Back on the market

Boy, it's been quite a while since I've posted anything here. Life has been very hectic for us. John is building me a home on the Tablelands ... our health hasn't been the best so we've moved off Sokari for the time being. I'm still in the same mind as I was when we initially put her on the market - I really don't want to sell her. She holds so many wonderful memories for us. I think John feels the same way, but he is burning the candle at both ends. Working on the house and yet having to maintain Sokari when she sits on her mooring over 2 hours drive away. We did take her off the market for a while but reluctantly have decided to advertise her again. It will be quite a wrench to let her go. It will be like giving away a child. However, unfortunately, what has to be, has to be. We were lucky in one respect when we left Cardwell a little over 18 months ago. A few months later TC Yasi raged through and if we'd still had her on the hard in the yard at Cardwell, she'd more than likely have been destroyed. About a metre and a half of water went through the yard tossing boats along with their heavy concrete mooring blocks into the scrub. Sokari coped really well in the mangrove creeks of Trinity Inlet. John sent me off the boat, to a friend's place, several hours before Yasi hit but I tripped in the blackout as Yasi approached and I fractured my ankle. I would have been safer on board Sokari! But here we are again, reluctantly putting Sokari back up for sale. We are still working on alterations inside so as time goes by, her refit will continue. However, towards the end of the year we will head off again and be sailing her south. She sits on her mooring in Cairns dancing to the breezes and, I'm sure, wanting to be underway again, as we do. So, it will be nice to feel the water under her keels and enjoy sundowners in the cockpit with friends when we stop in an anchorage. We know people in most places so it will be wonderful to catch up again. I have missed our cruising life and really can't imagine not having that option open to us. Unfortunately, as we get older and our health deteriorates I can't see us building another boat - more the pity.

Back in the water

We're back in the water and Sokari looks so beautiful sitting on her mooring, dancing to every little ripple and zephyr of breeze. No decals on at this stage but she looks quite sleek without anything at the moment. We've just enjoyed feeling the water under us and the wind in our sails (when there was wind on the trip home to Cairns.)

43'6" Simpson catamaran for sale

Our 43'6" sailing catamaran, designed by Roger Simpson and launched in 1993 is now for sale. We've had a wonderful 16 years onboard her with lots of great adventures sailing Queensland waters and also Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. To read about our adventures go to www.svsokari.com. I know that when she has been sold we are going to miss her terribly. She has given us a wonderful life and kept us safe but for now we have to go onto land for a time. But we have had such a fantastic time since we launched her in 1993 that we won't be able to stay away from the water for long and John will build another one. What a lifestyle we've had. No-one could have had better. Or had more fun. Or met so many wonderful people from all ways of life. We've sat down to a meal with families you would say have nothing to sumptuous feasts with well-to-do Asians. And enjoyed them both. We have learned so much from these wonderful people - how to enjoy ourselves without spending money like we need to do back home, how to be considerate to others (because they are)..... Oh, yes, it's been a wonderful life and we are going to miss it. But you needn't. You can do this too if you have the mind to. Is it the life for you? If you think it is contact us on svsokari@hotmail.com or ring us on 0418 886 794.