Contents

We have created this page to help readers find blogs about specific areas we have sailed and blogs about other topics.

Scroll down to see the listing of blogs and just click on the link to go directly to your choice.

We'd love your suggestions as to how we can make this Contents Page and indeed all of our blog better for you. Please add your comments at the bottom of the page and we'll see what we can do.
Cheers!

HOW WE BECAME CRUISERS.

Our first blog - where it all began, how and why we started by crewing on other people's boats rather than buying our own.

Stuff it. Let's go sailing anyway!

Preparing for our new life afloat. 

The never ending to-do list.
So much to fit into so little time.
Where and when.
So it begins.

YouTube Episodes 

SERIES ONE

We have run away to Sea - Episode 1 

The Passage North Begins - Episode 2 

Crossing the Notorious Wide Bay Bar - Episode 3  

Sailing the Great Sandy Straights - Episode 4 

The Sky is on Fire - Episode 5

Inches from Disaster - Episode 6

Have we sailed to The Great Barrier Reef’s BEST - Episode 7

Sailing in Paradise - Episode 8

The Best and Worst of Great Keppel Island - Episode 9

Laid Flat by Wind and Wave - Episode 10

Checking in at the Legendary Percy Island Yacht Club - Episode 11 

Sitting out big wind at Brampton Island - Episode 12

Island Love and Boat Living - Episode 13

Happy Bay - Happy Wife, Happy Life - Episode 14

The Coast’s Most Expensive Marina - $ Value or Rip Off - Episode 15 

Beach Bumming and Feasting on Fish in the Whitsundays - Episode 16 

We visit the spiritual home of the Shag Islet Yacht Club - Episode 17

Sailing away to a stunning National Park only reached by sea – Cape Upstart - Episode 18

Whales, wind, waves and a galley disaster averted – Sailing Cape Upstart to Magnetic Island - Episode 19

Cancer Sucks, but we won’t let it end our Dream – An Update from Dreamtime Sail - Episode 20

A Place Too Cool to Have Winter – Exploring Townsville - Episode 21

A Coral Garden of Giant Clams - Orpheus Island - Episode 22

A Day in the life of a Cruising Couple – Hinchinbrook Island - Episode 23

Dreamtimesail’s Container House Project Walk Trough Tour 

Sailing in Crocodile Country – Hinchinbrook Island - Episode 24

Dreamtime in the Rain Forest – Dunk Island - Episode 25

Making a Splash at Nudey Beach – Fitzroy Island - Episode 26

Will we make it? The tight Creek entry to Cairn’ Bluewater Marina - Episode 27

Sailing over the tree tops on the Skyrail Rain Forest Experience from Cairns to Kuranda - Episode 28

Reef to Rainforest - Enjoying the delights of Cairns and the Tablelands - Episode 29

Provisioning a boat for extended coastal cruising - Episode 30

Tropical Island Skinny Dipping - Episode 32

Great Barrier Reef Island Hopping - Episode 33

Anchored off Hell on Earth in a Tropical Paradise – The grim story of Fantome Island - Episode 34

We catch fish, fish and more fish sailing from Magnetic Island to Cape Upstart - Episode 35

Face to face with a monster of the reef in glassed out conditions - Episode 36

The Best of the Whitsundays – A Sailing Odyssey in 20 Minutes - Episode 37

We discover the secret hideaway of Australia’s first ever sex siren of the silver screen - Episode 38

Why won’t our anchor hold? A sleepless night at the Great Barrier Reef’s Curlew Island - Episode 39

Doing it Tough, Another Tropical Paradise to Ourselves - Episode 40

Trapped by Great Keppel Island Again – It really is an Australian sailors’ favourite - Episode 41

Up the creek without a paddle? – Navigating the Burnett River to Bundaberg - Episode 43

We found Paradise – anchored at K’Gari, the world’s largest sand island - Episode 44

Hiding from 60 Knot winds in the Great Sandy Straights - Episode 45

Safely crossing the treacherous Wide Bay Bar & sailing into the Double Island Point Lagoon. - Ep 46

