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BigBeakie · 29-01-2014, 17:32

Just joined CF after lurking for awhile and getting excellent info here. We are actively searching for a bluewater liveaboard cat to firstly cruise the Oz East coast and GBR for a year and then head into the great unknown of the South Pacific.
We are comfortable with being classed as newbie cruisers. I have helped build 2 cats, a 14m Simpson and a 12m Grainger here in Australia & have have several multi week trips to Lord Howe and the Coral Sea in the Simpson, so we sort of know what we want in a boat, but have SO much to learn. But the more feedback the better from those who have been there-done that.

Cheers,

BigBeakie

**boatman61** · 29-01-2014, 18:14

Yo.. Beakie... Welcome to CF.

BigBeakie · 30-01-2014, 04:16

Thanks Boatman, it's nice to be aboard.

I hope I'll be able to contribute something as well as learn from the folks here.

**GordMay** · 30-01-2014, 04:28

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, BigBeakie.

BigBeakie · 30-01-2014, 04:47

Thanks GordMay, much appreciated. And while I'm at it, let me thank you for your contributions and knowledge sharing that I've read of your posts. In particular your commentary on lightning protection or "mitigation" has been very helpful to me as I plan how to set up a new cat for lighting considerations for sailing in the STCZ and other lightning prone areas. So thanks for that

BigBeakie · 30-01-2014, 04:58

By the way GordMay, I forgot to mention that I've spent many happy days canoeing the Superior north shore and many weeks each year in Quetico in my younger days. And I vividly remember some ripper thunderstorms that would roll in and keep us shore bound watching in awe. They sure don't call it Thunder Bay for nothing! So when you talk about lightning, I have the feeling you know a little bit about it LOL.

Blackie Swart · 30-01-2014, 05:05

Welcome - such nice places to cruise around Sydney and the coastline. Visited there in October, really great.

BigBeakie · 30-01-2014, 05:13

Hi Blackie. Yep it really is good. It can be really hairy though with some weather patterns, like east coast lows that form quickly and beat up anyone out there. And on some stretches of the coast there's not a lot of places to run and hide. But overall, it's pretty great and we're kicking ourselves we didn't get cruising before this. Better late than never though, eh?