Turning a dream in to reality – buying a bareboat
May 6, 2025
Where it all began
I guess my story began in 1986 when I was at university studying to be a PE teacher. A friend and I hitch hiked from Canberra to the Whitsundays for an adventure as we had never traveled that far north before. We had no money (hence the hitch hiking) and camped by the side of the road or people who gave us lifts offered to put us up for the night.
We arrived in Airlie Beach and stayed in a backpackers for a week looking for work, eating rice flavoured with cup-a-soup satchels, as that was all that we could afford. A lovely lady at a travel agent felt sorry for us and gave us $50 to buy food and a 1-day pass for a boat trip around the islands. We used the day cruise not to sight see but to visit all the personnel departments at each resort and begged for a job.
A few days later when we were just about to be kicked out of the backpackers for not paying our board, we got a phone call from South Molle Island offering us bar jobs, which we gleefully accepted! We worked there for 3 months before having to return to university but loved the Whitsundays and vowed to come back to explore more of this paradise
My first bareboat charter (1989)
A few years later as a young teacher (with some savings finally) I organised a bareboat charter on a 44 ft Beneteau for myself and 6 mates. I said to them “Why just stay on one island when we can get our own boat and experience ALL the Islands?” “It not only covers our accommodation but also our travel and we can eat (and drink) cheaper than staying at a resort”.
The added bonus was the sailing aspect which I really loved, having never sailed before. The boys loved the idea and I even brought a Jolly Roger flag which we proudly flew to warn other boats to steer clear of us, which was a good thing as we were inexperienced sailors and needed plenty of room. We had a Kangaroo court, and for minor indiscretions you had to walk the plank or be keel-hauled for major crimes. It was the best holiday I had ever had and I vowed to come back again as often as possible.
This was also the start of my pirateering days……..
Pirates of the Hawkesbury
About 10 years ago (2008) I organised a houseboat trip for my crew including my good mate Paul who had developed a rare form of Motor Neuron disease and was wheelchair bound. He used to live on the south coast and spent all his childhood in his tinny catching fish and eating oysters off the rocks. He hadn’t been fishing or even on the water for 15 years due to his condition so I found the only wheelchair friendly houseboat in NSW and we booked a 3-day trip on the Hawkesbury for 10 motley crew.
We assigned each crew member a role like Skipper, First Mate, Quarter Master (self), Botanist, Bait Master, BBQologist, Ancient Mariner, Master of coin, Gunnery, Games Master and Cabin Boy. I found some pirate shirts and got our names and roles printed on them, plus bandannas, eye patches, earrings and skull rings. I even found an appropriate pirate flag which reads “The Beatings will continue…….until Morale Improves”.
It was a great weekend of bonding, fishing, playing cards, a few beers and reliving stories of our glory days. Besides catching up with your best mates, the scenery and serenity of just floating along the river with no neighbours or people to bother you is just blissful. We go every year now (sometimes twice) and it has become a great tradition with people referring to us as the “Pirates of the Hawkesbury”, and the owners of the houseboat call me Pirate Pete.
A return to the Whitsundays (finally)
In 2013 after a mortgage or two and several children I hadn’t been back to the Whitsundays since I left university and desperately wanted to take my family so they could experience the holiday of a lifetime that I had done two decades prior. My better half, who’s not really a boat person, was reluctant at first about the idea of chartering a bareboat, especially given my inexperience as a skipper, but I was confident she and the kids would love it and share my love of boats, sailing and exploring the Whitsundays.
I chose a sailing catamaran for our charter vessel which would be more stable, have more room to move and not feel as claustrophobic as a monohull, especially downstairs. We chose a Seawind 1160 called “Alchemist” for our 10-day adventure, loving the three-way folding doors creating a huge indoor/outdoor living space. We spent our first night in beautiful Nara Inlet where we caught fish for dinner and had a relaxing night sleep in the peacefully quiet and calm waters.
