5Yr plan - am I crazy?

[storm petrel]

Format only made a handful of Top Hat 27s. They are a bit more roomy than a 25 and have a good reputation. if you can find one in good nick for reasonable money it would be a good option for extended coastal cruising.

[curlytops]

Hi Di

I read with great interest your plans for a life at sea in a Top Hat. Why wait 5 years?! Buy one now, get used to her and if you decide she's not right you can always modify her or look for one you prefer. At least you'll be sailing while you're sussing it all out. Personally, as a female owner, the outboard motor is a pain in the ass because it's so damn heavy to lift in and out of the well (us ladies being so feeble n all - yeah right!) but if you're planning a cruise I guess you can always antifoul it and leave it in there. BUT if I could change one thing about my beloved Curly Tops, it would be to have an inboard. Everything else about Tophats is as several others have said - perfect for the single hander. All my rigging runs aft which makes live very easy.

Having come from larger yachts and one who loves looking at instruments (I also fly microlights), I was certain that I'd be adding guages to my boat .. but I soon learned that you really don't need that many. If you can read a chart and calculate tidal heights then you're fine without and the Day Skipper course will certainly help you in that area. (That said, it would be nice to have a sounder for anchoring in unfamiliar waters but I've managed without so far..)

Good luck with your plans.

Curly

[Ianb]

it would be nice to have a sounder for anchoring in unfamiliar waters but I've managed without so far..)

Fishfinder/echo sounder is pretty cheap, (around $120), and transducer can be mounted inside the hull. Very useful not only in shallow waters, but also as an aid to conventional navigation.

Curly, it may be possible to rig up a lifting hoist, and out-of-water storage for the outboard, if it is in-well mounted. With transom mount, many people just tilt the motor and put covers on and leave in place. Risky for theft, but if you take into account that a typical 5hp second hand is worth maybe $500, perhaps an acceptable risk.

[SeaLady]

When are you arriving in our waters Di.

As previously discussed you are very welcome to come out and take a look at SeaLady and I am sure we can convince a few others including Curly Tops as well.

I would love to catch up with another girly sailor.
Perhaps we can do a 3 female - secret women's business get together???????

[di_namic42]

Hi Di

I had a great 5 days crewing on restored 52 ft S&S ketch Sv bardoo (see svbardoo.net) just 3 days after crewing for 2 races on a 39 ft Oceania.

Learned lots and I helmed bardoo majority of way from mooloolaba harbour to tangalooma and back.
Great expeerience and also experienced major anchor drag in big storm .

Not sure what the problem is, but my knees are playing up severely. Visiting osteopaths and getting blood tests to see if it is related to some other heath issues. Osteo seemed to help so I am hoping my sailing is not over before it starts.

I was planning on coming down asap, but now have to wait for blood tests and see if my knees improve.

Solo sailing on a setup top hat should still be doable, I think. Despite the knees.

I am looking forward to catching up and checking out boats.

Do u work? Are weekends the best time? I am thinking of hiring a campervan and driving down and then I have my accom as well.

Maybe in another week? As I have to be back by 21st April for my day skipper theory course.

[Ianb]

Would probably be cheaper to fly down and hire a car or campervan once here. For cars I use Redspot, -you need the so-called extra insurance, and when you include that, you get the true cost. Not sure if they do camper-vans though.

[di_namic42]

Curly tops , you are right. the idea is to buy now and sail around Moreton Bay for 2 years ( weekends and holidays) gaining confidence and experience & making sure boat is setup and in great working order, and then ( at approx the 5 year mark) go coastal cruising!

So, after a very kind offer from Diana (Sea Lady) to stay with her at Glenorie and take me sailing, I am going to drive down from Brisbane to Sydney area to visit and look at every top hat I can find and meet some owners around the area.

The aim is to learn about all the different setups and maybe find a boat to buy, and figure out how to get it back to Brisbane, as I don't want to do that solo until i have a lot more experience.

Current plan: ( lets hope for good sailing weather)
Mon 15th Apr leave Brisbane and arrive at Diana's place.
Tue16 Apr Inspect, meet or go sailing
Wed 17 Apr Inspect, meet or go sailingp
Thu 18 Apr Inspect, meet or go sailing
Fri 19 Apr Inspect, meet or go sailing
Sat 20 apr Inspect, meet or go sailing
Sun 21 Drive back to brisbane
Mon 22 Start Day Skipper 5 day intensive theory

If you'd like to help me with my quest or show me your boat etc please let me know where you are and what days you are available and we will try to maximise the MEET and GREET of the FLEET

Looking forward to a fun week!!!

[storm petrel]

Diana,

Where will you be staying? I am on holidays that week but my boat is on the Central Coast. If the weather is OK I am hoping to sail my Top Hat down to the CYC in Sydney for a couple of days in the latter part of that week and might be able to catch up then if you are in Sydney.

Cheers,
Mark
Storm Petrel Mk11

[di_namic42]

I believe Diana is at Glenorie.

I don't know Sydney area at all, but I guess google maps is about to get a workout!

I find the name "Central Coast" confusing at i would have imagined that would be central NSW near Coffs Harbour!

[storm petrel]

HI Diana,

Yes I agree the name is confusing!

The NSW Central Coast is 90km by road North of Sydney or 20 nautical miles by boat. Broken Bay is the next harbor North of Sydney (15 nautical miles north of Sydney Harbour) and it consists of three arms - Pittwater, the Hawkesbury River and Brisbane Waters. My boat is moored in Brisbane waters just after the bar at the entry so it takes me about an hour to get over to Pittwater (Palm Beach) or 4-5 hours to get to Sydney.

Hope this helps.

Mark