Since I was a kid, I’ve dreamed of sailing off into the sunset in my own yacht. It all started after my dad build a catamaran in the garage, hence starting my passion for sailing. Before long I had my own 10′ Mirror dinghy and I was addicted. Meanwhile, the next door neighbour was building an Endeavour 24 in the backyard. That was a big and desirable boat to a 10 year old.

The passion continued as I crewed on 16′ skiffs for a few years, then life got in the way and the dream faded for a while, but never really went away. Lots of boat shows and Cruising Helmsman magazines, but always too busy to persue the dream. Almost 40 years on and it was time to reignite the passion.

After years of thinking, reading and research, and months of looking at boats – the dream becomes reality in the form of my own Compass. “Spindrift” – soon to be renamed “Compassion” is a Compass 29. She is a 1981 vintage fibreglass, full keel sloop, currently lying in Pittwater and soon to sail south to be moored at Callala Bay in Jervis Bay.

It’s been a long and at times steep learning curve, and I’m sure the real learning has just begun.

I plan on using this blog as a record of some of that learning. A place to record the highs and lows of the journey, mostly for my own benefit, but if you find the blog and wish to comment, then I’ll welcome your thoughts and ideas.