The Yacht


Sail Training

Sail Training...

Introduction to Sailing
$440
1 live-aboard weekend

Competent Crew
$880
2 live-aboard weekends

Yachtmaster Practical
$440
Exam Coaching live-aboard weekends

RYA Theory...

RYA Yachtmaster Theory
$990
3 weekends 8-4pm

RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory
$990
10 4-hr standalone modules

Ocean Sailing...

Mate of Watch Course will be available on the
Sydney-New Caledonia passage in September 2023
And again on the New Caledonia-Bundaberg passage in October

Yachtmaster Ocean Qualifier will be available on the
Sydney-New Caledonia passage in September 2023
And again on the New Caledonia-Bundaberg passage in October
* See pricing note at foot of page


Important Information

Sailing Calendar

What you get for your money

Training weekend information

Student reviews

Global Ethics

Training enquiry form


Saloon looking forward to port

The Yacht

Loquax is a 60 foot 'ultra-light' cruiser

Custom designed and built in Shropshire, England, in 1992. Now just under 18 metres in length, Loquax is a very strongly built, fast, ocean-going, light-displacement sloop, built of continuous lay-up GRP that has now logged close to 50,000 sea miles. Don't let the words light-displacement fool you. On the centre-line her hull is 37mm thick solid GRP.




On-going improvements and renewals

Loquax has been undergoing some changes since she joined The Ocean Sailing Club. She was hauled out in Port Stephens and all her anti-fouling paint was removed, right back to the original gel-coat. Even her osmosis-resisting epoxy paint was stripped off and three new layers of epoxy were rollered on before the latest anti-foul was applied.

While she was out of the water, all her bronze skin-fittings were replaced and new sea-cocks fitted before she was re-launched. Incidentally the surveyor reports her hull thickness measured at the skin-fittings was: 18mm of solid fibreglass on her topsides, 25mm below the waterline, increasing to 37mm on the centreline.

With her standing rigging replaced over the last 3-4 years, her Coursemaster hydraulic self-steering to make it a more relaxed voyage for her crew. a new roller furler and forestay, a new SOLAS 8-person life-raft, life-jackets, harnesses & tethers and all new man-overboard equipment, she has been brought up to the UK's MCA class XII standard for ocean sailing unsupported, off-shore.

Last time we were in Whangerai, she was hauled and painted and we expect to
the same again this October while we are over there.

For her 2017 cruises, she got all new running rigging, a new larger, "Ian Short" Genoa which, with her code zero reacher and prodder has improved her light wind sailing.

It is hoped that shortly she will start carrying AIS for better safety.


Specification

Designed for short-handed ocean sailing, Loquax...

has crash-bulkheads fore and aft
carries moderate sail (similar to a 45 footer)
has a very long waterline
relatively narrow beam

These combine to give

a comfortable ride without sacrificing boat speed and with
the minimum of sail handling

Inventory

Machinery
  55 kW Mercedes Benz diesel engine (new 1998)
  Sonic Sail drive
  1.5 kW 240v inverter
Navigation
  Radar
  H.F. (sideband) long range radio
  VHF ship to shore radio
  Electronic charts
  GPS
Safety
  Water-tight bulkheads fore and aft
  8 person SOLAS Ocean life-raft
  life-jackets & life harnesses
  flare-packs
Tender
  3.2m rigid inflatable
  Yamaha 5 hp outboard
Galley
  gas stove with oven and grill
  microwave
  refrigerator
 

2023
Ocean Sailing

Sydney - New Caledonia

22nd September - 6th October
-----
New Caledonia - Bundaberg

28th October - 10th November

14 day RYA Ocean Yachtmaster Qualifier - $2100 AUD

Fun Sailing
Sail Training

Sail The Pacific Lagoons of New Caledonia

8th - 27th October

3 x 7 days cruises of fun sailing, mile-building and maybe some training - $1150 AUD

-----
Sail The Great Barrier Reef

14th - 30th November

2 x 7 days cruises of fun sailing, mile-building and maybe some training - $1150 AUD

Coastal Sailing

Mackay - Southport

2nd December - 8th December
-----
Southport - Sydney

9th December - 16th December

2x 7 day RYA Yachtmaster mile-builders - $1050 AUD

* See pricing note at foot of page