After an early start and a full day’s travel Christine Richards, Ramon Rees and I finally made our way into Port Vila (by plane) to begin the process of relieving the delivery crew.  Or at least skipper Bob, who will fly home to Sydney tomorrow, Gary Jago who flies out Sunday and Kiwi-John who stays […]

Wed 12 june 2013 – Sydney (CYCA) Chimere leaves Thursday at 9am. Today the crew has been busy with last minute tasks. The damaged running backstay fitting was welded back in place. The water tanks were filled. The repaired spinnaker pole arrived and was put back in place. The gas detector was re soldered. Last […]

Tuesday 11 June 2013 Almost ready to sail. Customs arrive at 4pm tomorrow. Weather forecast appears favourable. Hope to be sailing by tomorrow evening all being well. The crew of five being Bob Brenac (Skipper), Jon Colcough(First mate), Gary Jago ( Coxswain), Tony Richards (Cook), John Land ( k1w1 aka cabin boy/deckhand) are all present […]

Even those not so familiar with boats will have heard about the Sydney-Hobart yacht race. Well, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) run that race each year and they have also generously hosting our stay here at their marina in Rushcutters Bay, Sydney. In fact they have given us prime position at the end […]

Every now and then you meet people who make a difference. They know what needs to be done, they share your passion and commitment and they do all they can to help you succeed. They assume control without taking over, their ego doesn’t get in the way of proceedings and their ability, experience and knowledge […]

With one sleep to go it suddenly occurred to me, FOOD !!! … that’s right, we’ll need some food aboard !!  Can’t just tell all the volunteers to eat before they leave home?! Rest assured, our planning had extended to the purchase of food, and lots of it, it’s just that with the boat resembling something […]

After five months of intensive activity aboard, (during which time Chimere has been parked up on the high and dry) including a re-build of the cockpit, new diesel generator, sails and a very long list of other things, we finally got Chimere back in the water late Monday afternoon!!