Greetings to the Forum from Oz

[Spokes]

We are Australians and have just joined the forum after researching various topics on this site leading up to the recent purchase of our first yacht, a Cavalier 37.We are still to complete the delivery trip from Melbourne to Coffs Harbour having laid over in Sydney because of the extreme weather on the NSW North Coast.
We plan to use the boat for cruising and are on a steep learning curve as previous sailing was mainly in dinghys or off the beach cats.
The yacht has been used for double handed ocean racing so has very good systems including single line reefing and electric winches.It still needs to be made more cruising friendly so we are looking at solar panels and/or a wind generator in the near future.
Thanks for the information you have shared with us so far, hopefully we will be able to contribute to the forum ourselves one day.

[blu]

G'day Spokes, same as new to forum, how was trip up from Melbourne and hope weather turns good for the rest of your trip.
Cheers Blu

[Portobello]

G'day Spokes - another Aussie! Welcome.

[GordMay]

Greetings, and welcome aboard Spokes.
I suspect that you will have learned more about sailing in a few days on those dinghys & beach cats, than most of us can learn in months aboard a cruising keelboat.
You've found the right place (CF) to learn much of the cruising esoterica.

[Wotname]

A quick "G'day" from Perth, welcome aboard.

[Spokes]

Thanks guys,Yes Gordmay we did learn a lot from Melbourne to Sydney.On the NSW south coast we caught the edge of a low that was supposed to stay further south.Had 40knots gusting to 50, at 2am travelling under motor and it stopped with a later diagnosed fuel filter problem.Went to put some headsail out and the furler jammed in wrongly led haliyards ,with insufficient sail to make much headway.Cleaned up diesel in the cabin which later turned out to have leaked from a backup drum.Put out a Pan call to keep VMR informed.
Nothing like some sleep and the light of day to sort things out.We got reefed main up and could steer.I went forward & untangled the furler and we had a good sail into Ulladulla where we arranged to get a tow into port from the local VMR.After cleaning up we sorted most problems a mechanic got the engine going and later changed the filters.
It was nice to know the boat could handle the conditions and we know a lot more about emercency procedures.Very glad that none of us got injured as that would have been much more difficult.
Thanks for your interest Spokes

[surfingminniwinni]

Welcome Spokes, you will be happy to know that you made page 3 of the Milton Ulladulla Times,(dramatic rescue) our local rag: Nice 1st boat the Cav 37. Hope the rest of the journey is less stressfull.

Cheers

[scaredycat]

Greetings and welcome from Adelaide.
When you want some really good cruising, come down this way.
The best kept secrets in Oz are the southern waters and gulfs.
Regards,
Greg

[Portobello]

Originally Posted by scaredycat

Greetings and welcome from Adelaide.
When you want some really good cruising, come down this way.
The best kept secrets in Oz are the southern waters and gulfs.
Regards,
Greg

....and when you have finished there come to the real "best kept secret"!!!!

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Spokes,
Welcome aboard! It appears you've found some close by cruisers.
Kind regards,
JohnL