Note to potential buyers

We are receiving a lot of interest in Sokari, lots of emails and phone calls. We respond to all emails received and are always happy to discuss her with anyone who is genuinely interested and to show people over her. If you are only browsing the boats and not really serious about buying, we would appreciate it if you would tell us. We'll still give you advice over the phone or by email if that's what you are after. If, on the other hand, you are really interested in Sokari, and wish to arrange an inspection, we'd appreciate it if you would do us the courtesy of giving us advance notice so that we can make arrangements to travel down to meet you.

We understand that everyone is looking for a bargain and there are some to be found. While we are negotiable on the price we have a limit and it's obviously not as low as some would like. We would, however, look at a real estate trade. But talk to us. Our phone number is 0418 886 794 so if interested you can ring us and have a chat. We do occasionally receive emails instructing us to "ring me" but we simply can't ring everyone who contacts us. If you can't afford a phone call, you can't afford the boat. If you're not prepared to ring, you aren't really interested.

Computer glitch

Boatpoint relisted Sokari today. There must have been a computer glitch that knocked it off the site. We must go in and note that she is at Cardwell now and that we are including a new Netbook and USB GPS Dongle in the sale.

SOKARI IS STILL FOR SALE

John received a huge shock last night when he logged in to do his regular check of our listing on Boatpoint and SOKARI WAS NOT THERE. There was simply a sign saying that the boat was no longer available. BS. So for anyone still interested in Sokari SHE IS STILL FOR SALE.

The other notable fact is that Sokari is no longer in Cairns. We have moved her to Cardwell.

Hopefully, Boatpoint will do the right thing and reinstate Sokari. We didn't cancel the listing. John is fanatical about renewing every month, despite the fact that Boatpoint is often lax in sending the renewal notification.

So, rest assured SOKARI IS STILL FOR SALE

2010 Sokari on the move

A couple of weeks ago Cyclone Olga fizzled over the coast with little effect on us as we sat in our favourite cyclone hole but when we returned to our mooring the strong northerly winds gave us a bit of curry for a couple of days. Olga wandered west then reformed heading SE and sent heavy rain and galeforce winds over Cairns. We were able to check out the boats on Cairns webcam and from our home on the Tablelands it appeared really horrendous. Phone calls and text messages were flooding into us from friends on their boats, and John considered racing down to be onboard in case of problems. But when he rang Cairns Met. he was told that they didn't expect anything higher than 20-25 knots. They were wrong and reports of 38 knots were reported from boats on the piles and other very experienced yachties anchored near our mooring said they experienced up to 50 knots. Many boats dragged damaging many more but Sokari's mooring held fast. Thank goodness. But perhaps that is due to the fact that John has the mooring serviced at least twice a year. It had only just be redone a few weeks prior. John drove down the next day and found no damage except the winds had done a job on her side covers so I guess I have another job, making new ones. John had wrapped line around the main and boom cover before the cyclone and left it there for security. He had also removed the wind generator to give it a service.

We recently purchased a new Netbook, loaded a navigation program on it and with one of the USB GPS dongles that we import plugged in, he headed off a couple of days later, taking Sokari south to haul out. He enjoyed the sail, with northerlies the first day but the second day they dropped out to absolute calms with light headwinds coming in a little later. He dropped the pick on the southern side of Dunk Island where he spent the afternoon and night and pulled into Hinchinbrook Marina the following day. For the moment, there she sits. I drove down by car to spend a few days onboard but the heat was so unbearable that we decided to return to the more civilised climate on the Tablelands until it is time to pull her out of the water.