Hi from Australia.

[john connell]

Hello All,

Have been reading via your Cruisers Forum now since February when I first purchased a 40 ft yacht of dubious heritage and pulled it out of the water to do up as a "project boat" ( groan.).Not sure whether I need to give my self a big hug or take myself outside and give myself a triple uppercut.??

Took the plunge and drummed up the courage to become registered on your forum. But have just realised that whilst I have been having some fun talking to and getting some really good advice from a few really interesting members you have I feel a bit rude that I haven't said hello via your meet and greet column.

So Hi,hope to communicate with as many of you as possible, maybe meet some new friends and if possible contribute to the forum whilst learning some new skills about yachts/yachting in general.

Regards
John.

[schoonerman]

welcome John and good sailing. I am relatively new also to this forum although have been at sea most of my life, in british merchant marine and as a fisherman in the english channel.

I currently live aboard my sailing schooner in the Philippines, cruising around the visayas and indonesia. I have a 75 ft 2masted. gaff rigged schooner, handbuilt in papuan ironwood and teak, in Bira, south sulawesi. Shes quite large and heavy, almost 45 tons, so i need a 3 man crew - filippinos to sail her.

We had four months cruising around the Indonesian islands of celebes and Moluccas then crossing the celebes sea to Philippines. Indonesia is real difficult with the port regulations, immigration, customs etc.

I am planning a voyage later this year - retracing the footsteps of general macarthur, from Leyte, philippines, to Irian Jaya, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomons eventual destination will be Brisbane and returning via cairns, Port Douglas, Torres strait to the Philippines.

Do you have any knowledge of regulations concerning visitng wooden sailing vessels entering australian ports, information about sailing along the great barrier reef and queensland.

regards - david shaw - captain RIMA

[Talbot]

Always good to have an intro and a cheery Hi, but when the questions are burning a hole in the brain, they have to be posted.

Welcome and fair winds

[Sunspot Baby]

Welcome abaord and G'day Mate.

George

[Weyalan]

Welcome aboard John, and good luck with your 40' steel project.

[Den]

Welcome John.

I just joined myself and it's a wonderful forum.

Hopefully one day we'll achieve OUR dream of moving to TAS. Heehee.

[swagman]

Welcome John from an ex pat,
Know you'll continue to enjoy the forum.

Den - now why would you want to go to Tazzie mate? You clearly have not been kept truly informed about the natives

JOHN

[john connell]

Hi Schoonerman,
Your boat sounds sensational and so does your travel plans.
Good luck to you.Dont have any details on immigration and the great barrier reef at hand but would be happy to get some for you.Let me know in a PM where I can contact you if you like and I would be happy to round some up and pass them on.
PS Have you ever been to Australia ?
No ?? Really !!!-Good. Now listen the Central coast is only about an hour or so down the coast from Brisbane.Give me a call if you need to offload any of those pesky crew of yours and I'll be there in half a shot.

Swagman,
Hi,
How desperate can we Aussies get telling our intending visitors that we are only an hour from Brisbane when it's clearly an hour and a half.
By the way are you sure Den is not already from Tasmania.?

Den,
Hi,
I am very worried about you.Haven't been sniffing too much woodchip have you.???
Great to see a sense of humour is in abundance in this forum.

All,Thanks so much for your welcomes and hope to catch up with you all somewhere one day.

Regards
John

[Den]

HAHAHA

The climate has a lot to do with it as I like it cool (30C here already and too hot for me!) and since getting sick my body hates the cold so TAS has the right "in between" for me these days.

Plus we have friends there.

Yeah, I was once told by an Australian friend "Taswegians are our 'Newfies' " LOL.

I see the Australian sense of humour is alive and well here. Good.

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha John,
Welcome aboard! It appears that you've found lots of folks in your area already. I hope you enjoy the forum and find it helpful.
Kind regards,
JohnL

[john connell]

Aloha John L,

Yes, there appears to be a few good neighbours. I believe I will get a lot out of our forum as well as putting a bit back in where I think I can contribute.

Love the friendly and sometimes lively discussions.

Cheers
John.