If you have always wanted to try the cruising lifestyle but aren't prepared to sell the family home yet, why not try before you buy?
Since I became editor of Australian Sailing and mysailing.com.au in June this year, I have sailed my beautiful 37ft Van de Stadt twice. I'm doing plenty of sailing but it's racing not cruising and it's on other people's yachts.
So rather than have my pride and joy gathering barnacles and costing me money, I thought I'd see if anyone wants to “borrow” her for up to two years. All you'd need to pay is insurance, registration and mooring fees. Insurance is around $2000 a year and registration is about $500, depending on which State you're in. You would need to find a mooring or marina – or just cruise the coast stopping off wherever you feel like!
The boat was built in 2008 out of aluminium and she's been fitted out with the best of everything to Category One (offshore) standards. She has an electric motor and a furling mainsail, and she's set up to be sailed short-handed. I brought her to Sydney from Western Australia with either one other crew members or by myself. She proved while rounding Cape Leeuwin, crossing the Bight and navigating Bass Strait that she's an amazingly sea-worthy boat and a delight to sail.
So if you want to cruise anywhere on the East Coast of Australia for between 1-2 years and want a great boat to do it in, please give me a call on 0416 685 150 or email for more info to rogermcmillan@yaffa.com.au.
– Roger McMillan
(Please note, the photo is not my boat – same design though. You NEVER get a chance to photograph your own boat!)
