The Trailer Sailing Alternative

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

The Trailer Sailing Alternative

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

On a more positive note, both trailer sailers have now sailed/motored from Wellington East to Morgan living onboard for 16 days on our Murray ramblr. We get off and walk, do the odd museum, antique store, have had a couple of pub/ club dinners out, cook each other occassional dinners and shared many happy hours watching the sun go down sitting on the perfect onwater back deck seats in reach of the fridge and kettle. The pace is slow but during the day generally moving allowing us to watch the world go by at around walking pace.
Its more usual to do this at warmer times and or in warmer climates but it has still been a wonderful experience in the depths of a southern Australian winter.
The world is a different place gliding by slowly and often almost quietly to the experience of taking it in out of the car window. You experience a constantly changing river campsite without the efforts of packing up and moving. No struggling to find tranquil campsites not already fully invested by other campers or having to take a well back from the water spot as the best ones are taken by other who appear to have grown roots there.
A big one is not having to look at the rubbish and **** left behind by inconsiderate bastards who have defiled our beautiful country and many of its loveliest free camping sites.

-- Edited by Trailer Sailer on Friday 8th of July 2022 07:33:07 AM

-- Edited by Trailer Sailer on Friday 8th of July 2022 07:35:34 AM

Blues Man · Guru

Hi Trailer sailor ,you certainly got my attention ,and even though we travel around in a M/H ,i would love to be doing what what you're doing.

Cheers,The Blues Man.

Ivan 01 · Guru

86GTS wrote:
KevinJ wrote:
86GTS wrote:
I'd rather have a top of the line Whittley Cruiser, I wouldn't have to wait for the wind to blow.
Total luxury & just turn the ignition key.
On its trailer, an absolutely great home away from home.

-- Edited by 86GTS on Sunday 3rd of July 2022 05:48:11 PM
Sounds like you have never sailed before.
Power boated for many years, trailer sailors are damn pests hogging boat ramps as they spend hours rigging up, raising masts, sails & rigging etc. etc.
Modern power boats slide straight off their trailer ready to go.

-- Edited by 86GTS on Sunday 3rd of July 2022 07:46:34 PM

I have to agree with you GTS.

I have a mate with a 6 m glass boat on a Dunbier Trailer and when I am fortunate enough to be invited out for a fishing day we get to the ramp, I back the boat into the water, he drives off, I park the ute and jump on board.

When we return I jump out and back the trailer into the water, he drives the boat on while I watch the boat latch catcher grab the boat, I pull the boat out hook up the securing chain and we are clear of the ramp.

Each of those operation takes approx 2 minutes. 4 minutes of inconvenience for the entire day on the ramp.

4 minutes to 40 minutes. Now there is the difference,

Trailer sailor said this.

Lets just face some facts an understand there often is a very different view point between yachties generally and some types of stinkboaters!

He cant really expect much respect when he is comparing Yachties with Stinkboaters.

Then in the next breath he informs us that he has a 115 outboard on the back of his *behemoth* of a boat come caravan.

Maybe a better description might have been Yachties and Motorboaters.

The term *Stinkboaters* is a class thing that many sail boat operators use. The term is quite often heard in *Sailing or Yacht Clubs.

Now, out on the water the Stinkboaters as he calls the powerboaters, by regulation have to give way to wind power.

With that in mind the Yachtie decides he is skilful enough in a light breeze to travel under sail in the shipping channel.

Now his very unpredictable course is all over the place like a mad persons $hit and all the while knowing that every other boat has to offer him right of way.

He wont start his outboard and motor to negotiate the channel because he generally wants to show all who are in his way his skills.

Well now we are at this point has anyone ever seen a trailer sailer ever launch or retrieve on a ramp under half an hour.

Real sailers sail in the sea and not in the Murray River which is just another example of my shipping channel observation.

-- Edited by Ivan 01 on Friday 8th of July 2022 08:42:39 AM

The Travelling Dillberries · Guru

Thanks for your great posts Trailer Sailer, been a great read so far, a different tac you might say. Brings back some great memories.

