The Whales of Hervey Bay

It’s been a strange old year and, whilst we wish we were on our way to New Caledonia, playing with the whales of Hervey Bay has chased away the blues. These giant curious animals have wallowed and played in the shallows beside us, seemingly happy to check out Roo Bin Esque’s hulls and to allow Continue reading


It’s the little things that make the difference.

It’s been a crazy busy week with tradies crawling all over Roo Bin Esque to ensure she’s ship shape for her journey to New Caledonia – and it’s no hardship watching others working! We’ve also had our heads buried in the engine bays servicing the two Yanmar diesels to ensure they’re purring. Whilst we like to sail Continue reading


Proper Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance

As an aviator and a trainer ‘Proper Prior Planning’ has been a mantra I’ve lived by for the last twenty-eight years. It seems it’s going to stand me in good stead for sailing! Graham and I are gearing up for our first blue water cruise to New Caledonia and Vanuatu and, hopefully, Fiji, departing early May if Continue reading


Recharging the batteries at Fraser Island

Slowly, slowly we’re heading south. After a huge week driving from Hervey Bay to Brisbane and back for a meeting we decided we’d recharge our batteries wandering the coast of Fraser Island. The world’s largest sand island has given us many wonderful holidays over the years and it’s always peaceful – perfect for letting go Continue reading


Where did 2016 go?

It’s hard to believe that 2016 has been relegated to the history books and 2017 is already rocketing along. When we left Cooktown last year, heading north to the Flinders Islands in Bathurst Bay, I had every intention of keeping the blog updated. Of course, I should have known that the Telstra map showing coverage Continue reading


Cooktown to Cape Flattery

Yay for Telstra! We still have internet!! This may be the last post for a while as the internet quality at Lizard Island and beyond is more than questionable… We had a wonderful day sailing yesterday with a good solid breeze on a beam reach. Great to feel Roobi come alive under our feet. Our track Continue reading


Cairns to Low Isles

We snuck out of Blue Water marina, disturbing the mirror finish on the water, and headed into the sunrise. The valley to the south of Cairns was hiding in rain, but the sky to the north was clear. There’s a certain tension to every departure. Will the forecast be accurate and our next anchorage welcoming? Continue reading


Up the hill to Hahndorf

Despite the lovely hotel concierge and the nice man in the information centre doing their best to dissuade us, Graham and I had an adventure on Adelaide’s public transport system today. Perhaps we look a little too old for changing buses three times in one journey or perhaps guests of the Stamford use more salubrious Continue reading


Off to Adelaide to celebrate 25 years of RWA

  Roobinesque’s moored safely in a marina and we’re off to Adelaide for six days to attend the Romance Writers of Australia conference and the Australian Romance Readers Association Booksigning. Really looking forward to catching up with everyone again, but we’ve had to dig out our winter woollies with the mercury forecast to dip below Continue reading