Southern Ocean Sailing

Fourth straight win of the EmuPoint/Green Island race. Not bad for a 60 year old design.

My final crossing of the Bight.
Arrived Albany Thursday evening.
Another terrific sail across.

Departed Robe at 16.30 today.
A swim needed prior to clear w**d from propeller. Next is Port Lincoln.

Alongside in Robe.

Well!
I’ve been sailing the oceans for years. Amazing places like sailing through the ice of Antarctica, Cape Horn, the Falkland Islands, Carribean, Azores, the UK, Sydney to Hobart.
Over the past years countless crossings of the Great Australian Bight, over the top, beautiful places like Thursday Island and beyond.
Met so, so many amazing people.
Sailing/racing on Saturday’s in Albany is fast becoming my passion.

This crossing of the Great Australian Bight from Sydney to Albany will be my last long distance voyage.

Departed Portland heading for Robe to sit out a severe weather system.

Arrived Portland early this morning.
Absolutely freezing cold. 🥶

Exited the Western end of Bass Strait.
Probably the last time. 😊
Next port is Portland.
Must pick up an old car tyre for a drogue. 😊

"Any damn fool can navigate the world sober. It takes a really good sailor to do it drunk." - Sir Francis Chichester.

Can't think of a better way to mark National Quote Day than with this gem by the legendary yachtsman.

Photo credit: Getty

Arrived Apollo Bay to sit out yet another weather challenge.

Please, please copy and share.

DFAT it appears are being rather unfair to say the least

Today marks three months since we realised that our very dear friend Cookie would not be returning from her "trip of a lifetime" sailing in Madagascar and Africa. Three months since that awful call to let us know an alarm had been activated aboard Acteon in the Madagascar Channel and when a ship had been sent to investigate, no sign of life had been found despite the boat sailing with all sails up.
As days went by French Police confirmed two people were located on board deceased - our worst fears realised.
Then.....nothing!
As we pleaded for information we were met with stony silence from DFAT and instructions to stay away from media and wait for the results of the investigation. The boat was towed to Mayotte (a French Colony) and autopsies were conducted on the 8th December. A death certificate was issued - with no cause of death listed.
Just the process of formal ID took weeks when medical and dental records could have been sent quickly and would have provided immediate ID as they did when weeks later they were called for.
Eventually in early January a facebook post on a South African Sailing site led us to Pascal's family who had been told the most likely cause of death was poisoning but "investigations were on going and toxicology reports were pending". Why were we hearing this from a facebook post and not DFAT? Pascal's body had been repatriated to France and buried on the 18th December again we learnt this from facebook not from DFAT. To date we still dont have any indication of when Cookie's ashes might be sent home to family and friends - why, why, why? It makes no sense.
Surely if toxicology reports are pending the French investigation team could have told DFAT or better still her family, what they found on board. No information just conjures up fear and imaginings where as any information might at least tell us what didn't happen and help to set our minds at rest.
I've stayed quiet till now as many of you that have asked will attest but three months with NO answers or information is too long when it is clear that some information is known.
Thank you to everyone who has reached out with messages of support, thank you to everyone who has shown love and support for Cookie, her family and friends - it has helped to know how loved she was.