Just ignore the interlopers, by their posts they obviously know nothing so they continue to denigrate others, Ivan the terrible has been doing it for years and sadly getting away with it.

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Real sailers sail in the sea!

Bet you have barely been out of sight of land never mind doing any of the serious boating beyond the horizon boating we have done. We are currently sail camping for the scenery and tranquility at low overhead cost not showing off sailing. Most of our world champion sailers and circumnavigators however started off as river, harbour or bay sailers. I have sailed with a few of them and also competed in some big sailing events including Sydney Hobart myself over 50 years of sailing.

Our current kind of sailing uses a ramp twice in weeks or months hardly causing ramp use issues and regardless rigging and unrigging should be done away from the ramp not blocking anyone. (Actually we rigged at my home and then drove around to my local public ramp mast up fully loaded to go which I am aware is a very rare privilege)

At least we are not clogging up the best riverside campsites so others can use them.

Ivan 01 · Guru

Hi Dillberries

A truthful tale of the other side of what I considered was a derogatory post in the first place was not to denigrate but to point out that Powerboaters deserve the same respect when some of those Yachties think that they are a rung above other boaters and Dillberries, I defy the you to attend any boat ramp and tell me what GTS and I have observed is not fact.

I trust you will report back to us all.

Ivan 01 · Guru

I forgot to mention another observation if I may Mr Dilberry

On several occasions I have noted many trailer sailors taking advantage of free camping by parking their behemoth in the free ramp carparks and staying as long as they want.
At the ramp where we launch there was two of them overnighting for three nights but why not, they were close to the Sailing Club other restaurants and a pub and shops.
The difference being that if a caravaner decides to take advantage of the same situation they are moved on just before the first sunset by council officers.

Now I dont agree with any free camping in those car parks but it should be at the least, fair to all.

Mike Harding · Guru

Thanks for your posts Graeme, I'm enjoying your journey :)

Maybe start a fresh post in the Travel Blogs section?

I'm still near Wentworth camped on the bank and probably will be for another couple of weeks.

86GTS · Guru

Trailer Sailer wrote:
86GTS wrote:
Trailer Sailer wrote: After gently refraining from calling you out I will say here you strike me as a rude arrogant person with a dose of self opinionated importance and general intolerance.

Apologies for having slightly different OPINIONS to yourself.
You've got yours, I've got mine.
This is an open forum & forums are for expressing ones opinions.
There's no need to get testy if an individual doesn't agree with you.
Well next time someone tells you an activity you have loved for 50 years is a pain in the proverbial and also that its discussion doesnt belong on a forum where heaps of people have been highly positive and appreciative and to boot you slander other participants of that activity why wouldnt you get some pushback. If you have driven the klms claimed you should surely be old enough not to crap on someone elses love of an activity on a public forum.

-- Edited by Trailer Sailer on Friday 8th of July 2022 07:34:46 AM

I consider myself to be an independent thinker, on occasions I seem to get up peoples noses by simply not providing the condescending replies that they require to massage their rather large egos.

Buzz Lightbulb · Guru

The Travelling Dillberries wrote:
Thanks for your great posts Trailer Sailer, been a great read so far, a different tac you might say. Brings back some great memories.
Just ignore the interlopers, by their posts they obviously know nothing so they continue to denigrate others, Ivan the terrible has been doing it for years and sadly getting away with it.

Ditto.

It also brought back memories of boating dinghies, tinnies, large cabin cruisers and 12m racing yachts.

It certainly was a great thread until the negative posts. It's was a pity to have one's happy feelings crushed by the negative comments started at:

https://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t64803953/the-trailer-sailing-alternative/?page=2#comment-68599387

and by way, I also have a Touareg and the ESC DEFINITELY works; then,

https://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t64803953/the-trailer-sailing-alternative/?page=2#comment-68599640

why can't Grey Nomads travel in boats, gypsy vans or any other form of transport?; and of course the pounding started with:

https://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t64803953/the-trailer-sailing-alternative/?page=2#comment-68601134

Apparently you can have different views on this forum as long as it agrees with the pack. Next thing we'll hear that if you don't drive a truck or have a Japanese car, you'll be picked on.

