WHEN my partner Simon and I decided to
live on Ebb Tide, a Gemini catamaran, I
had no idea what life might offer four years later.
But I would have been surprised by a crystal
ball’s prediction that we would still be cruising
Queensland waters.
With so much beauty here we keep finding
reasons not to go elsewhere just yetSLOW CRUISING
For ‘real sailors’, as Simon calls them, cruising
might be about the sailing. For us it is about
exploring remote and beautiful places,
connecting with nature and leaving civilisation
behind. Sailing is a (mostly) pleasurable means
to this end and being powered largely by the
wind and sun is a source of satisfaction.
We travel slowly and spend time at the places
we visit. We like to sleep at night so, other than
for early starts to work with the tide or wind, we
sail during the day.We punctuate life on Ebb Tide with ‘land
breaks’ visiting family and rekindling
friendships in Victoria. In the sunshine state
there are many incredible places that require
larger wheels and more grunt to reach than our
bicycles and legs have, so occasionally we hire a
camper or four-wheel drive and venture inland.
These breaks help to maintain our enthusiasm
for liveaboard life.FRESH WATER FREAKS
We rarely miss an opportunity to explore
watercourses, visit waterfalls and cool off in
fresh water pools.
From Innisfail to Cooktown we have found many
waterfalls complementing the rainforest, making
the wet tropics easy to love. Several islands also
have waterfalls and many have watercourses that,
in the absence of a track, can provide access up
hills to great views, if clambering up rocks does not
phase you.Queensland
IT IS A BIG STATE
SO FIND OUT
WHERE TAKE
A DIVE INTO
QUEENSLAND'S
MANY WATERY
DELIGHTS
So much to love in
48
Cruising Helmsman June 2017REFLECTIONS
CARMEN RIORDAN