Kelly Turpin, Author at The Captain & The Cook

About Kelly Turpin

Kelly has a Bachelor of Ecotourism and a passion for the natural world. Before her life as a full-time traveller and freelance writer, she was a personal trainer and has also worked as a snorkelling guide on the Great Barrier Reef. Kelly has written, and published, educational children's activity books and is now dabbling at writing a cookbook. She has raised three sons, operated her own business and spent two years travelling around Australia - towing a fishing boat and living in a tent. Kelly and her hubby now live on their 45ft sailing yacht. They plan to sail slowly around the world, visiting as many places as possible.

Sailing – Fraser Island to Island Head Creek

We left Mooloolaba early and had a horrible rolly sail to Wide Bay Bar. It was a disgusting sail, Thorfinn was being tossed from side to side as the three metre swell hit us broadside. However, we had no problems crossing the bar and were soon sailing in the flat protected waters of Fraser Island, aahh bliss. After stopping the first night at an anchorage called Garry’s we went on to Kingfisher Bay. We took the dinghy ashore and went for a walk. After having a good look around we found ourselves back at the jetty just in time to see a couple of humpback whales put on a show for the arriving on the barge.

Sailing – Gold Coast To the Sunshine Coast

After an overnight sail from the Clarence River we arrived at the Seaway Spit. This is another bar crossing and Dwayne told me to take the helm on this crossing. I’d like to tell you that the swell was huge and the waves were crashing all around us, and that I held my nerve and navigated through the wild seas with courage and skill….. however, it was fairly flat, little to no waves breaking, and although I crossed the bar unaided I don’t think there was anytime I needed an extraordinary amount of skill or courage. I just followed my GPS! BUT Dwayne says a bar crossing is a bar crossing and I can now say I have helmed over one.

Sailing the Clarence River

On our sail from Coffs Harbour to Yamba on the Clarence River. I saw my first water spout! The sailing was down wind the entire way and Dwayne spent most of the day at the wheel. Crossing the bar into the Clarence River was not the most fun I’ve ever had. We crossed at low tide with a 2.5+ metre swell and blowing 25 knots. We found out later that day that the fishing boats had not gone out that day… and if the fishing boat don’t cross the bar, you shouldn’t. Oops!….

Coffs Harbour

We anchored between the jetty and the breakwater in Coffs Harbour about 1630. As soon as we set the anchor we had to clean the Marlin we’d caught. A big messy job! Our bait board, on which we usually clean our fish, was just a little too small (2 metres too small) so we cut the marlin up on the cabin top…. Wait! Did you say Marlin? Yep… read on for more about our tasty catch!

Sailing Port Stephens

We enjoyed Port Stephen in beautiful mild winter weather. We had some luck fishing and also caught an octopus. We saw a penguin and had a close up experience with a couple of humpback whales. Port Stephens is a wonderful sailing and cruising destination.

Sailing Broken Bay

Broken Bay is a short trip north of Sydney. It is the mouth of the Hawkesbury River; picturesque and made up of so many nooks and crannies! So much to explore we spent three weeks there. Unfortunately we both got sick and the exploring the Ku-ring-Gai National Park was restricted to a minimum. We spent the first night at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in Pittwater. They were very welcoming and it was a good opportunity to get all the washing done and fill up with water. Our next stop was Refuge Bay where we met some fellow live-aboard cruisers via the Ham radio…

Sailing – Sydney Harbour

We arrived at the heads of Sydney Harbour on a cold bleak wet day. The rain, driven hard into our unprotected faces, was painful to say the least. We anchored the first night in Blackwattle Bay, near the Sydney Fish Markets, and headed in to Darling Harbour for a look around. During our time here we had a visit from a couple of our boys and we were here at the right time to enjoy the Vivid Sydney light festival.

Sailing – Jervis Bay to Port Hacking

Jervis Bay is a travellers delight. Whether you are travelling on land or in your own sailboat, Jervis Bay is a place of abundant beautiful, natural attractions and things to do. A popular place for fishing, scuba diving, whale watching and bush walking; it is a place rich in maritime history and indigenous culture. With beaches of fine white sand, rugged cliffs and natural forest, Jervis bay was high on our list of places to explore.

Sailing – Eden to Ulladulla

By the time we arrived in Eden we were well and truly ready for a night on shore… well an evening anyway. So we did our chores and had a couple of drinks onboard before heading to the pub for dinner. The pub served great meals at a very reasonable price and we let loose a bit and partied into the night. Headaches in the morning, but more chores needed to be done so, while Dwayne slept, Katrina and I walked to town and did the washing, shopping…

About Kelly Turpin

Sailing – Fraser Island to Island Head Creek

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Sailing – Gold Coast To the Sunshine Coast

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Sailing the Clarence River

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Coffs Harbour

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Sailing Port Stephens

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Sailing Broken Bay

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Sailing – Sydney Harbour

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Sailing – Jervis Bay to Port Hacking

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Sailing – Eden to Ulladulla

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About Kelly Turpin

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Booking.com

I’m thinking of getting an electric scooter…