• Who We Are

    In April 2006, Bill and Susan Grun purchased a J/160, a 52-foot high performance sailing vessel built for speed and designed to cruise the oceans in comfort and style.  W [...]

    2006

  • New Year’s Eve in Sydney Harbour

    With friends coming from different directions to join us on Avante for New Year’s Eve, we were fortunate to find a berth at Point Piper Marina where everyone could meet [...]

    2012

  • Sydney Harbour!

    Thursday, December 27th – The weather is much improved over yesterday’s wind and rain as we lift anchor to head out of Broken Bay. We pass Barrenjoey Lighthouse on [...]

    2012

  • Christmas in Pittwater

    On February 12, 2012, The First Mate opened up an email from an unknown sender and received quite a pleasant surprise. Hello: My name is John Lamble and I am writing to you fr [...]

    2012

  • From Raby Bay to Pittwater

    “When you reach Brisbane, come directly to Raby Bay.” That is the invitation that we have been given by fellow J/160 owners Cyndy and Stephen Everett. . Raby Bay i [...]

    2012

  • The Sands of Frazier Island

    Thursday, November 29th – 0620 – We are up early and ready to leave Lady Musgrave Island to go almost 60nm to Bundaberg, but we still can’t see well enough u [...]

    2012

  • Aussie Specialness — It’s for Real

    Aussies are special people, we have decided.  Since 2006, we have been cruising first up the coast of California to the Pacific Northwest of Canada and Alaska.  Then [...]

    2012

  • To Australia and the Whitsunday Islands

    Wednesday, October 31st – It is a fine day as we motor north to exit through the passage opening of Chesterfield Reef. Once safely through the passage, we turn and sail [...]

    2012

  • Just Us and the Birds at Chesterfield Reef

    Just when we think we have seen it all, we learn about Chesterfield Reef.  We had not planned to go there.  It’s a bit off the track if one draws a straight line bet [...]

    2012