Sailing The World

Catamaran Bonova

Sailing the World

About Us

My name is Chris Johnston. I am married to Lisa Johnston. We live and work on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland Australia. I am a professional engineer who has spent the last 40 years in product development, both in private and public companies. I am now retired and can devote considerable time to my passion of sailing. Lisa has a wide spread of interests including the running of our manufacturing and import company, looking after our beautiful house and gardens and tending to our grandchildren. Lisa enjoys sailing but only participates from time to time.
This website was created as my indulgence, in order to record what will probably be the last of my sailing adventures. Others are welcome to read my commentary on this site should they be interested, but before doing so I would ask that they read the Disclaimer and Privacy Policy referenced below.

The Plan

Over the last decade we have owned several sailing boats, including 3 catamarans. We have sailed once in the Pacific, but mainly on the east coast of Australia. 2020 was going to be the time to branch out further afield but Covid presented itself and derailed those plans, but despite Covid I determined that 2022 was the year to push forward and consequently ordered a Fontaine Pajot Tanna 47 for delivery in July 2022.

Unfortunately, due to parts shortages the delivery of the boat from the factory was delayed until October 22, and then we decided to leave the boat in La Rochelle over the winter break.

The plan is fluid and involves several key elements :-

Pick up and finalising the commissioning in France (late March 23)
Sailing in the Med for at least 3 years
Shipping the boat back to Australia (Mooloolaba)

The plan will have to allow for Shengen visa regulations only allowing us as Australian citizens 90 days in every 180 days in the Schengen region.

Blog

The purpose of this website is to provide a blog of the journey in ordering the boat, commissioning the boat, post manufacture modification, and provide a record of our travels, as well as any philosophical musings made from time to time. Any opinions expressed herein are purely our own and applicable to our own particular circumstances.

Blog posts are divided into Philosophy, Technical and Travel.