Delivery trips

BAVARIA MATCH 35

So far I've only completed two delivery trips off the east coast. The first trip was a couple of years ago on a Bavaria Match 35 from Pittwater NSW to Moolloolaba QLD a distance of around 400nm. An ex RAAF mate and keen yachty Grubby Grimes hooked me up with the very experienced delivery skipper Fraser Johnson. Very much a salty character. We had a fairly uneventful trip up the coast, apart from broaching just north of Port Macquarie in a 20kt southerly. The whales kept us alert and provided some entertainment on the way up the coast.






NORDHAVEN 47

The second trip was completed last year on a Nordhaven 47 luxury motor yacht, based on a trawler design with the emphasis on long range cruising and expeditions.



Well, to say driving stink boats is boring is the understatement of the Century! Did I say driving? Pressing buttons on the GPS & auto pilot is more accurate.



It was nice and comfortable, a flat sea and plenty of whales and other sea life for company, but boring! That is until we arrived at the Southport bar entrance and the hydraulic steering burst a line and we were all of a sudden heading for rocks with a largish sea breaking on the bar. I broke out the emergency tiller and hand steered the boat in to the Southport Yacht club, with instructions relayed from the owner/skipper via his wife seated on the companionway stairs! All good fun. I don't think I'll bother with stink boat deliveries again though...