Manly Where?

Manly Boat Harbour, Moreton Bay, Queensland

Mention Manly in Australia and most people think of Manly Beach in Sydney.  With the added attraction of the "must do" ferry ride to the beach from the heart of the city, Manly attracts loads of tourists and Sydney-siders daily. 

When we lived close to the Harbour in Sydney I was able to walk a short distance to the wharf each morning for a spectacular ferry ride to Circular Quay and my work in the city.  What a great way to start the day!  I knew well how very lucky I was living in such a beautiful location.  That was years ago.  Now we are in Queensland.

For three years Manly, Moreton Bay, Brisbane has been home for Bristol Rose where she is tied to the slip at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron.

Manly Boat Harbour is home to RQYS and another couple of marinas. It's said to be the largest man-made marina on Australia's east coast with 1,800 water craft of various shapes, sizes and type.  Waking up on the water, what a great way to start the day!

Manly, a bayside suburb on the southeast side of Brisbane, has a village atmosphere, train station to take you to the city, markets on the weekends, restaurants, supermarket, pub, a boardwalk around the water's edge that goes for miles, and so much more.  I love that saying, "you make your own luck".  It's mostly about choices because that's all we really have any control over.

Cruisers thinking of stopping in at Manly Boat Harbour in Queensland should check   Noonsite.com   for all the info and links you'll need.

RQYS hosts WAGS (Wednesday Afternoons Go Sailing) from the clubhouse, Manly, Moreton Bay, Queensland

Keeping Hope Alive for Nina's Crew

It’s been a tough year in cruising circles with the loss of three truly amazing and talented cruisers that we know, Alex Rust s/v Bubbles, Steve Southwood s/v Dignity, and Evi Nemeth who left her boat s/v Wonderland to crew aboard the missing s/v Nina.

Evi (aged 73) with a PhD in Mathematics 1971, is described as the Godmother of Unix Administration.  A wiki  search gives you a wealth of information about Evi Nemeth.  We simply knew Evi as the skilled sailor of her beloved Wonderland.  In the Marquesas we spent a day with Evi exploring historical sites.  Her adventurous spirit and broad knowledge were very evident.

She was part of the seven-person crew aboard the 21-metre 1928 vintage wooden schooner, Nina, for the crossing from New Zealand to Newcastle on the NSW coast.  They were last heard from on June 4, 2013 when Evi sent a message that they were experiencing severe weather conditions and overnight their sails were shredded.  

Evi along with the owners David and Rosemary Dyche and their 17 year old son David, and 3 others are missing, presumed lost at sea.  The families and friends have not given up hope and continue to scan satellite images for any signs.  I've just read an article in Mail Online about an image taken September 15 that has given them some new hope.  Reflecting upon incredible survival stories we've all heard of, let's keep hope alive.