Becalmed to Near Gale - The Final Sail of our Great Barrier Reef Season - Ep 47

SERIES TWO

Your Questions answered about our Liveaboard Sailing Lifestyle - Q & A Part 1 – S 2 Ep 48

Your Questions answered about our Liveaboard Sailing Lifestyle - Q & A Part 2 – S 2 Ep 49

Boat Tour - Whitby 42 Ketch, SV Our Dreamtime designed by Ted Brewer. Part 2 – S 2 Ep 51

Are Professional Rigging Checks worth the $$$$$ S 2 Ep 52

Our Galley

Our Galley has a new dedicated site for all recipes, tips and how to for the Galley 👉 Our Galley

Finding Culture through Food

COVID19 has us 76 Days at sea - Isolation Afloat

Cooking, Provisioning and rubbish management at sea. 

Today’s Recipe

Delicious Food Afloat

Multihull Central Interview - Cooking, Provisioning and Rubbish Management at Sea

TECHNICAL, HOW TO AND WHAT WE DID

Are Professional Rigging Checks worth the $$$$$

How we catch all those fish on Our Dreamtime

Palma, Mallorca - The joy's of buying a boat in Spain Part 1
Palma, Mallorca - The joy's of buying a boat in Spain Part 2
A blog about blogging
Jeanneau's clever answer to having room for guests
The language of food
Breathing new life into our sagging inflatable dinghy
Stingray Strike tests our emergency plans
Re-rigging our 33 year old boat
Would you trust a 30 year old life raft?
What price safety?
Fitting solar panels to 'Our Dreamtime'.
Provisioning for cruising.
How to avoid sleepless nights rolling at anchor.
Cruising with friends on boards Vs sailing as a couple
Who to believe when the charts and the pilot guides don't agree
Five months in port = lots of upgrades and family catch up.
Storing GOOD wines afloat
A simple way to extend the range of your Wifi afloat
Dreamtime Sail blog hits 150,000 readers.
Karen speaks on Provisioning at the Women Who Sail Australia conference.
Cyclone Debbie does Disaster - and why it will coast us all
Our Dreamtime's Five Most Romantic Anchorages on the Great Barrier Reef
A Cruising Sailor's Guide to Farmers Markets
When life serves you lemons make lemonade
Preparing to leave your boat for an extended period
Beating the bugs afloat
What we carry on board in our First Aid Kit.
What we carry in our ditch bag.
Boat Maintenance - A check list to get you started and keep on track
How you can get paid to sail the Greek Isles
What we do to extend the life of our sails
Your boat craves love and attention too – ignore her at your peril.

In Search of the Perfect Yacht Tender
Karen's Masterchef Australia Adventure

Rising with the Tide - What it's really like to live on a boat.

Our Affiliate Program

Cooking, Provisioning and Rubbish Management

Christmas Gift Suggestions

The a truth about YouTube Sailing Channels & $$$$$$

10 Storage Ideas for small living 

PUBLISHED 
Ambushed by the Weather Gods
The Language of Food
Spending Winter in a Gibraltar Marina


SAILING NORTHERN AUSTRALIA - 2011

Aboard Nae Hassle 

The lines are cast off. Cairns to Lizard Island
Lizard Island to Torres Strait.
Torres Strait to Arnhem Land
Arnhem Land to Darwin - and the State of Origin Saga
Marina time and land travel in Darwin and the NT


SAIL INDONESIA RALLY - 2011 
Aboard Nae Hassle 

Darwin to Kupang, West Timor
Around Kupang, West Timor
Kupang to Kalbahi, Alore
Around Kalbahi, Alore
Kalbahi to Lembata
Around Lembata
Lembata to Larantuka, Flores
Larantuka to Maumere & Riung, Flores
Riung to Labuan Bajo, Flores
Labuan Bajo to Lombok
Around Lombok
Lombok to Bali

Aboard Atlantia

Bali to Kumai, Kalimantan
Around Kumai and the amazing orang-utans
Kumai to Belitung
Around Belitung
Belitung to Danga Bay Marina, Malaysia


