Sept. - Oct. 2011 - The Coastal Passage Home Page

Sail on Vicky
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Vicky Millar (nee Applegate). Vicky was the owner and skipper of
Rum Raider sailing catamaran taking part in nearly all the sailing regattas and rallies with her husband Scott Millar in North
Qlds over the past 20 years. Sailing was a very important part of her life and she just loved Airlie Beach. She had a big
smile, a big heart and was involved in anything to do with sailing - including working at the Whitsunday Sailing Club and
Secretary for the Abel Point Yacht Club for many years. At just 40 years of age, she lost her long battle with cancer on
23rd August 2011. She will be sadly missed by her husband Scott, all her family and the sailing community of Airlie
Beach.
Steve Halter
Vicky Millar and Airlie Beach were just meant to be. It’s hard to imagine one without the other. Vicky is gone now and the
town must go on diminished. She personified the best of the place, coming across a bit unhinged at times (an act), full of
fun and never mean.
At the 05 Rendevous TCP provided a treasure chest filled with.. well treasure.. Diamonds and other gems, silver, gold
and pearls. We had a lay day sail and all that participated entered a poker card draw. She won with the Queen of Hearts
so that’s what we called her and it fit. It was the feel good moment for everyone as word had gotten around, she had
recently been diagnosed with a tumour, the thing that eventually overcame her. Years later we met at the marina and she
was wearing the sapphire and diamond ring from the lot she won that day. She showed it off with that patented grin.
And man could she sail! Her old boat, Triple Vision went better than it should have with her at the helm, sometimes to the
brink of disaster. The last time I saw her sailing I was up north right after cyclone Ului. I was crewing on Cheetah for the
Warri Cup and the only boat that passed us was Rum Raider. There she was, pirate emblem on her hat, bikini, one hand
wrapped around a drink and the other on the tiller. She looked back, gave a little smile and was gone.
Bob Norson
of boaties as they are received here. Cheers Mate..
Bob n Kay
Is Cruising Still
Worth It?
Dear TCP,
I would hope the number of "honest, hardworking
people with these agencies" are grateful for the
coverage we give as the under-performers must make
their job all the harder in the office. Out on the water,
an agent doing their job properly and with respect for
the public is very unlikely to get anything but gratitude
from boaties.
Re: Letter by Claude Millot (TCP#49).
A cruiser who had help from MSQ during the floods at
Bundaberg December 2010
Well it is good to hear that MSQ were helpful to Claude as they,
apparently, did very little for the majority of boaties on the Burnett
We are currently in the throes of acquiring a 35 foot yacht
which we intend to use for cruising here in Australia as well
as abroad. I'll return to this in a minute. I have only just
recently come across the existence of TCP and I have to
say that it makes for both fascinating and enjoyable reading.
Due to the luxury of the internet, I have now read quite a lot
of editions! I would like to extend my appreciation to all the
people behind TCP for making the publication available.
Please keep up the good work.
However, reading the various editions has left me
somewhat bewildered and very, very concerned. As
mentioned we are in the middle of getting hold of a yacht in
And thanks for the kind words on the paper. See
pages 4&5 to become more familiar with how it all
comes together.
And Jack, now you are a part of “all the people behind
TCP” so give go find a mirror and thank yourself!
And just one more thing. The letter below was
addressing a letter very similarly concerned about the
future of cruising published in TCP # 47.
Cheers,
Bob
River that I know of. Saying that, MSQ, the police or the military
do not have any water based assets here. There is a rib with
'Patrol' on its side that is seen on rare occasions on the Burnett in
daylight on fine weather.
Claude's story was, of course, not the full story as he was not
present as the river rose. His good fortune was, in a small part,
due to the actions of other 'liveaboard' and local boaties,
including myself, that spent many days cutting away weed from
mooring lines and anchor chains on his boat and many others
around him. This may have saved his vessel from further
damage from other dragging vessels. These dragging vessels
could have added to the bank of three that he was sandwiched in
between. The drama that occurred is only known to those that
which to do some cruising, but after reading the seemingly
never ending stories of various government agencies
attitude to making themselves feel at home where and
whenever they see fit has left me wondering whether we are
buying a little piece of heaven or sailing straight into the
depths of hell!
I don't doubt that there are many honest, hard working
people within these agencies that truly are trying their best
in what I'm sure can, at times be a somewhat difficult job, but
the stories (and my concerns) persist. I love the water; I've
spent my entire life on it from one extent to another. But I am
actually beginning to wonder if it's all worth it. I just hope that
I'm wrong.
Regards,
Jack Swanston
Hi Jack.
The last 5 or ten years have been quite troublesome for the
boating community, especially in Queensland. Without a
voice standing up to those in power you might find out too
late that it may not be worth it to you. Quite a few of our old
friends that remember the best of times have quit but most
have stayed. The reasons are that they (the stayers) figure
it is a thing worth standing up for and we (TCP) have been
able to make progress.
We feel it is our responsibility to support and inform the
boating community when officialdom assumes powers it
doesn't have in law or breaks the law outright, and they do.
The balance between that and reporting on the wonderful
side of cruising is often a matter of reflecting the concerns
The answer
is...YES
Greetings Kay and Bob,
Many thanks as always for the great TCP magazine.
The short letter from Tristan (TCP47) has stuck in my
mind and begs for a thought from this little black duck.
Where bureaucracy is concerned, some annoyance is
generated for the boatie that's for sure, but not enough
to give the show away. Most rules are instigated for a
good enough reason but as we all know, poor drafting
of rules, undesired consequences and slack
administration take a toll. However we boaties have
the unique advantage of always being able to head off
to some corner of this vast and wonderful cruising
ground to find our peace. No body does it better than
us.
Our other “secret” weapon is TCP and the fearless
team of Bob and Kay. You guys keep the bastards
honest (or at least on their toes and doing their jobs
better). Thanks heaps from all of us.
Pete Giller,
She looked back, gave a little smile and was gone.
were involved from the beginning and has yet, and will probably
never be, collated and told.
The flood enquiry is yet to hear about the Burnett River floods,
and when they do get around to it, they will only hear from
selected witnesses. So the enquiry will also probably not get the
full story.
The Midtown Marina staff, I might add, were not sitting on their
hands during the disaster and the owner of the business lost
more than most boaties and other business people in
Bundaberg. As Jan said in her reply, he worked until he dropped.
What I might add is that he worked until he nearly drowned.
Geoff White,
Sailing catamaran 2Abreast
Thanks Geoff
A thought came to mind reading your letter and recalling
comments from other yachts regarding the absence of help
during the floods and the explanation that there was no boat
based in Bundaberg. I believe the RIB you describe is based in
Urangan and we assume it is kept on a trailer when not in use.
So, did MSQ have a
trailerable boat
within a 2 hour
drive? Were the
roads closed at that
time?
Cheers
Bob