Nordhavns gather for first Australian Rendezvous
Participants dub themselves “The Bottom Dwellers Club”

Spring 2010

By Karen Davidson

The Bottom Dwellers Club was formed in 2008 by Graham and Margarita Weir, owners of N43 Barquita and my husband Alan Davidson and me (we own N43 Opal Lady) one evening after a few cold drinks. At every opportunity, a glass is raised when any Aussie Nordhavns get together (and if you didn’t know that already, you certainly would have gleaned it once you reached the bottom of this story.)

After having spent 12 months in Tasmania, Opal Lady completed her second Bass Strait crossing as she headed north for the season. As Alan and I day-hopped up the New South Wales coast, we dropped in to visit the owner of N57 Speedbird, Jack Felgate. Over a few drinks hosted by Jack at his Burraneer Bay Marina slip in Port Hacking, the next meeting of the Bottom Dwellers was planned. Graham and Karen contacted as many Australian and visiting Nordhavns for the gathering (at very short notice) in the Hawkesbury at Castle Lagoon the following weekend.

We weren’t sure what to expect attendance-wise considering the single week’s time everyone had been given to prepare and hightail to the Hawkesbury. But an impressive group we were: Opal Lady N43, Barquita N43, Suprr N46, Elfrida Beetle N47 (previously Star Sapphire). All had made their way to Castle Lagoon on Friday to secure some of the National Park moorings before the rest of the boating public stopped work for the weekend. We met on Elfrida Beetle for Happy Hour Friday evening as the clouds moved in and the heavens opened. The sun shone on Saturday and Graham took to the water with wetsuit and scourer to give all boats a bum clean whilst chatting to everyone and moving from boat to boat. We had time to peruse each other’s boats and exchange ideas before preparing for “the Meeting” on Saturday night. As the sun was setting we all enjoyed beer, wine and nibblies on Opal Lady, making a special toast to Nordhavns, Australia, and P.A.E.’s president Dan Streech. (Thanks for the drinks Dan!!)

Our special guests, friends Vivienne and Kathy on Seawind Catamaran 1160, Vivacious, arrived just before dark and by using our bosuns’ chair, Alan and Viv winched me up the mast for a birds’ eye view and photo moment. Also joining us was Seawind 1000, Crew Rest, Sandy and Marg Howard.

As the mist was lifting off the bay early Sunday morning we had a visit by Nordhavn 55 Moana Kuewa, who days earlier had just off loaded from Dockwise. Owner/operator Christine Bauman and her brother Jeff bought her down on their way south to Tasmania. That evening they hosted dinner for the “Bottom Dwellers”, with all contributing to a wonderful dinner.

Our little rendezvous attracted the eyes of many Nordhavn Dreamers, amongst them the famous Dick Smith, Entrepreneur, Adventurer and Selene 59, Ulysses II owner. Slowly into the bay he came admiring the sight of five Nordhavns in one spot, something he hadn’t seen before!! That’s because we haven’t had five in one bay in Australia before!!

Camaraderie in the States amongst Nordhavn owners has always been tight and we don’t think it is any different here in Australia. Whenever we get the opportunity to meet other owners, we have always formed friendships that span the miles across the country. This weekend has certainly cemented these relationships – that although existed before – have been taken to a new level. At the completion of the weekend, Suprr, Elfrida Beetle and Barquita returned to their moorings on Pittwater and Opal Lady continued their passage north. Moana Kuewa continued cruising the Hawkesbury.

Future cruising plans…

Elfrida Beetle: Paul and Christy Taylor  plan to cruise Pittwater and the Hawkesbury with their family consisting of two pooches and one Pussycat and become familiar with the boat before going further afield in 2011.

Suprr:  Bob and Margaret Edwards, are in the process of preparing the boat to head to Cairns where Margaret will join Bob for a cruise ‘over the top’ to Broome and down the west coast to join the VDL (Van Diemens Land) Circumnavigation Cruise in Tasmania in February 2011.

Barquita: Graham and Margarita Weir, enjoy many short cruises around Pittwater, the Hawkesbury, and Sydney Harbour awaiting Graham’s retirement from Qantas Airlines. They also help out by crewing whenever his schedule allows on Nordhavns around the country.

Opal Lady: Karen and Alan Davidson, are travelling north up the East Coast to join the Louisiades Rally, PNG from Cairns, we will be cruising the Great Sandy Straits, Whitsundays and Hinchinbrook Island regions on the way and hopefully catch up with those Nordhavns that were unable to make our Rendezvous. Before the cyclone season commences we will head south to Brisbane to prepare to join the Sail Around Australia Rally 2011. www.opallady.com