Sailing Story on SV Whimoway

A sailing story from Darwin Australia through to Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand so far!

Our sailing story aboard SV Whimoway, from the ideas conception in Tasmania, Australia, through to the restoration of our 46ft ferro-cement Ketch in Darwin, Australia then on to our first trip through Aboriginal owned Arhnem Land followed by Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand so far!

Our website contains ongoing sailing stories plus hundreds of images of this fascinating region of the world, for those who may take a chance and do the same one day, or others who would just like to come along for the ride!

We have embarked on a 10 year working/sailing holiday aboard our 46ft ferro-cement ketch SV Whimoway.

The idea was born in the south of Tasmania Australia whilst cruising these waters on an 80yr old Huon Pine Gaffer, the Gannett II. Whimoway was purchased in Darwin. We then took twelve months to organise ourselves before driving to Darwin, commencing work for ten months restoring and preparing Whimoway for our journey.

All our children are independant now and whilst we are young and fit enough we have decided to embark on this journey for ourselves. Our first trip was through Aboriginal owned Arhnem Land heading for the mining leased area of Gove where we were to work for a cruising kitty to get us though to somewhere! in Asia.



A tropical cyclone hit whilst we were there but all was well and proved that our rigging was strong! A total of 10 weeks was spent along this underutilised cruising ground seeing huge crocodiles, catching many fish and enjoying beautiful clear waters and endless white sandy beaches.


We then headed to Indonesia via the Tanimbar Islands in far eastern Indonesia and spent 3 months making our way up to Singapore. Another few months in Malaysia and then Thailand.

We were based in southern Thailand for three years whilst Mike was Head Shiwright restoring the 110 yr old gaff ketch yacht Cariad, originally built in England for the Americas Cup.

Now we are restoring our own yacht "EIGER" , a Classic Eugene Cornu plan built by Vandernotte in Nantes, France, 1961!

Keep an eye out for EIGER's story or follow the links below, where you will find;

EIGER's restoration story

Image Galleries

Sailing Links

And much more...