Sailing Around Australia; Being Resourceful

Hamilton Island, Whitsundays, Qld

18/10/15 Being resourceful.

People that are involved in cruising sailing are an eclectic mob. There is such a wide ranging personality type, an extensive list of different backgrounds and therefore a diverse skill set whenever a number of them are together.

Take sailing experience for example. Some folks have been sailing since they were mere ankle biters, learning the ropes (so to speak) in tiny dinghies. Others like myself, have had no experience with any boats until they took the plunge into boat ownership in a serious way.

We met a couple last week who fall into the latter category. Geoff and Sue had never sailed before. Like us they decided to start fairly well up the scale and purchased a 45foot Yacht. In America, California to be exact. As all good resourceful newby sailors do, they then set about sailing it back to Australia. Being really resourceful types they found crew to assist. The crew didn’t know anything about sailing either. But being resourceful types they managed to get to Hawaii, changed crew (to even less experience) then on to the Marshall Islands, Vanuatu and then Townsville. Geoff says that he would like to change a few things on his boat (like get a para anchor) before he does some really serious sailing!

What struck me most during our conversation with Geoff and Sue, plus during our time with Ian and Sue (who are relatively new to boating) is that to be a cruising sailor you do have to be pretty resourceful.

A cruising sailor has to be prepared to find a water leak in the forward cabin, be able to bend into all types of positions that would make a contortionist proud and try work within the limits of whatever tools are on board.

A saying I heard recently was that owning a cruising sailing boat amounted to carrying out repairs in exotic locations.

That may be true as this week, I have replaced an engine water pump at Hamilton Island, done a quickie repair to the anchor winch at Whitsunday Island and repaired an oil leak in the engine bay while anchored at Airlie Beach.

Nearly all the other cruising sailors I have met, have many tales to tell of fixing things like water leaks and electrical problems. We met another cruiser last week who has spent 8 years building his boat. Where did we see him? In the marina at Airlie beach doing repairs.

Without meaning to be judgemental, I have known some boat owners who give off the impression of being no where near practical or what I call resourceful. Yet these folk have astounded me by shaping up when the moment arrived.

Being resourceful to me, is taking the time to identify a problem, being practical in mapping a plan to solve the problem and then carrying out the plan.

Of course there is always the equally resourceful way of fixing something. Call someone in to fix it for you.

There are not too many I know that go down this path too often. Using tradies at every turn is a very expensive option and even modest repair jobs can erode the kitty very quickly.

Plus the folk that go that way don’t get to enjoy the skinned knuckles, the strained muscles, staring at pieces that don’t fit, working with tools meant for something completely different and finally the thrill of the test drive, to find it still doesn’t work!

So my best advice to anyone thinking of buying a boat and going cruising sailing is to be prepared to fix any part of your boat at any time anywhere. You are going to have to be resourceful.