The next 7 days were like heaven on earth sailing around all the beautiful bays and beaches, visiting Whitehaven beach, island resorts for a cocktail and swim, snorkelling in the warm waters and catching lots of fish. The Seawind sailing cat was the perfect choice and so easy to live on and sail, especially for a novice like myself.
Turning a dream in to a reality
One clarifying day I said to myself, “Imagine doing this all the time? Why retire in one place?” I realised then and there that this is what I want to do when I retire; cruise around Australia and New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, the Carribean and the Mediterranean. I had no idea how I could afford this dream, so after 5 years of thinking, saving and researching, I came up with the idea of buying a yacht that I want to retire on, putting it into charter for 5-7 years while I save for retirement and build up my sailing skills.
Meanwhile the yacht is basically paying for itself, giving joy to others and we get to use it when not in charter. After much research I found the best all round yacht in the world was of course the Australian owned and designed Seawind 1260 (a newer, larger version of the 1160 we had chartered previously). It just won World Cruising Magazine’s “Best Yacht under 50 feet” so I’m very happy with my choice. And so a 30 year dream has become a reality.
Written by Pirate Pete
Other News
We recently had the pleasure of handing over a new Seawind 1260 in Sydney after it was shipped to Australia. After a 4 year wait, overcoming various challenges along the way, the owners finally took delivery and sailed her back to their home port in Victoria. Below is a delightful message just received of their experience…
Cruising Thailand’s Islands: First Look at the Seawind 1160 XL
David Cox, owner of a Seawind 1160 Light and Vice Commodore of the Multihull Cruising Yacht Club in Sydney, recently returned from a week-long adventure sailing Thailand’s Koh Chang Islands aboard the brand-new Seawind 1160 XL—serial number one, no less. His experience offers valuable insights for anyone considering Thailand as a cruising destination or evaluating the XL model’s capabilities.
Seawind Catamarans has a proud history of supporting its owners in many ways, one of the more notable being the conduct of rallies and regattas all over the world. In Australia these have occurred in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Whitsundays and Brisbane.
The Brisbane event has a long history. Indeed it was an an event in 2008 that I was invited to crew on a boat, Next Phase, and as a result ordered my first Seawind. So in 2025, after a false start earlier in the year due to adverse weather and a number of other issues we held a very successful regatta on 15, 15 and 16 November. The event was the product of an enthusiastic group of owners.
AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
Sydney, Australia – 3 October 2025
The much-anticipated Seawind 1270 has officially launched, and it’s poised to revolutionize the 40-foot catamaran market. This isn’t just an incremental update—it’s a complete redesign that builds on the legendary success of the Seawind 1260 while introducing features never before seen on a Seawind of this size.
From America’s Cup to Catamaran Cruising: The Epic Journey of Glenn Ashby
Brent Vaughan interviews Catamaran racing legend and America’s Cup hero, Glenn Ashby about his wild achievements that led him to become the fastest sailor alive and now cruising on the cruising lifestyle on a catamaran.
Glenn Ashby’s path to becoming sailing’s fastest catamaran legend began with a childhood moment that would define his career. At just three years old, sitting on the side of his father’s Arrow catamaran, he experienced the magic of a hull lifting clear of the water—everything going quiet as the boat accelerated smoothly through the breeze. “I was like, ‘Wow, this is unbelievable,'” Ashby recalls. “I really like going fast and I love flying a hull.”
Selling a catamaran is a major decision, and getting it right can make all the difference. Success comes down to the 4 P’s — Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. Present your boat like an open home with repairs, cleaning, and styling done upfront to avoid objections. Set the right price based on actual sold-boat data, not just online listings, to capture serious buyers during the crucial first weeks. Location matters too — marinas with easy access, services, and strong buyer demand (like Sydney, Gold Coast, or Opua) can speed up sales. Finally, a strong marketing mix is essential: professional photos, online listings, social media, YouTube, eDMs, and boat shows ensure your catamaran reaches the right global audience.
AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
Sydney, Australia – 26 August 2025
Seawind Catamarans Unveils All-New 1160 XL: The Evolution of a Legend
Complete redesign of proven offshore performer features over 30 major improvements.
Seawind Catamarans and Australian distributors Multihull Central today announced the launch of the highly anticipated next generation Seawind 1160 XL at the upcoming Sydney International Boat Show in November.
From New Zealand to France: A Professional Sailor’s Journey Home in an Outremer 51
When veteran ocean racer Mike Golding decided to transition from competitive sailing to family cruising, he knew exactly what he was looking for. The former Vendée Globe competitor, who had completed six around-the-world races in his illustrious career, needed a vessel capable of serious ocean passages while providing the comfort and space his family deserved. His choice? A late-model Outremer 51 purchased through Multihull Central’s New Zealand operation.
AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
Sydney, Australia – 14 August 2025
A new sailing podcast has been launched called ‘2 Hulls 1 Life’ hosted by Brent Vaughan, Managing Director of Multihull Central, who interviews inspirational sailors about their adventures cruising the world onboard their catamarans.
The show is designed to help educate, inform and inspire anyone who has considered the cruising lifestyle and explores subjects such as the Pacific rally, Sail Malaysia Rally, professional delivery crews, charter boat ownership, Seakeepers research and major passages crossing the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It will also delve into the design attributes of various cruising catamarans.
Fourteen knots of boat speed closehauled, 17 on a power reach and 20+ under kite – numbers normally associated with a supermaxi like Comanche, but here we’re referring to a pocket multihull that’s 24.2m shorter and a metre narrower, even with its amas outstretched like albatross wings.
The Corsair 880 is way easier to sail and considerably cheaper, and you can forget expensive ocean deliveries, marina fees,
slipping costs and the like. Drop the rig, raise the centreboard, fold the floats to reduce beam to 2.5m, then haul the little tri onto a dual-axle alloy trailer.
From Charter Investment to Pacific Paradise: How One Couple Made Their Cruising Dreams Reality
When Colonel David Burke first bought a Seawind 1160 and put it into charter, he had no idea it would become the foundation for an extraordinary Pacific cruising adventure. Now, sitting in the pristine Lau Group of Fiji aboard his upgraded Seawind 1260, David’s story demonstrates how charter boat ownership can be the perfect stepping stone to achieving blue water cruising dreams.
Paul Hooge and his wife transitioned from life in Colorado to full-time cruising after retiring. With little sailing experience, they purchased a Seawind 1370 and decided to commission it in Thailand instead of shipping it home. With support from local expert Phil Harper, they prepared the boat and joined the Sail Malaysia Rally—a multi-month cruising event from Langkawi through Malaysia, Indonesia, and Borneo.
The rally offered a mix of structured events and independent sailing, giving them access to stunning, less-traveled places like the Anambas and Natuna Islands. Along the way, they connected with local communities, joined parades, and received warm welcomes from various ports.
Despite initial inexperience, they successfully navigated the rally with help from fellow cruisers and the Seawind 1370’s performance. Paul praised the boat’s comfort, handling, and visibility, calling the journey both challenging and unforgettable.
AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
Sydney, Australia – 16 October 2024
Multihull Central are excited to announce an all-new Regatta on Sydney Harbour dedicated to Multihulls, with an offer extended to all cruising and racing catamarans and trimarans with accommodation, including owners of Seawind, Corsair and all other brands who would like to enjoy racing on the world’s greatest harbour.
AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
Sydney, Australia – 25 September 2024
Seawind Catamarans returns to the Melbourne Boat Show with Australian distributor Multihull Central, showing a brand new Seawind 1160 Lite catamaran now available to bareboat charter with Riviera Nautic on the Gippsland Lakes.
Maritime shepherd the fleet away from a visiting whale.
It’s certainly been a different winter on Sydney Harbour than usual, while there’s been plenty of sunshine, the breeze has not been so forthcoming. Normally winter consists of light sou-easters and the occasional fresh westerly, this time we’ve had gloriously sunny days with westerlies around five knots or lower, week after week, with a number of races abandoned as a result.
AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
Sydney, Australia – 5th September 2024
The world’s most popular sailing trimaran is making a resurgence in Australia with two brand new pre-sold Corsair 880s arriving in Sydney this week for assembly by distributor Multihull Central, alongside a third also on display.
The Bay to Bay Regatta had been on my bucket list for a few years now and seeing this year it landed on my birthday, I decided it was an opportunity not to be missed. So I phoned up my mate Steve Medwell who I used to sail Tornadoes and F18s with and invited him along for a ride. The ride was our new award winning Corsair 760 trimaran.
Whether you are a first time sailor, or an experienced around the world circumnavigator, the iconic Australian-owned and founded Seawind brand has a boat and design for you for all levels of experience and planned adventures. But with four boats that are only a few feet apart in length, it can get tricky to decide which is the right boat to choose and the best fit for you. So, we have put together these special buyers guide to help unpack the design concept behind each and its characteristics, its pros and cons, and who we recommend them for to help you select not necessarily the most expensive boat, but the best boat for you.
Cruz Club is a 12 month program designed to help equip would-be cruisers who are inspired to set off exploring the world by sea but don’t yet have the skills, experience or a boat to do it on and want to get prepared and do it right and avoid making costly mistakes along the way.
AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
The HH44 was met with enthusiasm and rave reviews at the Cannes Yachting Festival, when it made its international debut last month. Throngs of visitors came out to see the HH44, declaring it “spectacular”, “stunning”, “the future” and “the best boat in the show”.
HH Catamarans has named Multihull Central as the exclusive distributor for Australia and New Zealand as the up and coming brand of high performance catamarans releasing some innovative new designs and ramps up production for their new44 and 50foot models.
One of the world’s most popular and prolific YouTube sailing channels, Gone with the Wynns, have just announced their purchase of a new ecofriendly hybrid-electric HH44 sailing catamaran. The HH44 ‘Ocean Cruiser’ version is a high-performance cruising catamaran designed to sail around the world sustainably and efficiently while also providing a luxurious living platform for couples and families travelling the world.
Multihull Central announced the new Corsair 880 is on its way to Australia to be showcased at the upcoming Sydney International Boat Show.
A big day at Longreach as the first LR44 deck is turned following a successful resin infusion. Starting to take shape!
Tips for Delivery by Sea – Asia to Australia / New Zealand
The Summer of 2022 / 2023 has been and interesting journey for many of our customers taking delivery of boats over this period. With country borders being opened up in earnest, this saw new boat owners taking delivery of their cruising catamarans on mass, as we helped coordinate deliveries of 4 x Seawinds and 1 x HH50 from Asia back to Australia and New Zealand. We have gained some new and valuable insights for those considering taking delivery in Asia.
So here are some key points to consider…
AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Brent Vaughan from HH Catamarans distributor Multihull Central, takes the HH50-SC ‘Synergy’ out sailing off the Gold Coast to test how it sails in lumpy conditions and light winds. Here is the full account and transcript that accompanies the sailing video.
We plan to take our little Seawind 1000 catamaran ‘Seabbatical’ from Sydney Harbour, to Lady Musgrave Island. As I still have the demands of running a business and kids at school, this will be a mini seabbatical and so finding time is important but demanding.
The club has been formed with the objective of providing a means for multihull boat owners to build networks, learn about how others fix issues and engage in both cruising and racing/rallys whilst enjoying the social aspects that belonging to a club provides.
If you have ever considered swapping the suit & tie and air-conditioning, for deck shoes and salt air and running your own business, then a charter boat business might be just the thing you need to feed both your entrepreneurial and outdoor desires.
Charter boat ownership is a great way to accelerate buying your dream boat, profit from strong demand in the tourism industry and provides a fully managed solution to boat ownership while you are still busy working and with family commitments.
MCYC is not just about Thursday night Twilight racing. We hold rallies to other ports and we support each other cruising around Australia