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We
are the People that are FREE! |
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Passage people are
those that have been met at anchorages or marinas or beaches
or whatever along the way. They are featured perhaps because
they are unique and special or because they are not, rather because
they are just typical examples but of an extraordinary group.
By being cruising boaties, all of these people have stepped off
the well trod path and done something exceptional with their
lives. |
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From
The Coastal Passage, issue # 13 |
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"Helmsman"
Jan and Arnie of “Helmsman.”
The “Helmsman” crew are well known and respected on
the coast. Forty six feet of beautiful classic timber and sweet
lines, “Helmsman” was designed for speed and elegance
and Jan & Arnie know how to make her go well. A good thing
as a boat like “Helmsman” should almost be heritage
listed. Something like 15 years ago, They bought a 35' Martz
Craft from their friend Peter Hansen before he opened his own
shop. “Magic Flute” seemed to fit their needs and dimensions
for a long time. 'toot toot' can still get a response from them
on the radio. When it came time to grow up to a bigger boat they
came to Peter again, now he had his own shop. They were looking
at about five boats. When Peter got a look in he pointed to “Helmsman”
and said “that's your boat.” Arnie and Jan were correct
in trusting their old friend and the deal was done within the
hour! |
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"Blue
Tang"
What is it that fascinates
people about this boat? Melbourne natives originally, Gloria
and Wesley Worley were in the restaurant business on the central
Queensland coast. They got out of the restaurant business and
into oysters and prospered but sold up when the boat bug bit.
They had picked up some ones unfinished project, a small steel
“Junk” rigged schooner. It got them going but obviously
wasn't enough boat for them. Most would have sold the thing and
moved on but not the Worley's. They cut the thing in half, set
the bits on sections of railroad track to keep things in line
and proceeded to fill in the middle till they had 50 feet on
deck! This about doubled her length. The Bow and stern are the
somewhat altered ends of their old boat tilted up. Nothing to
it, right!?
OH.. the name?? No, not
Chinese, it's a kind of fish! |
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"Jinga"
Rod and Evonne Cunningham
have a very good looking 52 foot Cat berthed at the Mackay Marina
and have been fun to chat up when the opportunity would present
itself. When I got around to serious questions with note pad
in hand I found I couldn't scribble fast enough. These are serious
movers and shakers but you can't tell, they're just sailing bums
with a clue. Rod and Evonne's first boat was a 14 foot Hobie
that got the young family up and sailing, like many others. After
that a little Red Witch racer named “Viking” was the
entrant in many races with a good winning record. “I put
the sails up and god takes them down,” Rod says. The current
boat is a fast cruiser, fifty two foot Dufore with twin helm
and enough sail area to go well but with all that luxury inside
and less competitive drive than years ago, Rod admits he won't
win a race with the likes of Julian and Sandy Way on “Cat’chus.” |
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"Seawitch"
Kyle and Michael were visiting
Eddie and the rest of the Croker family of the immaculate stink
boat “Seawitch” at the Mackay Marina. Bad weather kept
them in but the fishing off the jetty was so good it kept the
lot entertained. So.. what kind of bait and tackle did the lads
use?? None at all. The fish are so thick there at times, they
just dipped in with a wee little bait net and scooped them out.
Just because it was too easy didn’t make it less fun though! |
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