‘The Man Who Walked Through Time’, described Fletcher’s experiences, observations and thoughts when, in 1963, he walked the entire length of that portion of the Grand Canyon contained within the 1963 boundaries of the Grand Canyon National Park. He was the first person to accomplish this feat, “all in one go.” I have fond memories of reading Fletcher’s book and those memories re-surfaced when I decided to write about dinghy cruising, due to the many similarities shared between dinghy cruising and backpacking—not the least of which is the awareness of and the meaningful connection with, the Natural World.

The 2023 Rolex Fastnet Race will be the 50th edition of the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s premier event and excitingly, there’s a significant number of classic yachts are entered such as these young trainee sailors competing on board the 1963 aluminium classic Germania VI.

Although SALMO did not have an engine under Peter’s ownership and equipped only with an AA book (of roadmaps) to navigate by he sailed her to the Clyde. Then in 1956 he voyaged alone to Labrador and laid her up to winter in Canada. He returned to England to marry Jill, and returned to Canada to continue his voyaging to the Panama Canal and on into the Pacific Ocean.

Sixty years later I look back on this and marvel at how adventurous we were. We never told our parents of these excursions. For all they knew we were just mucking about fishing and spearing the odd blue-swimmer crab.

Over the last 2 years, I have spoken to many people associated with OLIVE MAY to try and ascertain her provenance. From descendants of convict Thomas Doherty who built the ALICE AND ANGUS in Port Davey in 1800s, to members of the Appleton family who owned the OLIVE MAY up until the mid 1980’s.

At a time when personal liberation and rebellion against authority were prevalent many expressed their individualism through new outlooks on religion, popular culture, and sexuality, and a handful through making slow and mindful voyages around the world in under prepared small boats.

The people of Penrhyn are not new to looking after stranded sailors, and there are often stories told about the odd Japanese fishing boat that has been wrecked on the island, the most recent of which was in the last 15 years.

In essence, we’re just a conceited, naked ape. In our minds we’re some sort of “divine legend” We can walk around the earth deciding who will live and who will die and what will be destroyed and what will be saved.

The ALMONTA remains on the seabed, its crow's nest and railings breaking the surface of the calm waters of Porter Bay and lilting precariously to one side.

The Chelsea Classic brings to life the excitement of sailing from the Club’s formation in 1938, to the post war boom in sailing through the 1950’s to 1970’s including Vee Jays, Skates, Rainbows, Gwen 12's, St Kilda 8's, 14 foot skiffs, Heavyweight Sharpies and timber Lightweight Sharpies, both sailing and on display.

Perhaps rowing is a metaphor. As we age we seem to spend more time looking back than looking forward, and we risk stagnation. If we don’t row we go nowhere.

Perhaps before embarking on the new build of a wooden boat, first consider if there is an existing craft that, given a full restoration, would fulfil your needs and dreams as well as one built from scratch.

Two centuries later, the books used as source material by Flinders during his three-year voyage are back on Australian soil, in the possession of the National Archives in Canberra.

Just in case you are still dreaming of that weekend three weeks ago, the AWBF has put together a three minute video montage covering all the action from in an around the Hobart Waterside.

The power of the film comes, not from any particular radicalism that Lamya shows in her work … but by showing the counterpoint of her “normal” life in Paris with the horrors of environmental vandalism around the world.

But the takeaway for me as one of the current custodians, is that I didn't realise how much these old wooden boats still meant to the people who had been involved with them.

An upright, quietly spoken gentleman in a captain’s cap introduced himself, and without any hint of self-engrandisment, made it clear that he knew what he was talking about when it came to wooden boats.

The ancient continent of Sahul was comprised of Australia and PNG, when sea levels were much lower. It’s to this continent that the ancestors of Australian Aboriginal people came.

Another major piece of evidence in this discrepancy, is that my model is carrying on its mainmast, now very discoloured, the House Flag of Robert and John Craig, Glasgow

The creators of GLORIA were certainly looking for perfection during their 15 year build at Wilson’s in Cygnet. I’m not sure if they achieved contentment but they certainly created one of the most special yachts in Australia.