Hello from Brisbane, Australia

[JJB]

Originally Posted by ausaviator

By golly 72 foot at 10 knots is an impressive vessel. Would be interested to see some photos of it.

Good point, I have never thought about taking pics of the boat, next time I have it out of the Marina, I will see if I can get someone to take some from enough of a distance to fit the whole boat.

In the mean time if you have a look on Alan Warwick's website for a design W24, our boat is basically the same shape with a few differences.

[EllanVannin]

Good on you James. Hope you have a wonderful trip, for kids what a grand experience! We will wave if we pass you as we head the other way across the Pacific Isles (leaving NZ May).

Glad to hear the floods have not affected you or yours.

Regards Clare
s/v Ellan Vannin

[Uncle Bob]

Hello,
I should have posted in this forum before I did any other, my apologies for not doing so.
Short version.. I'm a single dad to 11yo twin boys, one of which is deaf, but he has an implant, and a 9yo girl. My wife past away a little over a year ago.

Hi James welcome aboard.
I found myself in the same position as yourself with twin boys and a daughter at a similar age to your kids and all I can say is spend as much time with them as possible and ENJOY the ride. Sailing off into the sunrise sounds fabulous, fair winds my friend.
Cheers Rob.

[JJB]

Originally Posted by EllanVannin

Good on you James. Hope you have a wonderful trip, for kids what a grand experience! We will wave if we pass you as we head the other way across the Pacific Isles (leaving NZ May).

Glad to hear the floods have not affected you or yours.

Regards Clare
s/v Ellan Vannin

Hi Clare!
May I ask what your basic plans are, places to visit etc for the first month your out?

[JJB]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

Hello,
Hi James welcome aboard.
I found myself in the same position as yourself with twin boys and a daughter at a similar age to your kids and all I can say is spend as much time with them as possible and ENJOY the ride. Sailing off into the sunrise sounds fabulous, fair winds my friend.
Cheers Rob.

Thanks Rob..
I appreciate the kind words
Are your kids still with you, do they sail with you currently?

[EllanVannin]

Originally Posted by JJB

Hi Clare!
May I ask what your basic plans are, places to visit etc for the first month your out?

Sure James,

The only given in our "plan" which is decidedly unplanned is to leave NZ headed for Tongatapu via Minerva Reef, weather permitting. After that we are very much taking the cruise on a as comes basis. We have no need to be anywhere by any time so the rough outline is spend the first month working our way north thru the Tongan Islands before then heading on to Samoa for the next stop. Always open to any recommendations tho!

We do have a first grandchild due early June in Melbourne so some time in late June or early July we would maybe like to fly out to meet him/her for a week. We have yet to find/decide the best possie to leave EV and one willing crew member. (His only requirement is dinghy proximity to a bar for entertainment lol).

Regards Clare
s/v Ellan Vannin

[JJB]

Very nice spots, I am sure you will have a great time, have a look at the Cook Islands as well, they are very much worth a visit, I know it is not quite in the direction you are looking to go, but you will not be disappointed once you are there.
Make sure you have your snorkeling gear on hand when you head out to Minerve Reef, it's so beautiful.

[EllanVannin]

Thanks James, hoping to head to the Cooks in 2012 possibly. Thinking along lines of maybe heading Solomons, Png, Micronesia, Kiribati then Cooks thru the cyclone season of 11/12.

Can't wait to snorkle Minerva.....will be my second only attempt. Not a bad place to try it I reckon lol

[JJB]

Originally Posted by EllanVannin

Thanks James, hoping to head to the Cooks in 2012 possibly. Thinking along lines of maybe heading Solomons, Png, Micronesia, Kiribati then Cooks thru the cyclone season of 11/12.

Can't wait to snorkle Minerva.....will be my second only attempt. Not a bad place to try it I reckon lol

Oh Awesome! You going to love Kiribati, not that many cruisers get through there but it has some beautiful snorkeling. We've never spent enough time in PNG, it's a beautiful spot, the people there are so friendly too esp if you play a game of touch footy with the kids!

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by JJB

Thanks Rob..
I appreciate the kind words
Are your kids still with you, do they sail with you currently?

JJb Two of the kids sail with me sometimes but one doesn't want to know me. They are in their twenties now and always busy, as we were at that age I guess

Rob

[JJB]

Well that's the loss of your eldest, which is a real shame. But at least you still have two of them that want to sail with you That's awesome they are sailing with you in their twenties, I really hope my kids are but for that I'll have to wait and see, I have a feeling one of them is never going to leave at all haha, he knows how good he has things right now.

[ozskipper]

Hi james. Hope the boat is tied up nice and safe and not in the river mate.

Cheers
Oz

[JJB]

Hi james. Hope the boat is tied up nice and safe and not in the river mate.

Cheers
Oz

No, is at Southport this week, getting some rig work done.

[svstrider]

Originally Posted by JJB

In the mean time if you have a look on Alan Warwick's website for a design W24, our boat is basically the same shape with a few differences.

Here are a few pics of a USED Warwick 72 for sale in the Med for only
$AU 4.5Mill
Used Warwick 72 for Sale | Yachthub

OR you can order a new one here
Warwick Yacht Design

I thought my catamaran was big. Hoowever, the 2.8 metre draft would lead to some interesting adventures coastal cruising in Queensland.

I wish you fair winds & following seas, whereever you decide to go.
Paul

[JJB]

The boat you have linked there, is a VASTLY different boat, ours lacks most of the uber luxury items you might expect to see if it was built to be a luxury crewed charter boat.
While still an expensive boat if we had to build again today to the same design it would cost a little over half of the boat you linked to.

As for coastal cruising round Queensland, for as long as our trips are planned properly, thus far it hasn't been a problem, our design draws 2.7 rather than 2.8..