MALAYSIA & SINGAPORE - 2011
Land Travel

Around Danga Bay & Singapore
Tioman Island
Melaka
Kuala Lumper & the Cameron Highlands
Penang
Langkawi


THAILAND -2011
Land Travel

Krabi

Aboard Curious

Phuket & The King's Cup Regatta

SOUTH EAST ASIA - 2011

Our Book - Stuff it. Let's go sailing anyway!
The complete good, bad and at times ugly story of our experiences sailing as crew in South East Asia


THE MEDITERRANEAN -2012

Heading off to sail the Mediterranean


MALTA
Aboard Moksha

Monfalcone, Italy to Malta

Around Malta

TUNISIA

Malta to Mahdia
Monastir
Hemmermet
Kelibia
Sid Bou Said


ITALY

Cagliari, Sardinia


SPAIN

Mallorca and Ibiza aboard Moksha
Calpe, Alicante, Cartagena aboard Moksha
Malaga, Gibraltar, Cadiz, Jerez and Seville - road tripping
Grenada - road tripping


UNITED KINGDOM


The Lakes District, Edinburgh, sailing Wales & more.
Gibraltar to England via the Spanish & Portuguese coasts & Bay of Biscay - aboard Curious
Travelling the UK in search of a boat


SPAIN
Aboard Alcheringa

Palma, Mallorca - The joy's of buying a boat in Spain Part 1
Palma, Mallorca - The joy's of buying a boat in Spain Part 2
Palma, Mallorca - Living aboard at last
Cala Portals, Mallorca - Anchored off a nude beach
Cala Portinatx, Ibiza - Our first passage on Alcheringa
Cala Binarras, Ibiza - A beautiful anchorage in hippy heaven
Cala Grazio, Ibiza - Tiny but Terrific
San Antonio, Ibiza - Rip-off in a ratshit marina
Cala Basa, Ibiza - Where the beautiful people go
Formentera - The story of the anchor nazi
Ibiza City & Cala Boix - Our first case of theft from the boat
Santa Ponza, Mallorca
Palma, Mallorca - back again
Santa Ponza, San Telmo and Cala Portals - Some naked sailing 
Palma, Mallorca yet again
Playa de Trench, around Mallorca beach by beach
Cala Barcas & Cala Figuera around Mallorca bech by beach
Cala de la Calobra (Torrente de Pareis) around Mallorca beach by beach
Port de Soller, Mallorca
Cala Deia, Mallorca
San Telmo, Mallorca again
Santa Ponza, Mallorca - again & smashed by a storm.
Palma, Mallorca - one more time
Cala Portals (Porto Veile) Mallorca - Fourth time
Mallorca via Ibiza to the Spanish Coast
Calpe & Altea
Alicante
Torreviejo and Mar Menor – Costa de Blanco
Cartagena - Costa de Blanco
Aguilas and Garrucha - Costa de Blanco
San Jose and Almeria - Costa de Sol
Almerima Marina - Costa de Sol
La Harradurra & Benalmedena - Costa de Sol
Estepona - Costa de Sol


GIBRALTAR - Our home for the winter
Aboard Alcheringa

Arriving in Gibraltar
Provisioning Gib style
Settling in on Gibraltar
Marina Life on Gib
Christmas abroad & onboard
Winter's wild weather arrives in Gib
Exploring the Rock
Preparing for the summer of cruising
Plenty to see and do in Gib
Waiting to leave Gib

  

THE MEDITERRANEAN -2013

Aboard Alcheringa

Crossing the Straits of Gibraltar

SPAIN - The North African Edition

Ceuta, North Africa
Haul out in Ceuta


MORROCO

Chefchaouen


SPAIN - The Med Coast

Back across the Straits to Estepona
Estepona to Fuengirola
Around Fuengirola
Fuengirola to de Brenguelas and on to Almerimar
Almerimar, San Jose, San Pedro, Garrucha to Cartagena
Cartagena, Mar Menor to Torreveija
Torreveija to Alicante
Alicante, Calpe, Denia to Cabo Cullera
Cabo Cullera to Valencia
Valencia to Barcelona
Around Barcelona
Barcelona to Mahon, Menorca
Around Menorca


