banyandah from Australia

[banyandah]

Banyandah, meaning 'Home on the Water' was homebuilt in Sydney and launched in 1973. Jude and I then sailed off with our two sons, aged 2 and 3, never expecting we'd travel round Earth for the next 13 years.

Boat educating our boys while touring Earth's fascinating destinations proved rewarding for both, parents and children. We returned to land in time for their final two years of high school, they both then attended university while Judith and went to work to secure our future. Banyandah was craned from the sea and placed on our front lawn, where she stood for the next 18 years!

In that period, we gutted our lady. Everything came out; accommodation, machinery, electrics, plumbing - everything back to bare hull! Then we rebuilt her with a new rig and all new gear except for her faithful, rather long in the tooth, engine and gearbox.

When wrinkles and gray hairs met us in the mirror, when our grandchildren began to grow in numbers, we thought we'd better relaunch our veteran and try cruising once again.

Our first voyage: Circumnavigating Australia, a two year cruise. Photos and notes at: Banyandah circumnavigates (Banyandah)

This year, instead of sailing north again, we sailed south, back to Tasmania to look over the Bass Strait Islands and revisit Macquarie Harbour, entering Hell's Gate a second time. Three months later, the autumn chill sent us north, on to South Australia for our first ever visit.

Presently we're back in the house, playing with our lovely grandchildren, seven of them, wondering if there'll be more while waiting for winter to pass.

Be happy to answer questions on most anything. Our info on world destinations may be a bit out of date, but Australian ports and anchorages should be up to date. We are cruisers, not marina hoppers, so we have little knowledge on berths or rates.

Fair winds and smooth seas from Jack Jude on the good ship BANYANDAH.

[Boracay]

Hi and welcome to the Cruisers Forum.

We should be heading north next year so hopefully we can draw on your knowledge.

[banyandah]

Thanks, glad to on board. if going north out of Sydney, we usually started first of April, end of possible cyclone period and start of the tradewinds. Having said that, we've also crossed the Coral Sea a few times out of season. Good weather forecasts give fair warning. Remember also June July and August are "Strong Wind" months up north.
Jack & Jude
Blog: a wandering wake
Photos: Banyandah

[maxingout]

I checked out your refit photos. You are amazing. You are one hard working and committed sailor.

I have not done high latitude sailing, and I congratulate you on your high latitude adventures.

[banyandah]

Pardon the pun, high latitude has its highs and lows, feast or famine as I sometimes write, too much or no wind. But having said that, there's some magic cruising at the far ends of Earth.

If you love nature, southern Tasmania and South Island NZ are beautiful, something like the coast of Canada. And like Canada, plenty of holes to hunker down when the gales come through. Just need to respect the weather. Listen to forecast every day, at least, and have a bolt hole picked out. Good ground tackle helps. As does a stout vessel.

[speakeasy]

Welcome to CF, Jack & Jude! Great website. I like the way you've arranged the photo stacks about the map of Oz.

[D&D]

Wow banyandah...you are an inspiration!

Thanks for joining the Forum...and for your great website. We hope to take up your offer of some Aussie cruising insights soon.

[banyandah]

Thanks D&D, Not going anywhere till Spring. After that, ....

[Jim Cate]

G'DAy Jack and Jude,

I'll add my welcome to the CF, and echo your appreciation of the cruising in Tassie. We'll be heading that way somewhere around Christmas (+/- avoiding the Boxing day fiasco for sure) for our 9th visit there. Perhaps we'll encounter you along the way...

Cheers,

Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II lying Manly Qld Oz, nearly ready to head north towards the sun.

[D&D]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

echo your appreciation of the cruising in Tassie.

Well Jim, while we have your and Jack's and Jude's attention (before you all disappear off toward another beautiful anchorage!) can we ask you to reveal some of your favorite Tassie hideaway spots?

Tassie is absolutely one of our highest cruising targets, perhaps the Whitsundays in the winter and Tassie in the summer. One of our dearest friends lives in Hobart and owns a modest but lovely place -- He calls it his "shack"! -- on the water at the northern tip of Bruny Isl...and we are sworn to visit him as soon as we locate our cruiser, hopefully next year.

So can we indulge your experience to suggest some other lovely Tassie spots for cruisers? Please...!

[banyandah]

Tasmania is fabulous if you love Nature and history, and can handle extreme weather. Hobart is one of the finest and prettiest cities in Australia. The second oldest. Beautiful, historical, you simply must park in Constitution Dock with the city at your doorstep. Everyone loves "the Channel" south of Hobart, its protected, so many anchorages, but its dry, sort of ho hum for high latitude. The north coast has the best climate, good ports, friendly folk but not many places to get away. Georgetown and Stanley we liked best. Be very careful around Flinders Is, weed, strong currents and even stronger winds. King Island, Grassy Harbour, are very much worth a few weeks, but the west coast is where Nature really surrounds and penetrates. Pick your weather window and go through Hell's Gate into Macquarie Harbour. 25 miles of enclosed mostly calm water with mountain fed rivers, where history abounds. Then an overnight sail to greatest waterway - Port Davy. Stark, yet picturesque, black water filled with Black Swans and button grass mountains. Climb the tallest, Mt Rugby or climb the most lovely, Mt Misery, walk Stephens beach to ancient middens. Plenty of gooey mud anchorages that are needed when southern ocean gales attack, one a week even in summer. We're going back to redo the uninhabited south coast, once was not enough, especially now that we're confident and know where to run.

[banyandah]

Hi Jim and Ann,
It would be delightful to share a few Tassie anchorages alongside Insatiable. We're not so far from each other at the moment. Jude and I are back in our house for winter, on the Richmond River just south of Ballina. Which way are you going?

[banyandah]

I've just uploaded some photos from our early years cruising - Hmm - not sure they're in the right place because I put them in BANYADAH's photo Album. Maybe someone with more knowledge can help if that wasn't the right place.

[D&D]

Originally Posted by banyandah

Tasmania is fabulous

We agree banyandah, or at least insofar as we can with only land-based experiences there. I was a (sort of foreign exchange) student in Hobart for one year MANY years ago during which time I introduced several of my young Tassie mates to bushwalking...and Tassie is one magic place to bushwalk! Since then we've returned on holiday junkets (all land-based tho) of the east and west coast, including the beautiful but wild Macquarie Harbour and environs, plus an lovely and lazy week based out of Bruny and exploring that area. Beautiful place indeed...and we very much appreciate your 'tips' on water approaches and places.

If you think of anything else, please fire away. Who knows...we may even join you there one day in the not too distant future.

[SaucySailoress]

It's always great to meet amazing people - I can't wait to hear about the amazing adventures you've had.