Stars, Selfies, and Social Media

This morning, a sliver of clear sky broke through the persistent clouds, a welcome sight after days of poor weather. This glimpse of sky, coupled with the first sighting of stars in ages, fueled a bold decision: we're skipping the planned anchorage and heading straight for Lombok!

Currently, we're 17 nautical miles from last night's anchorage heading straight to sea, still cruising in shallow waters of only 13 meters. Interestingly, we've found ourselves leading an unexpected social media dance.

As we approach fishing boats, the scene unfolds through our binoculars. Half the crew frantically pulls in their nets, while the other half, well, let's just say their phones seem far more captivating. Capturing a video of a gleaming white 50-foot yacht for Facebook clearly takes precedence over the day's catch!

Honestly, can we blame them? To an average Indonesian fisherman, this must be a sight unlike any other – a UFO (unidentified floating object) slicing through the water. Here's where things get a little tricky.

The excitement translates into a desire for a closer look, a selfie perhaps. While flattering, maintaining a safe distance is crucial. Our polite evasive maneuvers are met with a game of chase. We increase the revs, and the "social media tango" commences. The more we try to get away from them, the more enthusiasm they have for the catch of the day - half a dozen likes on Facebook.

Our destination, Lombok, lies approximately 340 nautical miles ahead. With a clear forecast (fingers crossed!), we're aiming for an early Saturday morning arrival.

Once docked, a few boat projects await us. Thankfully, the situation with the contaminated fuel seems to be improving. The debris accumulating in the strainer with each cleaning is visibly decreasing, giving us hope for a swift resolution.

Stay tuned for further updates as we navigate the remaining miles, tackle our boat projects, and hopefully, enjoy a sunny stay in Lombok!

Done and Dusted in Brisbane!

We are done! The boat's tied up safe and sound in the marina, the crew has packed their bags and headed off, and I'm here doing the final clean-up before I leave at 6 am tomorrow morning. I have to admit, I was pretty anxious for the last 24 hours. I was on the edge of my seat, hoping those saildrives would hold out for the final stretch. I even changed the oil in both of them around 3 am, because we were going to make landfall around 5 am and its quite a way up the river, and the tide was going to be dropping as we went up, meaning they'd have a bit more work to do. And the final approach was definitely… engaging. There was a fair bit of tide coming out of the river, which dropped our boat speed down to around 4 knots. We also had the added obstacle of river traffic to contend with, and the channel margins were tight – about half a meter on either side. It was one of those situations where you're constantly running through scenarios in your head. I was thinking things ...

Arrival in Sydney: Delivery Complete!

This morning, the Excess 14 slid gracefully into her new berth at Middle Harbour Marina, marking the successful completion of her delivery from the Gold Coast. The final approach into Sydney Harbour is always a great sight, a fitting end to a coastal voyage. This passage was a comprehensive real-world test of the boat's capabilities. She proved to be a joy in light airs, demonstrated strength and stability in heavy weather, and showed impressive maneuverability during a tricky docking. It’s clear that the Excess 14 is a versatile and robust catamaran, perfectly suited for everything the Australian coast can throw at it. The final tasks onboard are ones of quiet satisfaction: coiling the lines perfectly, writing up the final log entry, and giving the boat a last clean and polish. For Yacht Delivery Solutions, it's a pleasure and a privilege to deliver a vessel of this quality. Handing her over to the brokers at Flagstaff Marine clean, secure, and ready for her new owners is t...

Off We Go

The dream of a seamless yacht delivery aboard the Fontaine Pajot 47 seemed like a solid plan. However, life, with its unpredictable currents, threw us a curveball. My trusted crewmate was struck by the ever-present Covid! Even though he's as tough as old sea boots, it definitely slowed him down. The pre-departure days were a delicate balancing act. While the initial concerns about a sick crewmate were undeniable, a strong sense of purpose took hold. Provisioning, finalizing paperwork, and familiarizing myself with Namarie became a mission with Craig putting in 110% effort despite his 20% health. Constant communication with my recuperating crewmate ensured a smooth handover of duties, keeping the team spirit alive despite maintaining physical separation and wearing masks. Stepping aboard Namarie, the initial awe at her sleek lines and luxurious interior was palpable. However, the euphoria was tempered by a healthy dose of respect for the vessel's complexity. The sophisticated na...

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