months heading up via Singapore to Thailand, then across to Sri Lanka via the Nicobar islands, to Maldives, Chagos, Seychelles then up to Oman and on to Aden around Feb 2009 heading through the Red Sea to Cyprus. We hope to be there around March/ April.
Still a rough plan at this stage as we are working our way through winds, monsoon seasons and currents etc to ensure we're sailing through waters at the optimal time and not during a cyclone season etc...
Bjorn has now handed in his resignation and he's a free man as of 28th March. The house looks like we have a good tenant for a couple of years, so we should finally be all set to go... It sounds so straightforward when you write it down like this, but let me assure you it has been mini dramas all the way. The latest is my wrist, where after two months of sanding and varnishing, I have aggravated an old condition and now need surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome. Hopefully it will only leave me out of action for a couple of weeks, during which time I can concentrate on the passage preparation, stocking the boat etc.
It is not all drama, and really quite an exciting time... I guess you never realise the scope of the plans and when it dawns on you, you get mild panic attacks..... do we know what we're doing etc??? These episodes do serve to ensure we prepare as well as we can - Mischief is a real blue water cruiser and can handle some tough conditions; we need to ensure that we are also up to the task as best we can.
Annika is now well settled into her new home in Applecross (with Jesper) and hopes to come out to Europe next year to catch up with us. Mark and Bridget intend to join us in the Maldives later this year.
So that's it for now.... must get Bjorn to send some pics... the boat is very comfy ... we even have TV and DVD on board!!!
Hello All
As many of you are aware d-day for the start of our crusing adventure draws near! I hope to get around to developing a website to cover our adventures but in the meantime, here's an update of what we've been up to in preparation for the next phase of our life - literally a SeachangeL
I had an idea that planning a trip like the one we're about to embark on takes time, but boy.. there's so much to do.... I also can now confirm that WA stands for Wait Awile, as the trades have really held us up.
So here's to what's happening.
MISCHIEF is a 15 year old MOODY (Forty four feet overall) that we acquired in really good condition and ready to take to the oceans. It was sailed by the previous swiss owner from Spain over the Atlantic and the pacific to New Zealand, where we bought her, so she's well tried and tested.
A friend of ours sailed her over from Brisbane after she was brought across from NZ, and I joined the boat in Darwin for the sail down to Perth, and managed to sail to Carnarvon before I had to catch a plane to get back to work. I am happy to report I am now fully 'retired'!
She's a fine and very comfy cruiser, and since getting to Perth at the end of August, I've been chasing trades to do the work which has involved changing all the portholes and hatches (the perspex mainly), new upholstery foam and cushions throughout, including a new queen size bed for the skipper and her mate, new carpet and curtains etc.... all mostly cosmetic to refresh the boat and make it 'our home'. It has been quite challenging moving from a large house onto a boat, and much had to go to auction - but I love my new home!
With some help from our able delivery skipper, I sanded and varnished the boat from bow to stern, and she really looks lovely and fresh now. Bjorn and I moved on board just before Christmas, and then set off on the two week cruise to Quindalup (down south of Perth). The galley is very well designed with everything handy. I had the benchtops redone and have also been chasing for the canvas work to be redone.... so it's been quite hectic.
Meanwhile we have been going through electrics, motors etc and checking everything in preparation for our big trip. Departure date is now set for April 24 heading north to the Abrolos Islands outside Geraldton for around 10 days before continuing up the WA coast. The rough plan is to go through to Broome and then sail across to Indonesia, probably to Kupang or to Bali and cruise there for 1-2 months heading up via Singapore to Thailand, then across to Sri Lanka via the Nicobar islands, to Maldives, Chagos, Seychelles then up to Oman and on to Aden around Feb 2009 heading through the Red Sea to Cyprus. We hope to be there around March/ April.
Still a rough plan at this stage as we are working our way through winds, monsoon seasons and currents etc to ensure we're sailing through waters at the optimal time and not during a cyclone season etc...
Bjorn has now handed in his resignation and he's a free man as of 28th March. The house looks like we have a good tenant for a couple of years, so we should finally be all set to go... It sounds so straightforward when you write it down like this, but let me assure you it has been mini dramas all the way. The latest is my wrist, where after two months of sanding and varnishing, I have aggravated an old condition and now need surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome. Hopefully it will only leave me out of action for a couple of weeks, during which time I can concentrate on the passage preparation, stocking the boat etc.
It is not all drama, and really quite an exciting time... I guess you never realise the scope of the plans and when it dawns on you, you get mild panic attacks..... do we know what we're doing etc??? These episodes do serve to ensure we prepare as well as we can - Mischief is a real blue water cruiser and can handle some tough conditions; we need to ensure that we are also up to the task as best we can.
Annika is now well settled into her new home in Applecross (with Jesper) and hopes to come out to Europe next year to catch up with us. Mark and Bridget intend to join us in the Maldives later this year.
So that's it for now.... must get Bjorn to send some pics... the boat is very comfy ... we even have TV and DVD on board!!!
