01 February 2011 | Melbourne
05 December 2010 | Sydney Harbour, Australia
28 November 2010 | Pittwater, NSW, Australia
28 November 2010 | Sydney Harbour, Australia
28 November 2010 | Pittwater, NSW, Australia
23 November 2010 | Pittwater, NSW, Australia
17 November 2010 | Coffs Harbour
12 November 2010 | 100nm NE of Coffs Harbour
10 November 2010 | closing on Australian coast east of Brisbane
08 November 2010 | On route to Oz
07 November 2010 | Baie de Prony, New Caledonia
06 November 2010 | Vanuatu & New Caledonia
03 November 2010 | Noumea, New Caledonia
25 October 2010 | Santo, Vanuatu
14 October 2010 | Aore Island, Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu
13 October 2010 | Aore Island, Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu
12 October 2010 | Aore Island, Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu
05 October 2010 | Aore Island, Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu
16 September 2010 | On route to Vanuatu
It's Official
06 May 2011 | Melbourne
Brad
It's a sad but good thing, we no longer own GHOST. She is now owned by an architect in Sydney who has plans of sailing the South Pacific once again.
We couldn't ask for a better owner, he'll treat her well but most importantly get her back on the high seas, not just leave her in a marina. On top of this there's a chance i get to stay involved, helping him and his son learn how to get the most from her and maybe even partake in the occasional passage!
Anyway, as one door closes, another opens, here's to the future!!!
Reality bites!!
01 February 2011 | Melbourne
Brad
It's been a while since we updated the blog. Apologies for that but we've been busy fighting off the onslaught of reality, not really wanting to admit it's over! After arriving it was the welcome party in Sydney, followed by a hectic week of moving ALL our personal stuff off GHOST. On a side note, it must be said it was simply amazing how much she carried for us (we estimate a couple of tonnes) and did so without complaining, remaining so very seaworthy, manoeuvrable and frisky (after all she won the Tonga in-port race!!) all the while rising effortlessly over and around everything that 26,000 miles of ocean threw at her. What a girl!
So then it was on to Xmas when Kat and I broke some 950 odd days living in each other's back pockets and not spending a night apart as we both wanted/needed to spend Xmas with our respective parents, so she flew to the UK mid Dec and I followed on the 26th. She experienced some of the coldest weather on record in the UK while I got to watch the Australian cricket team fall apart! Next we broke another long-time record and hit the slopes snowboarding in France, something we hadn't done since early 2008. God we love that sport!
Then back to Oz by mid Jan, where a good mate got married so we have managed to step from one holiday to the next, one party/social event to another. However, no matter how quickly we move, reality has finally caught up with us. The big news is that we are now going to be based in Melbourne. First expectations were that we'd be in Sydney, close to the harbour/Pittwater and sailing. But Kat accepted a job with Deloitte down here in Melbourne (in fact started work this week) and so the plans changed. Since then we have brought a house, a car and shortly hope to get a new puppy. We are truly becoming landlubbers. But every cloud has a silver lining, we have lots of good mates in Melbourne, my Mum and Dad are here and the new house is a little over a kilometre from the beach and about 1.5 from Sandringham yacht club so while there is little to no cruising on Port Philip Bay, there is plenty of competitive racing, which I'll be sure to get stuck into.
Life is good; we've experienced something that few get the chance to. We've met people who will be lifelong mates. We've shared years together as a young couple that have tested us, taught us and given us the skills and given us the foundations to do whatever we want. And better still we did it at an age that means we can do it all again, and indeed we will, but next time it'll be different; on a Catamaran, with kids, potentially with a little less alcohol, but happen it will and next time we'll be going the whole way round!
We've been blown away by how many people followed our blog, took an interest in our lives and what we've been doing. While there isn't much more that we can add to this blog it is our hope that we can keep it until next time so don't remove it from your bookmark/favourite lists just yet!!
Pictures from the party & sailing around Sydney harbour
05 December 2010 | Sydney Harbour, Australia
Kat
See pics:
http://picasaweb.google.com/bradmcmaster1/GHOSTSWelcomeToSydneyParty#
GHOST for sale!
28 November 2010 | Pittwater, NSW, Australia
Kat and Brad
Well it's sad news but GHOST is now officially up for sale!
Ever dreamed of cruising and racing around the world? Well, your ship has just come in. GHOST has just completed a 3 year adventure with her owners who have now just completed their lifelong ambition. After taking delivery of their new yacht in Europe, GHOST has taken her owners on a magnificent adventure which included the Fastnet Race, The Arc Rally and many happy hours in the most exquisite anchorages around the world. GHOST is being sold with a complete inventory ready to take on a similar voyage. Some of her inclusions are Epoxy, Full Teak Decks, Retractable Bow Roller, Bow Thruster, 75 HP Engine, Full Raymarine Electronics including AIS, Radar, MOB tags, Active Radar Reflector and Sat Phone, Water maker, HF Radio, highest spec of safety equipment including liferaft, Hyperlon Inflatable with outboard, and the list goes on.
For a full inventory and inspection arrangements, give Windcraft a call on 02 9979 1709.
See:
http://www.boatpoint.com.au/boats-for-sale/boatdetails.aspx?R=9719046
Welcome to Sydney GHOST
28 November 2010 | Sydney Harbour, Australia
Kat and Brad
Well it was a brilliantly sunny day as we set off from Pittwater in GHOST, entering the Sydney heads about lunchtime. It was a pretty emotional sail through this iconic harbour which Brad has envisaged sailing into as long as he's dreamt of sailing home to Australia. Soon we were pulling up to the pontoon at the CYC (Cruising Yacht Club) where Brad's family were there to meet us.
Brad hadn't seen his parents for 18 months so it was a pretty tearful reunion, with his mum & dad, sister's family and 3 Auntie's all present! Soon we were showing them around our home of the last 3 years and toasting GHOST with champagne, happily exchanging stories and news, though our nephews aged 3 and 5 were more interested in playing car games on Brad's ipod touch!
Then it was time to party - the guests all arrived and we had a brilliant afternoon catching up with everyone. So great to see you all and thank you for coming, and big thank you to the CYC for putting GHOST right on the pontoon next to the bar!
Thank you all for following our adventures and all the support and comments we have received....