Lyndy and Linda on board together in Mooloolaba.

Yesterday I was so excited to meet up with my sailing friend Lyndy due to arrive in Mooloolaba with her beautiful family on board their catamaran. Lyndy messaged me after leaving Moreton Island worried about the bar crossing into Mooloolaba as last year it was silted up making things difficult for entry. I wandered down to the break water and could see it was almost flat calm at around 3pm. So I took photos to reassure them. The dredge is currently near the entrance on the western side. It's certainly done its job ensuring a safe and straightforward entry once again.

As the wind was cool, I opted for the comfort of our boat Valiam in Mooloolaba Marina as I can see the river from our cockpit. Lyndy messaged me once they were through the entrance and we waved to each other as they motored up the river to their berth at another marina.

Lyndy and I first met in person at the first Women Who Sail Gathering in Port Stephens in 2016. I remember she gave me a big hug after the dinner panel where I was a guest speaker alongside Kristi Foster, Lisa Blair and Jessica Watson. That night was a bit of a blur for me and unfortunately we didn't get a photo of us together.

We continued chatting on line via Women Who Sail Australia when 1 year ago we were both inspired by photos of another sailing sister Caitlin who had lost a huge amount of weight. Unknown to each other both Lyndy and I contacted her at the same time to enquire about Caitlin's weight loss voyage. So in July last year we began our separate weight loss voyages with Caitlin as our mentor.

So not only are we connected through sailing but something a lot more personal and life changing. We have been following a gut health program called Gutsy. Within 30 days I lost 8.5 kilos and by 3 months 20 kg. I have now lost a total of 28.6 kg and Lyndy has lost 20kg. But the health benefits of this program are incredible. We feel so much better from the inside out. It's all healthy food too! I wondered how I was going to go without a glass of wine for 30 days but it was surprisingly easy! There are great substitutes for those sundowners!

Now both Lyndy and I are mentors for the Gutsy program helping people around the world. A perfect job for us as we sail and travel from place to place mentoring our Gutsy friends on line.

If you are interested in joining us you can email me : valiam1@hotmail.com
Or contact me through Facebook.

Although I don't agree with the journalists description of rickety and pathetic for Lati when we first saw her she will get some attention this Sunday in Airlie Beach. I did say she looked ‘folorn and grubby’ and became our orphan child. Lati emerged like a princess once Bill had worked on her to carry us safely over the oceans from the Caribbean to Turkey.

We will be having a bit of fun wearing Sarongs and Tiaras while I sign copies of my books Sailing in my Sarong & Salvage in my Sarong. Come say hi if in Airlie and enjoy a glass of bubbly with me.

Whitsunday Times News article

This is going to be fun! Thank you to BJ at Beach Books Boutique!

Hi Everyone - I thought I’d put the blurbs for both my books here for easy reference! Both are packed with coloured images and are $39.95. Scroll to pay button below or if you are in Airlie Beach on the 17Th June, come to Beach Book Boutique to my book signing! Event on my Facebook page.

SAILING IN MY SARONG Around the World - a 30 year dream
Linda and Bill Anderson are living proof that it's never too late to fulfil your dream. After 30 years of fantasising about sailing around the world, they finally set sail on an action packed voyage that would take two years to complete.

Never mind that Linda suffered from sea sickness, was petrified of storms and had little sailing experience, or that the couple were to make the trip in their home built yacht, this 30,000-nautical-mile voyage was about achieving their dream.

While they gained so much from their adventure, Bill and Linda also gave a lot back to the places they visited - working with street children, running art and play workshops with Linda's vibrant photos and artwork filling the pages of this book.

It's a story of battling gales and sailing through the world's pirate hot spots; of exploring exotic and remote communities and integrating with the locals; and of experiencing the vastness of the great oceans and making new friends at each destination. But above all, the story is one of overcoming a challenge of massive proportions and leaving a small part of themselves in every single one of the 30 countries Linda and Bill visited in their swift, yet tough yacht Valiam. This is their story.

SALVAGE IN MY SARONG The Mediterranean Dream in a rescued boat
Join the latest adventures of Linda and Captain Underpants.......

Salvage in my Sarong is a remarkable story of how Linda's husband Bill surprises her (and himself), by winning an online bid for an old wooden boat, half way across the world, in the Caribbean. At first Linda is horrified and reluctant to become involved in her husband's crazy scheme. This sailing boat 'Lati', had been abandoned, ransacked and almost stolen by pirates and is a total mess when the couple arrive from Australia.

Linda's dream of sailing the Mediterranean becomes reality as somehow, this gallant 9.4 metre yacht emerges like Cinderella, taking them across the vast Atlantic to Portugal and the Med. For three summers, Lati takes them on a romantic cruise to Italy, Greece and Turkey fitting easily into quaint harbours with tavernas ashore. However, the voyage is not without drama, as they continue with boat repairs in exotic locations, making many friends along the way.

From the author of Sailing in my Sarong comes this story of resourcefulness, endurance and celebration in the forging of a strong bond between a couple and their boat, a must-read adventure that makes anything seem possible.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Linda Frylink Anderson is an artist, retired Early Childhood teacher and University tutor. She has been married to Bill aka Captain Underpants since 1977. Together they have two grown up children, three grandchildren and a thirst for adventure. Linda's first book 'Sailing in my Sarong, Around the World - a 30 year dream' is a memoir of their circumnavigation of the world in their home built yacht 'Valiam'.

Linda still likes to wear sarongs, and these days she escapes the world to her bush studio in northern New South Wales or she may be on board Valiam in Mooloolaba, Queensland if not at sea.