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Blog of Jack and Jude
explorers, authors, photographers & videographers
New Years – Sydney
GOOD BYE 2024 – HELLO 2025
Jack and Jude extend their warmest wishes to all our friends for a healthy and happy New Year 2025.
Despite facing health challenges last year, we had a wonderful life in 2024, thanks to the excellent healthcare system in Australia, our close-knit family, and the magnificent “great outdoors” that this beautiful country offers.
Currently, we are aboard our beloved sailing yacht Banyandah, which we launched over fifty years ago as young and hopeful kids starting our family. Our four hard years constructing this magnificent lady of the sea took us to more than two hundred countries and hundreds of unihabited islets and coral atolls, sailing thousands of miles across vast seas, alone surrounded by Nature.
As we welcome the new year, let’s also say a prayer for World Peace. Let all Earth’s creatures live in tranquility to appreciate the Creation.
Our Winter at Home in Pictures
Destination: Coral Sea
East Diamond Islet
Away from the crowd, deep into Nature.
You have a few months to prepare for the sailing adventure of a lifetime.
The Coral Sea is right on our doorstep – And East Diamond Islet is one of the closet, and one of the best Coral Sea anchorages. It has a lighthouse and a massive variety of seabirds and good fishing.
Jack and Jude have explored the Coral Sea many, many over the last 50 years. In fact our first two ocean voyages crossed it both ways, to PNG and back from the Solomons. There are few ships to worry about, and with GPS navigation, finding the reefs is easy. Once there, navagating does take a good eye and caution. Reef Navigation is all about water colour and a good height of eye. Up the ratlines, me mateys. OKay, down to the details. Our Coral Sea Guide is a good place start. Free online. Or get a copy of our electronic guide that works offline on most devices.
93 min Film Available
Available on USB memory stick $20 Posted
(sorry no DVDs)
Books:
We have a few books remaining on board that can be autographed.
Posted to Australia only – Email us for availability and further details.
1X Around the World…..$50
2X Reflections…………..$39
3X Practical ……………..$35
This summer, Jude and I will once again set sail aboard Banyandah, and it will be such great a pleasure to leave behind the hectic, war-torn modern world to once again immerse ourselves in the memories of two young adventurers embarking on one of their greatest journeys.
Wishing you safe journeys and fond memories,
Jack and Jude
The apples don’t fall far from the tree. As the son of two great sailors he has to be good
Mel
Hi Jack and Jude
Glad to see your still as active as always. I very much enjoyed your latest blog ,Thank you. We are currently at Emu point slip getting some work done prior to heading east.
Kind Regards
Brian and Sandra
MV Sealeaf
As always, another crackerjack(and Jude) story.
Clever editor, remembering the essential part of the team. Nothng goes out without her contribution…
How I love reading your stories! It reminds me of so much!
How wonderful Carol, to relive past good times, especially in such trying times.J&J
A very enjoyable read .We appreciate and are respectful of southern ocean weather.We are heading Nth from Cairns tomorrow heading to Darwin.
As always Warm wishes .
Brian and Sandra
MV Sealeaf
Hi Brian and Sandra. Could use some of that tropical warmth. Glad you like our Closing the Ring, and indeed we also repect the seasround here. Are you going on to the Kimberley from Darwin? If you are there are some “mudmaps” available on our site. And a guide into Adele Reef. Top spot. No crocodiles. Cheers, J&J
Hi Jack and Jude
We are in Townsville at the moment and memories of temperate Tassy are a bit appealing.Always good to hear of your trips .
Best wishes
Brian and Sandra
MV Sealeaf
Hi Jack and Jude,
I am from Perth and am planning on sailing my boat from Mexico through the South Pacific and I plan to get to Bundaberg by November. From there I am not sure whether I should head south to Tasmania and then cross the Bass straight around February to get back to Perth or wait for cyclone season to pass and sail around the top end and down the West Coast. Can you offer any advice? Thanks.
G’day Andrew,
Crossing Bass Strait and the Australian Bight in February is fine, and preferable to beating down the WA coast to reach Perth around the Top End.In Summer, easterlies prevail close to the southern coast, and the Southern Ocean swell is at its mildest. Hope that helps.
Our book Where Wild Winds Blow records our east to west and back to the east under Australia and is filled with weather information, places of interest and historical notes. Available both in print and digital.
Jack
Thanks Jack. I’ve got it on the kindle and will read it in a day or twos time when I cross from the La Paz to the Puerto Vallarta. Hope to see you guys around when I make it. CT 41 – Wastrel
Another southern adventure for you two,well done.
Cheers
Brian and Sandra
MV Sealeaf
Hello and thank you. It was indeed an adventure. We just loved to see the track we undercovered being experienced by other folk. J&J