Unexpected Journey - 11. UJ Chapter 11

For the next three months, Hans, Anna and I were kept busy with completing all the requirements for getting the business operational in Australia, and while this was happening, the three other crew members were able to get some casual work down in Fremantle, and they remained living onboard the yacht, and spent 2 hours a day, 4 days a week, training the three trainee sailors all about sailing on the yacht, as they would be returning home, when their visas expire.

Mum and I had agreed to accommodate and feed the crew even while the yacht is preparing to set up the business, using money from Great Uncle’s inheritance to cover all costs, and once a fortnight, I invited the two Kingsley families, to join us on a weekend cruise to Rottnest Island, which they happily accepted.

When the time came to farewell Sven, Marcus and Ingrid, we had a big party in the shed, two days before their departure, and I handed over a bonus to each of their as a farewell gift. Harrison, Stanton and Jackson were now fully trained to do any job on the yacht, to do with galley hand, stewarding to deckhand, and although we no longer had an official engineer, Hans is qualified enough to deal with any issues that may pop up.

With the new crew now in place and all the setting up of the business completed, we were no ready for our first official sailing cruise, which would be a three-day cruise up to Jurien Bay, with an overnight stop at Lancelin on the way up.

Leaving at 0900 hours on day one, the cruise would arrive in Lancelin at approximately 1300 hours, giving the guests the remainder of the afternoon, to see the sites of the small coastal town. The next morning we will leave at 0900 hours, and arrive in Jurien Bay, at approximately 1300 hours, giving the guests the rest of the day to enjoy the fast-growing town.

On Day Three of the cruise, we would depart at 0800 hours, for the return journey, stopping briefly at Guilderton, for a two hours visit, and arriving back at the Ocean Reef Boat harbour at 1800 hours. Within three hours of announcing on our website of the first cruise, it was fully booked.

We made sure that the terms and conditions are fully laid out and include each adult guest having to provide one 70 points primary photographic identification, and one 40 points secondary photographic identification, of which both are to have a current residential address on it.

Or they must have one 40 points secondary photographic identification and one 25 points secondary photographic identification, of which both are to have a current residential address on it, plus two 25 points secondary identification, to reach the required 100 points.

On the same week that we announced online he first cruise, the family lawyers received notice that the state government was offering us a small amount of money for the land that had the shed and house on it. After a brief discussion with Mum, we contacted out lawyers and told them to go to court and get a court order, to put a stop any state or federal compulsory land acquisition plans.

Within two days the news had received the media, and it was the main headlines in the stated leading newspaper, The West Australian. “Madsen Sailing Adventures, the owners of foreshore land adjoining the Ocean Reef Boat Harbour, has submitted an application to prevent any State or Federal compulsory land acquisition after the State government made an offer to purchase the land, which has been in the family since the early 1980s.

In a statement by the family lawyers, Madsen Sailing Adventures plans to stay at Ocean Reef, no matter what the cost is in law fees and court appearances.

Because of administrative errors on the part of the state government, for not noticing that some of the lands where they plan to build yet another marina, of which there are already enough along the Western Australian coastline, is freehold land purchased decades ago, the company sees no reason why they cannot remain there.

The Madsen lawyers suggested that if the State government wishes to build a marina, that maybe they should consider upgrading an existing marina, instead of ruining the already delicate coastline.

Over the next six months, the crew and I were kept exceptionally busy with up to two to four cruises a week, with the majority of the cruises being overnight cruises to Rottnest Island, or two-day cruises to Guilderton & Lancelin.

There had been no bookings for morning cruises during the first two months of operation, so they were scrapped altogether, while the afternoon and evening cruises, were only available once a week. With the suggestion of one of the passengers on the third cruise to Lancelin, who took his golf clubs with him, we were now planning to have a bi-monthly Golfing Cruise, that will take us to five coastal towns, where there is safe anchorage, to allow the golf passengers to spend a few hours playing golf on each of the golf courses in each town, over a six-day cruise.

I didn’t go on every cruise that we had, just mostly the ones that are more than overnight, so as to provide the extra help where needed. I was very happy with my new life with a yacht, a luxurious large home, and Mum was enjoying life, not having to work any more, and just enjoying living at the house, and coming on the occasional cruise.

The End