New to this forum

[johnhoedemakers]

I got a few minutes, thought I'd say hello.

I'm John, captain of JoHo, a Morgan 321. Sailed her from 1998 till now, next trip due in 2005/2006. Boat is waiting in Turkey now, being painted etc..

Next trip is to Australia (eventually). Any people we will meet lookin' in here ?


Hear 'ya.


PS, more info at www.syJoHo.nl

[harryrezz]

Welcome aboard! Sounds like a sturdy craft with some serious sea miles under the keel .
We're curently on the hard as well, on Carriacou, one island north of Grenada in the southern Caribbean. Check us out at www.lanostra.net.

[Talbot]

Will be Australia bound in abt 4 years from UK. going through panama cause I want to go dive in Galapagos (otherwise I think I would go down to capetown and across that way cause I intend to end up around Perth.

[johnhoedemakers]

Thanks for the welcome !

Sturdy craft eh.... let's say we just waited for the right winds and got some luck on the way. Let's hope all goes well in the coming cruise as well..

Diving Galapagos..... hmmm, I'm in for a bit higher watertemp if you don't mind. Equipment goes with us, but I can't get a small, cheap compressor that fits in a 32' boat (yeah I know, asking too much, giving too little but that's the way it is).
:-)
Hope we'll find some cuisers on our path with a budget less tight as ours (and with that compressor....).
:-D

[Talbot]

johnhoedemakers once whispered in the wind:
Diving Galapagos..... hmmm, I'm in for a bit higher watertemp if you don't mind.

You want to try diving at Scapa Flow ! - get the right gear and its alright! I have been considering whether we should carry a pair of tanks each or one tank and a compressor, or just a single tank, or even no tanks at all, and I expect it will eventually be a toss up decided by funds at the last minute!

[Alan Wheeler]

Well if ya Navigating ain't so hot and you bump into New Zealand on the way to Ausie, look us up. Well hey, Australia is a little Island of the West Coast of NZ It would be easy to do

[harryrezz]

Talbot - What size is your boat? With all the other cruising gear space will be a big determining factor in how many (if any) tanks you bring along. We learned to dive using our boat as a platform - had a PADI Instructor on board as a charter guest - and I can tell you that tanks are bulky and heavy and take up a lot of room. (Of course, we were dealing with eight of them! ) Our boat also took a bit of a beating moving bulky, awkward dive gear on and off. I've continued to dive while cruising, but I now confine myself to going with commercial dive boats and using their tanks. A whole lot easier, and a better and safer way to learn new areas. Just a thought

[Talbot]

harryrezz once whispered in the wind:
Talbot - What size is your boat? I now confine myself to going with commercial dive boats and using their tanks. A whole lot easier, and a better and safer way to learn new areas. Just a thought

present boat is a 9m cat, and with that boat I had planned on just a pair of cylinders. but I am now planning on upgrading to a snowgoose (provided other plans work out).

Commercial is a great way to learn new areas, but I like to use my camera underwater, and have yet to find a divemaster who is prepared to wait while I do what I want to do, without being a right pain. Furthermore it is another added expense