Keep up the great posts. Hopefully, the negativity will be overrun by the positive posts.

P.S. I've launched at many boat ramps, having living close to them and using them often, and have NEVER been held up by someone rigging on the ramp. That is considered very antisocial behaviour.

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

All I was saying is the trailersailers shouldnt cause any ramp use issues versus powerboaters as rigging is carried out away from launching areas but all sensible owners then launch and retrieval times are virtually identical to an equivalent sized power boat.

Stinkboats is a throwaway term used for generations for big powerboats and not a deliberately derogatory term but in these politically correct times it appears offence is easily taken.

Calling people not real sailers for currently cruising on a river with no knowledge of their sailing history is a bit rich however as is calling others names or denigrating their chooses perhaps until pushed by fairly rude intolerant posts on multiple occasions.

Chill.

Buzz Lightbulb · Guru

Trailer Sailer wrote:
All I was saying is the trailersailers shouldnt cause any ramp use issues versus powerboaters as rigging is carried out away from launching areas but all sensible owners then launch and retrieval times are virtually identical to an equivalent sized power boat.
Stinkboats is a throwaway term used for generations for big powerboats and not a deliberately derogatory term but in these politically correct times it appears offence is easily taken.
Calling people not real sailers for currently cruising on a river with no knowledge of their sailing history is a bit rich however as is calling others names or denigrating their chooses perhaps until pushed by fairly rude intolerant posts on multiple occasions.
Chill.

So true, so true.

Plain Truth · Guru

Trailersailor,love your posts

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Now heading for Waikelie having left our overnight stay in Morgan the home of the PS Canally which we had passed on its maiden under its own steam ( literally ) journey down to Mannum for further work. Clare and I used the car ferry to cross to the far bank and do a 6-8klms walk around a lagoon reserve this morning Followed by a welcome second shower after 16 days on the water. Last night we had an excellent dinner at the Commercial Hotel.

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Our sail up the Murray continues on after leaving Morgan yesterday. The river is in minor flood putting many jettys underwater and meaning we are pushing into a fairly strong downstream flow at times. The people we met in Morgan were lovely and very helpful and I feel its a town many grey nomads should take the time to visit.

-- Edited by Trailer Sailer on Saturday 9th of July 2022 03:40:42 AM

-- Edited by Trailer Sailer on Saturday 9th of July 2022 03:42:10 AM

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Today we sailed to a Winery with an outdoor art exhibition. Caudo Winery is right on the banks of the Murray and featured a huge tree with marks showing all the major flood heights back to the big one in 1956. We also had a lovely lunch there with wine of course before sailing onward after lunch. Sorry all kept trying to attach photos but perhaps there is insufficient signal here.

-- Edited by Trailer Sailer on Sunday 10th of July 2022 08:50:39 PM

-- Edited by Trailer Sailer on Sunday 10th of July 2022 08:53:22 PM

-- Edited by Trailer Sailer on Sunday 10th of July 2022 08:54:09 PM

-- Edited by Trailer Sailer on Sunday 10th of July 2022 08:56:25 PM

-- Edited by Trailer Sailer on Sunday 10th of July 2022 08:58:54 PM

yobarr · Guru

Trailer Sailer wrote:
Today we sailed to a Winery with an outdoor art exhibition. Caudo Winery is right on the banks of the Murray and featured a huge tree with marks showing all the major flood heights back to the big one in 1956. We also had a lovely lunch there with wine of course before sailing onward after lunch. Sorry all kept trying to attach photos but perhaps there is insufficient signal here.

Hi Graeme. Thanks for the great pictures you've been posting for us. Very interesting. Hope you don't mind me pointing out to you that it is very easy to delete each 'edited' note when you decide to again edit a post, as I have done with your post. Makes the page much tidier! Cheers

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

No problems with advice yobarr but tried exactly that and it came up with You are not authorised to carry out that action?

