New Zealand or Australia For Pacific Bound Sailors

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Factor

Of course 44c is anti pom (England) on two fronts - he is Australian and Scottish.

Hey.. no complaints from me.. they shot their mouths off before they flew out there.. so being whupped for being pratts serves em bludi right..
They're getting as bad as the English World Cup Teams.. all mouth and no form..

PS; Abandoned Colonial so have a 'French Fry'..

[ozskipper]

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

You guys all sound like NZ beat your favorite team in a footie match

Oh of course. There is a traditional banter between Aussies and Kiwis. If an Aussie and a Kiwi were to meet in a pub and didnt have "a dig" at one another there would be something wrong.

The history of it is quite long and probably started back when the Kiwis realized that their national IQ would actually go up with the more sheep they raised. Hence the love they have for sheep.

We (both nationalities) do it to people we like. So if a septic tank (yank) were to visit and we didnt have "a dig", that may just mean that we didnt like him enough- yet. But once the first GWB joke (for instance) was fired off at him, the american would soon know that we enjoy his company

To be honest I am surprised that a kiwi hasnt entertered the banter here and fired off a few in retaliation. They are probably tending the sheep.

With that said, I hope it gives you a little insight in to the honest friendship that we have with the kiwis. Aside baby/kitten eating, we have minimal cultural differences and enjoy the company of one another.

[NoTies]

Originally Posted by ozskipper

we have minimal culture

Fixed

[downunder]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

Nope. Incorrect. The Shoalwater Bay military training area is a fair way North of Gladstone.
In terms of good anchorages between Brisbane and Gladstone, there are countless.

The entire West coast of World heritage listed Fraser island is an anchorage. The Great Barrier reef starts a day's sail north.

It's possible of course, to cherry pick certain parts of the NSW/Qld coast that do not have a high concentration of good anchorages, but there are other parts where there are hundreds of incredible anchorages within short distances.

If you include the great anchorages amongst the GBR would be many more anchorages available than in NZ. Many sailors in Australia only ever cruise the mainland islands and just don't seem to get out amongst the coral of the Great Barrier reef. The Capricorn Bunker Group of reefs at the southern end of the GBR close to 44C's home territory is particually interesting with lots of cays and great anchorages.

Of course at this time of the year you need to run for the extensive inshore mangrove areas when cyclones are around. Generally in recent times we are getting up to 1 weeks notice with improved weather forcasting.

[DumnMad]

Former prime minister Rob Muldoon famously said "when Kiwis move to Aus it raises the IQ of both nations."

Choose the country that suits you Reb.

[Lin Pardey]

It is so tempting to make set plans, but it might pay to keep your options very open and enjoy your voyaging for a year or two - you might find reasons to change your course and head to Hawaii or who knows were - you might find important reasons to choose Australia over New Zealand or vice versa. We have cruised both, lived in both and really enjoyed the Pittwater and Sydney area, not keen on Brisbane as heat and cyclone concerns got to us. Really love New Zealand and made it our homebase.

Main reason for adding this post is your concern about weather - we have had wonderful voyages from Tonga to NZ, three times. With patience and a willingness to heave to to let any less than favorable systems pass by, you can enjoy the passage south. But as others have stated, you will need to dig out your warm clothes to get south of the cyclone belt.

[Factor]

Originally Posted by Lin Pardey

.... Brisbane as heat and cyclone concerns got to us. .

It feels really wrong to challenge the Pardey's and yes its hot in Brissie, but Cyclones? Not in my lifetime.

[Coops]

Nor mine. A lot of miles before you get to the cyclone belt from Brisbane.

Coops.

[downunder]

Originally Posted by Lin Pardey

We have cruised both, lived in both and really enjoyed the Pittwater and Sydney area, not keen on Brisbane as heat and cyclone concerns got to us. Really love New Zealand and made it our homebase.

Main reason for adding this post is your concern about weather - we have had wonderful voyages from Tonga to NZ, three times. With patience and a willingness to heave to to let any less than favorable systems pass by, you can enjoy the passage south. But as others have stated, you will need to dig out your warm clothes to get south of the cyclone belt.

Don't worry about Brisbane being in the cyclone area. Its not.

[Lin Pardey]

Sorry, left a word out - no cyclones in Brisbane, should have read - and cyclones if you go north of there.

Thanks for catching that. -

[StuM]

> we have minimal cultural differences

That's because of a common heritage, both Aussies and Kiwis originate from people who came out from the UK with 10 pounds per person.
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The only difference is that the Kiwis had it in their pockets and the Aussies had it round their ankles.

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by Lin Pardey

Sorry, left a word out - no cyclones in Brisbane, should have read - and cyclones if you go north of there.

A fair way north of there.... the tropic of Capricorn is about 250 miles north.

[robert sailor]

Depends if you like rain and cool temps or not. We are from Vancouver so landing in Whangarie was like coming home, which is why we left in the first place. Lovely people there and the best fish and chips in the world. Lots of things to see and do but we gave it a pass the 2nd year and went up to Fiji and the Marshall Islands.

[Mirage Gecko]

And that is 250 nautical miles!

[Wotname]

Brisbane and cyclones.

A few posters have stated that Brisbane is not affected by cyclones.
Regretfully they are wrong. While it is true that cyclones don't often affect Brisbane, it is also true that on occasions, Brisbane and it's environs are affected by cyclones.

Here are a few times:
Cyclone Yali March 1998
Cyclone Rewa January 1994 (remained at sea 100Km east of Brisbane)
Cyclone Roger March 1993 (Fraser Island)
Cyclone Betsy January 1992 (Fraser Island)
Cyclone Nancy February 1990 (Byron Bay - south of Brisbane)
Cyclone Lance April 1984 (Gold Coast - south of Brisbane)
Cyclone Simon February 1980 (Fraser Island)
Cyclone Dawn March 1976 (Fraser Island)
Cyclone Colin March 1976
Cyclone Zoe March 1974 (Coolangatta - south of Brisbane)
Cyclone Pam February 1974 (seawards east of Brisbane)
Cyclone Daisy February 1972 (Fraser Island)
Cyclone Dora February 1971
Cyclone Glenda April 1967
Cyclone Elaine March 1967
Cyclone Barbara February 1967 (Lismore - south of Brisbane)
Cyclone Audrey January 1964
Cyclone Annie January 1963
Cyclone Beatrice January 1959

Prior to this, the cyclones wern't named but there have been dozens since the first recorded cyclonic gales in Brisbane in March 1864 and the early fifties.

Don't let anyone kid you that southern Queensland isn't cyclone affected.

However, don't take my word for it, have a look at an official view http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/about/eastern.shtml