CORSICA

Menorca to Bonifacio, Corsica
Around Southern Corsica


SARDINIA

Madallena Archipalego


CORSICA - Again

Porto Vechio, Salenzarra, Bastia, Pietracorbarra, Poticcilio to Macinagio

ITALY

Macinagio to Capriai
Capriai to Livorno & exploring Pisa
Florence Part 1
Florence Part 2
Tuscany's San Gimignano, Siena & Monteriggioni
Livorno to Spezia, Porto Venere, Cinque Terre & return.
Livorno to Salivoli, Piombino & Elba
Around Elba
Elba to Isola di Giglio
Isola di Giglio to Giannutri, Santa Maranelli & Porto Roma
Around Lucca
Around Rome
Porta Roma to Anzio
Anzio to Gaeta
Gaeta to Napoli
Pompeii
Napoli to Isola di Capri
Capri to Positano & Amalfi
Amalfi to Salerno
Salerno to Accioroli
Accioroli to Scario
Scario to Isla di Dino
Isla di Dino to Sao Paolo
Sao Paolo to Vibo

AELOIAN ISLANDS

Vibo to Stromboli
Vulcano & Lipari
Back to Vulcano


SICILY

Vulcano to Cefalu & Palermo
Palermo to Carinni, San Vito Lo Capo & Trapani
Trapani to Favignanna & Marsala
Marsala to Sciacca & Licata
Goodbye Sicily - Goodbye the Mediterranean


AUSTRALIA - 2014
(Buying & refitting Our Dreamtime)

Our new (to us) boat.
Breathing new life into our sagging inflatable dinghy
Stingray Strike tests our emergency plans
Re-rigging our 33 year old boat
Would you trust a 30 year old life raft?
What price safety?
Fitting solar panels to 'Our Dreamtime'.
Provisioning for cruising.

AUSTRALIA'S GREAT BARRIER REEF -  2015

(Shakedown cruise on Our Dreamtime)

Manly to Mooloolaba
Mooloolaba to Double Island Point
Crossing the Wide Bay Bar
Great Sandy Straits, Fraser Island & Hervey Bay
Hervey Bay to Bundaberg & we broke the boat
Fold up bikes & other fun in Bundy
Removing the transmission & other fun in Bundy
More fun in Bundy & Port of Bundaberg Marina Review
Bundaberg to Pancake Creek
Exploring Pancake Creek & Bustard Head lighthouse
Pancake Creek to Hummocky Island
Hummocky Island to Great Keppel Island
You can still get wrecked on Great Keppel Island
Keppel Bay Marina Review
Night Passage - North Keppel Island to Hexham Island
Hexham Island Paradise
Hexham Island to South Percy Island
South Percy Island to Curlew Island
Curlew Island to St Bees & Keswick Islands

Brampton Island - An eerie ghost town in paradise.

Brampton Island to Shaw Island - Whitsundays
Lindeman Island - Whitsundays
Lindeman Island to Shute Harbour - Whitsundays
Airlie Beach - Whitsundays
Stonehaven, Hook Island & Cid Harbour, Whitsunday Island
Around Airlie Beach & Abel Point Marina Review
Stonehaven & Butterfly Bay, Hook Island - Whitsundays
Bait Reef - Outer Great Barrier Reef
Tongue Bay, Hill Inlet & Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island
Cid Harbour, Whitsunday Island
Cid Harbour to Shaw Island & Brampton Island
Brampton Island to Mackay Marina
Mackay to Digby Island
Digby Island to Middle Percy Island
Middle Percy Island to Island Head Creek
Island Head Creek to Great Keppel Island
Great Keppel Island to Pancake Creek & Bundaberg
Turtles, Rum and more fun in Bundy
Bundaberg to Kingfisher Bay, Fraser Island
Through the Great Sandy Straits to Mooloolaba
Mooloolaba to Manly - Journey's end