-- Edited by Trailer Sailer on Sunday 10th of July 2022 09:19:42 PM

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

We have reached Waikerie now after passing through Lock 2 on the Murray Today. Yesterday we visited a riverside winery Caudo Winery for la lovely unch and viewed their outdoor art exhibition which was originally on The Queensgate Pier. They also had all the significant Murray River flood heights marked on a huge riverside gum tree.

-- Edited by Trailer Sailer on Monday 11th of July 2022 10:31:59 PM

Ivan 01 · Guru

Is this true.?

Asking for a friend. biggrin biggrin

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-12/naturists-sailing-adventure-helps-destigmatise-nakedness/101227634?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web

Craig1 · Guru

biggrin Graeme, do you have a " designated sailor " after all these winery visits, or just sleep the afternoon away ?

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

No I remain under the limit at all times I am perfectly sure and any weaving is just tacking under sail! I have yet to see an on water random breath testing station but I believe they do exist at some boat ramps. Nothing to hit out here but the bank and more likely to do that falling asleep at the helm gently drifting under sail perfectly sober.

Ivan 01 · Guru

I would avoid Sydney Harbour and many common waterways in NSW.

It is also not uncommon to be breath checked on the Murray during holiday times especially.
You are lucky because it is mainly directed at water skiers and jet skis.

They can and do check boat operators in Qld as well.

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Thanks and yes I know there are hot spots. Its a bit like Marine cops at boat ramp checks however in that the authoritiesoften leave yachts alone as I have been told they figure generally they are operated by slightly more skilled operators as they need more knowledge than start the engine point and accelerate and can also generally self rescue when engines breakdown or fuel runs out. Lots of very skilled powerboaters out there but it can be harder to differentiate them.

-- Edited by Trailer Sailer on Wednesday 13th of July 2022 01:18:21 PM

86GTS · Guru

Over our years of boating we've been "apprehended" by water police quite a few times mainly on the Gippsland Lakes & at Mallacoota.
Luckily our boat's a dry boat.
Alcohol & water don't mix, particularly that one decent sized glass of wine will almost put you over the limit.

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Well our Imexus trailer sailer definitely isnt a dry boat. We dont drink and sail or motor but set out with over 12 litres of wine and have had to replenish! Wine time on the back deck when warmer or tucked up around the dining table inside is a pretty regular feature of the trip and one of the nice things of sailing in company.

86GTS · Guru

Next time you have your next annual medical check & blood test check your liver function.
After 50 years of drinking mostly wine (in moderation), my liver function is not all that wonderful.
I now only enjoy wine three days per week. smile

Alcohol induced dementure in the elderly is also becoming quite common.

My days of coming back home from the Riverland loaded with boxes of good quality wine at a great price are unfortunately over.

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Fortunately I have never drunk to excess and boringly only ever been drunk once in my life. 12 litres between 2 to sometimes 4 people when hosting over 3 weeks averages less than a big glass of wine a day each staying well within general health guidelines. Thanks for your concern but shouldnt be a problem I feel.
As both Clare and I being wine enthusiasts however its sometimes hard to stop after that second big glass but a bottle between two a few times a week which is our usual limit, very occasionally breached!
Retirement and long evenings on our back verandah overlooking the water or now on the yacht have increased our consumption somewhat.
The perfect riverside ( in the river) camp site every night watching the sun go down over the water is a trap I will admit but hence my promotion of free camping via trailer sailer as a viable alternative to caravans, camper trailers, motorhomes and tents.
Its not something I see even trailable powerboats with accommodation cabins do very often at all whilst almost mandatory amongst cruising trailer sailers.
Its something about the more relaxed pace of life whilst sailing I personally feel.
Today we were handed between yachts scones, jam and cream at afternoon tea time on water which were cooked whilst sailing by our experienced friends travelling in company. Another luxury in part generated by the relaxed pace of sailing.
Tonight Clare is cooking up a storm in the galley whilst we are tied to the bank after just returning from evening drinkies on our friends yacht tied 30 meters down the river bank.

Craig1 · Guru

Not sure how many mozzies are down as far as you Graeme, but we had some Murray Valley Encepholitis earlier this year, so keep safe when having your little sip.