Gone Cruising

2006 has been an event filled year
as we decided to try our hand at sailing in the Roaring 40’s circumnavigating Tasmania. Tamara and Samantha came with us for part of this trip, meeting us at Launceston for Christmas, sailing up the Tamar River, around the North East corner of Tasmania, swimming at Wineglass Bay before catching the bus at Swansea to Hobart for their flight home. I don’t think Tracy cried so much when they left but we enjoyed their company.

Continuing on we visited the stunning anchorages that Tasmania offers, such as Port Arthur, D’entrecasteaux Channel, Recherché Bay, Port Davy, Gordon River, Hunter Island Group convincing us that Tasmania was a cruising paradise (just need to heat it up a bit). And YES we did complete a total circumnavigation of Tasmania.
Wintering in Melbourne at the Royal Brighton Yacht Club Paul and I went back to work in order to top up the cruising kitty. Paul worked for Flagship Australia and Tracy at the Thomastown Library.


Danielle and Chris came over to Melbourne for a week to visit staying with us on the boat. They took off to explore the Great Ocean Road and attend an AFL match before heading back home to Perth and their new house.







Paul finished work one month before Tracy, and took this opportunity to do some maintenance on Cockatoo II, getting the rigging replaced, the sails restitched, moving the Nav Table, installing a diesel generator, etc. We took the opportunity to explore the delightful Port Phillip Bay before heading out the heads on our way to Sydney.





Tracy got a beautiful kitten called “Coco” for her birthday. “Coco” loves cuddling up underway. Anchored at the stunning Refuge Cove we left our mark at the Boat Wall of Honour before embarking on the long trip to Eden through the Bass Strait Oil fields.

You can read more details at http://www.cockatoo2.com/

Sydney is our Christmas destination as we are planning to catch up with Samantha for Christmas Day and plan to see the Sydney Harbour Bridge lit up for New Years.


Highlights:
· Tasmania-sailing the Roaring 40’s
· The fantastic people we meet along the way
· Seeing the girls again
· Crossing Bass Strait
· Sailing up the Gordon River
· Visiting Darwin

Not so good parts:
· Hitting a submerged uncharted rock
· Leaving people we meet
· Chris and Lilly “Azure” departing on their trip north

All the girls are busy with their lives and we are so proud of them all.

Danielle and Chris are in Mandurah and have moved into the house they have built. Both are working hard and enjoying life.

Samantha has completed her Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science and has moved to Brisbane Queensland when she has been accepted into a Masters in Occupational Therapy.

Tamara has deferred her uni and is working at Bankwest. She has found a new place to live in Hilton with other friends.

Paul and I send you all our best wishes and hope that you have a safe and happy Christmas and that the New Year brings you good fortune and good health.

We would love to hear your news. Please contact us by email sailing@cockatoo2.com

Cheers
Paul and Tracy Bushell
Cockatoo II


Gordon River, Tas.-reflection.