NORTH TOWARDS PNG'S LOUISIADE ARCHIPELAGO -2016
Aboard Our Dreamtime

The Louisiades - Our next big adventure
It Begins - Manly to Fraser Island
Fraser Island to Bundaberg and into the Boatyard.
Bundaberg to Pancake Creek - A favourite anchorage.
Great Barrier Reef hopping, first stop Fitzroy Reef
More reef hopping - North West Island
Trapped at Great Keppel Island
Sailing North to Pearl Bay
Pearl Bay via Marble & Digby Islands to Brampton Island
Adventures on Naked Lady Beach - Thomas Island
Cid Harbour - Our Whitsunday Islands Haven
Marcona Inlet - Special occasions can be so much more special when cruising.
Abell Point Marina & Karen's Big Birthday Bash
Gloucester Passage
Upwind to Cape Upstart but having a Whale of a Time
Disabled and drifting in Upstart Bay.

Rock and Rolling our way to Townsville from Cape Upstart.

Townsville to Orpheus Island and back - Bad weather + bad bureaucracy = a wasted a week
Magnetic Island to Herald Cays - Into the Coral SEA
Paradise is North East Herald Cay
Herald Cays to Fitzroy Island - Reluctantly back to Australia.
Fitzroy Island to Cairns for Repairs
No Louisiades for Our Dreamtime in 2016
Green Island - Tourist Trap or Cruising Nirvana
Just a one night stand at Vlasoff Cay
Michaelmas Cay - Another tourist trap cruisers should not avoid
Low Isles - A high spot for cruisers despite the tourists
Port Douglas – at the Reef Marina where sitting in the mud is considered normal
All alone on the outer Great Barrier Reef at Batt Reef
Swimming with sharks at Green Island and heading South.
Kent Island in the North Barnards - An unexpected delight.
Dunk Island for a week as head winds blow by.
Sailing by Hinchinbrook to Orpheus Island.
Anchored in Townsville under an awesome Air Show
Magical Magnetic Island
South around Capes Cleveland and Bowling Green to Cape Upstart
Cape Upstart to Gloucester Passage & eight delightful days of doing not much
Woodwark Bay and marina time at Abell Point.
Turtle Bay - Whitsunday Island
Living the Cruiser's Life at Sea Eagle Bay, Thomas Island
Goldsmith Island - More fish, great beach, a badly anchored naughty cat and a storm
Beach Bumming on Brampton Island
Mackay Marina – On the dock waiting for a weather window
Middle Percy Island – The cruiser’s Great Barrier Reef ‘Must Visit’.
Sometimes it’s just about making miles - Middle Percy to Great Keppel Island
Great Keppel Island + Great Weather & Great Friends = Great Times!
Off to Masthead Island for some reef hopping South.
Fitzroy Reef - Another underwater wonderland.
Magical Lady Musgrave Island
To Bundaberg, a Mayday and helping turtles nest at Mon Repos
Bundaberg to Gary’s Anchorage – 70 miles using every sail in the wardrobe


THE GREEK ISLES - 2017

Aboard Enigma

When life serves you lemons - make lemonade.

Go a little crazy - Sail the Greek Isles with us.

We're leading a Charter Flotilla in the Greek Isles

Back to Oz - A brief overview of our time in Greece

How you can get paid to sail the Greek Isles

We got paid to sail the Greek Isles - VIDEO

How YOU can get paid to sail the Greek Isles

MORETON BAY, AUSTRALIA - 2018 -2020

What we do to extend the life of our sails

30 Reasons why sailing is safer than sex. 

'Our Dreamtime' featured in State's most popular newspaper. 

Your boat craves love and attention too – ignore her at your peril.

One Woman's Tale - Suburbia to being a cruising sailor. 

Sailing again at last

A Skinny Kitty & Chewing on the Anchor
In Search of the Perfect Yacht Tender
Karen's Masterchef Australia Adventure

Rising with the Tide - What it's really like to live on a boat.

GREAT BARRIER REEF, AUSTRALIA - 2020

Everything changes when Covid-19 crunches our cruising plans.

When Murphey's Law Strikes - Through the Great Sandy Straights to Burnett Heads

Disaster narrowly avoided at Lady Musgrave Island.