It was many moons from buying our boat to the first sail. But sail it we did – sort of. Our boat is a gorgeous 1976 Westail 32 named ‘Makroro’ (how to pronounce that properly, we’re still not sure), complete with moon and sun lead lighted portholes!

We purchased the boat in Manly QLD, but we live down in Newcastle NSW. So after finalising the sale, it was some weeks before we excitedly travelled up to take her out for her first sail. When we got there, I decided that the first thing we should do was to plumb the head to the holding tank (that’s the toilet for all those non-boaties out there). This was a bad idea. About four days later, after many trips to the Chandlery (the boat supplies shop), and many bouts of swearing and being covered in poop, we realised it was a way bigger job than we’d bargained for. So we said “F*** it, let’s hold our bowels and just go sailing already!”.
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