“I had an 11m yacht that I built in my backyard in Woonona. It took 18 years to build. The kids next door were convinced I knew something – that it was going to flood!

I was in the merchant’s service for about 4 years when I was about 24. I went to sea as ship’s electrician…

Later a friend and I sailed from Wollongong up to Scarborough, North Brisbane. We did a two month trip as far as Bowen It’s a wonderful feeling of freedom. It’s more than that; a boat under sail is a marvellous creature because it moves virtually silently. You are going across the water and it’s almost absolutely silent, the only sound is the wash from the bower as you go through the water. It’s a super, super experience.”