Gaffer Heading Down Under

[vcsmithuk]

Hi there,

Our small family is rather new to cruising - but fortunately our small boat isn't. She is a 28ft gaff cutter, 107 years old, built on Scottish fishing boat lines and is no stranger to blue water as she has previously cruised from the UK to South Africa and back again, with my in-laws (and their 2 kids, one of which is now my husband).

A generation on we are now headed to New Zealand with our two kids - currently age 2 and 11 months. We left Blighty a couple of months ago now, and are making slow progress southwards (currently in Spain). So far, so good...

The forums so far have been a mine of good information and ideas, you never know maybe I'll have something to contribute in the not too distant future!

Good sailing
Vicki

[Knowazark]

Oh I hope you'll have plenty of good stuff to contribute. Sounds awesome.

Give us a heads up when you get a bit closer to NZ.

[JPA Cate]

Welcome, Vicki Smith,

Good on ya, as they say around here. I'm wondering what is the name of your little ship? Would you tell us about her? Also, by what sailing route do you plan to get to NZ? Would you consider starting a thread about the travels of your family and vessel?

That's enough questions for now, I guess, and again, Welcome to CF

Ann Cate, s/v Insatiable II, lying Lake Macquarie, NSW, Australia

[vcsmithuk]

Hi,

Thanks for the welcome notes - our good ship is called Dolphin of Leith, and she may be small but she is perfectly formed.

We are the 5th owners of her since she was built in 1904 in Scotland, the 4th being my husband's parents - she was our wedding present. Although I think "owner" is not really the right term when talking about old boats - perhaps "custodian" is better!

Our current plan (subject to change at pretty much a moments notice) is to take the Atlantic / Caribbean / Panama / Pacific route - aka The Milk Run. Only difference being we hope to go to Easter Island and Pitcairn in the Pacific, but we'll see. I am from NZ, so we are emigrating, and we figured the only way to get the boat out there was to sail her there.

I've attached a couple of pictures of her sailing in the Solent before we left. Hope you can see them! We have a FB page that I am updating (you can find it if you Google "Dolphin of Leith and The Big Adventure") and I'm hoping to do a blog but haven't quite got there yet!

Vicki

[boatman61]

Hey Vicki... Welcome to CF... sweet looking lil boat lass...
Enjoy the adventure...

[David_Old_Jersey]

A proper boat

[Tripod]

Sweet! Did the milk run in a gaff schooner in the seventies. Can't wait to hear about your adventures. Oh, and welcome to CF.

[boatman61]

"Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza." Dave Barry

That may be but... without the wheel you'd be doing a helluva lot more walking for the beer and pizza...

[Unicorn Dreams]

Welcome Aboard Cruisers Forum

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
Good to have you here.
kind regards,

[vcsmithuk]

Thanks everyone. We've just made it round Cape Finnisterre and are in Bayona - a little after the pack it's true, and that passage was rather nasty it has to be said. Last time I let my husband convince me that good weather + 4m swell + light-ish wind is OK to leave in. But the sun is shining today, someone else is doing our laundry and life is good!

Only downside was the gale that came through on our first night in port - not the peaceful end to a passage I had hoped for and gave us some damage to the paintwork against the pontoon. Not to mention the boom crashing off the gallows at 5am! But as they say about wooden boats ("real" ones ) they are infinitely fixable I guess. (It's only the paint work we need to fix).

Next stop - Portugal.....

[swagman]

G'day Vicky and well done.
If Biscay was bad, there's a good chance that's the worst you might have heading home. Your boats beautiful, not sure what they'll make of her in NZ but guessing you'll get lots of admiration. Keep us all posted and sail safe.
John

[karlaleanne]

What an awesome adventure! I take my hat off to you doing it with such little kids. We have 2 also, 3 & 17mths and are planning our own adventure in a few years time.
I sailed from the Caribbean -Panama-South Pacific back in my twenties with my Dad and it was the most amazing experience I've ever had! You guys will absolutely love it...
Looking forward to hearing more about your trip, safe & happy sailing

[Waltermorl]

Originally Posted by vcsmithuk

Hi there,

Our small family is rather new to cruising - but fortunately our small boat isn't. She is a 28ft gaff cutter, 107 years old, built on Scottish fishing boat lines and is no stranger to blue water as she has previously cruised from the UK to South Africa and back again, with my in-laws (and their 2 kids, one of which is now my husband).

A generation on we are now headed to New Zealand with our two kids - currently age 2 and 11 months. We left Blighty a couple of months ago now, and are making slow progress southwards (currently in Spain). So far, so good...

The forums so far have been a mine of good information and ideas, you never know maybe I'll have something to contribute in the not too distant future!

Good sailing
Vicki

I'm so jealous, welcome and have fun on your excursion
Walter

[vcsmithuk]

Thanks again everyone. We have made it to Portugal. We would have liked to be a little further down the coast than we are, but hey, no wind is the cruisers curse I guess. But now we have a deadline - grandparents coming to see their grandchildren in 12 days in Gibraltar. 400-odd miles in 12 days. SHould be a snip....I hope.

I have a question of forum etiquette - I am guessing this is not the right place to start a thread about or trip, and we do have a facebook page that I update when I can. So where should I start a thread here, and is it OK to post details of the FB page / other website...?