This is the latest and for now the last tale of traveling adventure, for previous logs visit the archives. If you are new to Bad Latitude and wish to get a better idea of the whole adventure then it is best to start at the very beginning. The logs are updated when we get the chance, due to the erratic nature of sailing it is difficult to know exactly when we will be able to update the site, so for this reason we have the update alerter which will inform of any update via e-mail. (Now disabled).

Issue13 - 05/12/2002 Epilogue

Tracy & Leigh

After we left Charisma in Townsville Northern Queensland we drove South to Brisbane and searched for jobs, as all three of us were fast running out of money especially now being homeless. We scored a very nice unit in a trendy part of Brisbane that had the use of a swimming pool. This was just about the only luck we had in Brisbane. It's not a very traveler friendly city and although I found some web and graphic design work the girls were less lucky. So three weeks before Christmas we had to say our good-byes to Lyd who flew home.

So Tracy and I flew to Perth to see Tracy's relatives who very kindly put us up at very short notice and lent us their superb camper van. We spent the next three weeks traveling around WA in the van and I got to surf the legendary Margaret River, an awesome wave! Special thanks go to Joanna and Mike for their hospitality.

After WA we flew to Sydney where we hired a car and first drove South to spend Christmas in a National Park which was amazing. We then took three weeks driving and camping all the way up the coast, avoiding the huge forest fires that threatened Sydney's suburbs. I surfed some amazing spots along this coastline. Lennox Head particularly stands out, 8 foot barrels shared with pods of dolphins and a very cool vibe in the water. Amazing.

Unfortunately I got a particularly nasty eye infection in the last couple of days, so my last couple of days were spent in some agony! Though I have to say the Australian hospitals we saw were excellent and put the NHS to shame. The flight home from Brisbane was a nightmare to say the least!

Anyway it's almost a year on now. We still want to travel but are realistic on how to do it. Australia taught us a great deal about life (I know how people feel on Big Brother etc.) about people management and group dynamics, and about sailing. So we have decided to get our heads down to earn as much as we can to own our own yacht. However we learned from the two differing skippers we had in Oz that it's way better and less stressful if you know exactly what you are doing, otherwise you shout and scream at your crew and generally have a bad time. So we will endeavor to sail as much and do as many practical courses as possible (ideally up to yachmaster standard). And to make money? We have just bought a residential home for the elderly, and plan on another. This will set us up well for the future.....

Planning on Crewing? Read this Advice First.....

If you go to the other side of the world have a good contingency plan if things don't work out, especially bare this in mind if you undertake a Pacific crossing! Research you're intended route well taking into account airports to get to civilisation etc. Also keep in touch with other yachts that you have met on your travels as they may be more than happy to have you aboard. Have plenty of money in reserve for every eventuality, don't just budget for life onboard your intended yacht.

Make sure that the skipper tells you about ALL of the people he has INVITED for the cruise/voyage. We left England for Oz after being told by the skipper we would be joining him and his wife, and would meet a third person in Cairns. The reality was that at one point there were NINE people on board. If he had not lied to us I wouldn't have joined him for this voyage.

Similarly if you don't mind a bit of overcrowding then make sure the other crew are of a similar age group to you. Of course this isn't a hard and fast rule but I believe it was a contributory factor onboard Nkwhazi to the nastiness and back biting, and was also a factor with our good relationship with John Lawler. Also check on the experience of others onboard especially with regard to seasickness.

Make sure the skipper is clear about payment. We found there are two ways to pay; a fixed daily rate in which costs are included or split costs as you go. The costs of cruising include food, drink, marina dues, fuel etc. Now onboard Nkwhazi we paid a fixed daily fee of AUS$20 per day, which on the face of it is a very good deal. However, when food gets scarce and you're lying at anchor for three weeks in the middle of nowhere then it doesn't add up. Onboard Charisma we agreed to split costs as we went, and we agreed to pay for the cleaning of our bedding. Fair enough. This worked out much cheaper and didn't breed resentment, when for example food that was communally owned (and in very short supply at the time see log 9) went missing as Tracy, Lyd and I were elsewhere.

If things aren't working out on board then don't stick it out, just leave, it's all part of the adventure. Find another yacht or do something else!

Don't let this website put you off though, at the end of the day you're taking a gamble and will be rewarded with an amazing lifetime experience that not many people have the guts to do whatever happens!

Good Luck and all the best! Leigh & Tracy.