After two years in Adelaide, we thought what now? Do we move back on land? Do we move on to another location? Do we pursue another long passage? Finish our circumnavigation of Australia? Head back to the South Pacific? New Zealand? With Peter’s thoughts turning to retirement sometime in 2024, Sandra keen to move back on land and Peter just as keen to continue sailing and our current lifestyle we really were at a crossroad. Additionally, this decision had huge implications not just for us but for our family as well. We talked about it, marinade about it individually and together, talked some more, created a list of all the options, pros and cons, costs, impacts. Reaching a mutually agreeable outcome wasn’t easy given the diversity of our individual goals; given how much we care for each other and have always supported each other’s goals and dreams. But with time for reflection and discussion we arrived at a way forward. Complete our circumnavigation of Australia (we completed the Gloucester Bay to Adelaide leg in 2020); put the boat on the market at the end of the journey, and on our return to Adelaide move back on land.
Once our direction was clear planning began in January 2023 with the aim of departing at the end of December that year. We created a master list of all the actions that needed to be completed including timeframes and projected costs. Then over the next twelve months set about achieving them, though it would be fair to say that the last four months were the most intense.
And so it was at 0600 on the 31st December 2023 we departed 35 South Marina in Adelaide for the last time. At this point our planned route will take us west across the Great Australian Bight to Western Australia, then turn north to cruise along the WA coastline before turning east to Darwin. Across the Gulf of Carpentaria to Cape York, then head south along the Queensland coast making our way to the Gold Coast where we will finish our journey. We will also haul out here and get Sea Goddess looking gorgeous and ready for sale.
How can you follow us? We will upload a blog on a regular basis providing a warts and all expose of our adventures. So be sure to check out our Blog on a regular basis. We would also love to hear from you, just email us info@seagoddessadventures.com, you can also follow our passage on No Foreign Land https://www.noforeignland.com/boat/seagoddess/journey or if you see Sea Goddess or us at anchor or in a marina give us a wave or stop by for a chat.
