read testimonial - Schionning Designs

Our skipper Denis had work commitments and was unable to continue the journey from this point
and flew back to Gold Coast from Sydney. Dennis had been a great educator, demonstrating the
need to err on the side of caution when travelling in Baby 2, always having a back‐up plan in some
cases a back up back up plan. I must say I learned more about seamanship in the few days I was with
him the in the previous fifty years. Dennis approach to the sea was calm, methodical, exercising
impeccable judgement with safety and comfort of those on board the vessel as his main task. I make
special mention of this as his advice prompted me to take refuge from failing weather conditions
earlier than I would have normally further north.
The following morning we left Sydney harbour reporting into Marine Rescue that our next
destination would be Newcastle and expected to report into Swansea at 2130 hours. The operator
questioned my eta based on the fact that we a Catamaran under power. I explained with a high
degree of confidence that Baby 2 would average 8.44 knots and that my calculation were correct.
The Honda motors had delivered exceptional performance over 544 nm of the journey stopping only
for refuelling that equates to continuous running for 64.5 hours. At 21.33 hours I reported in to
Swansea Marine Rescue report our position as 5 nm due east of entrance to Lake Macquarie. Ahead
of me I could see the line up of coal carriers the Furuno radar adequately pin pointed their positions
and navigation to the stern of each was made easy.
As night fell the ships were well lit and provided some relief from the monotony of the dark sky. I
reported in at Newcastle advising of our intention to travel through the night. The weather pattern
looked good for the next 24 to 36 hours.
We passed Port Stephens the home of Jeff & Loraine Schionning the designers of Baby 2 (Waterline
13.20) I would have like to show them the unfinished project boat and report to them she had
proved to be very seaworthy. My confidence in the performance of the Catamaran grew steadily
hour by hour and day by day, the boats’ satiability in rolling sea was outstanding response to
corrections in course from the autopilot. Early the next morning we were given the once over by a
school of dolphins that swan under and around Baby 2 for quiet sometime if I did not know better
one could be forgiven in thinking they were checking “Baby 2” out as it slipped through the water.
After an eyeball at us they left us to continue or journey onto Port Macquarie.
As per our schedule we radio to Port Macquarie Marine Rescue and sought advice on the bar
crossing. I was advised all was okay on the bar with plenty of water, I was instructed that the best
approach was to head 250meters north of the bar and track back approaching somewhat in a North
Easterly approach. As “Baby 2” gained moment from the swell our approach was made the more
interesting when I glanced behind and cold see one of the swell had picked up and approaching from
the rear. I recall a comment from a seasoned sailor Anthony from Yaringa who had told me that the