Here we are – it’s already April 2026 and I promised quarterly updates this year. Only two weeks overdue then. Not much sailing action this time, but lots of boring family news. Bear with us!

We kicked off the New Year with a party on one of the RMYC marina pontoons with the Sail Cruising Division, now called the Sail Cruising Community. There was a good turnout with everyone bringing a plate and drinks to watch the fireworks display across the water on the Bayview shore of the Pittwater.

Bayview fireworks from RMYC.

In previous years we enjoyed the NYE fireworks on Sydney Harbour, but we now think that the local show is just as good – only thing missing was the harbour bridge! The rest of January involved various summer dinners with Martin and Rose, Rhys and Astrid, Ron and Michelle and Jim Parson’s 70th birthday lunch. Australia Day on the 26th January was celebrated at Towlers Bay, with music and lunch on the Pearl, the floating RMYC party venue.

Australia Day party on the Pearl.

Live music.

Good vibes!

On the 3rd February Karen, Evan and Nina landed in Sydney after six months in the USA. We were happy to see them again and they were happy to be out of the snow! Karen started two days later on a six month rotation at the Northern Beaches Hospital and Evan started a week later at the Royal Prince Alfred hospital in the city.

Welcome back fish and chips lunch.

While they were looking for a rental place in the city, we offered them our townhouse to stay in until they were sorted. We moved into sailing friends Ross and Maureen’s apartment at Collaroy Beach for a month, while they were away on holiday. After this we moved onto Esprit in the Bayview Marina for three weeks until Karen and Evan found a terrace house in Glebe, close to the RPA hospital – which will also be Karen’s final rotation hospital.

Collaroy Beach – our view from Ross and Maureen’s balcony.

Bayview – view from our marina berth.

On the 6th February we celebrated Nina’s first birthday. She is looking healthy and hale despite her teething. We had a little party for her on the 7th because Michelle had also arrived from Fiji for meetings in Sydney and Canberra. The following Monday Nina started her orientation at the Giraffe day care in Balgowlah, not far from us. We took care of Nina on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which is such a pleasure.

One year young!

Riding the little whale.

Looking for ducks in our local wetlands.

Early March RMYC had the annual Raft up for Life fundraiser at Refuge Bay with 120 boats rafting up for a party with live music and fun. This event raised $180,000 for a mental health programme for young children. The rest of February and March involved lunch with Graeme and Jenny, Gideon and Francois in the city and dinners with Russell and Helen, Ian and Theresa and Rhys and Astrid. Sailing continued apace and we hosted Philippe and Mary who are setting of shortly for a long cruise. We also had Des and Shelly form Perth on Esprit. The last week of March Karen and Evan moved to Glebe and Nina transferred to Sage day care in Glebe.

Their terrace house in Glebe.

Raft up for Life.

Three bands playing non stop.

The liquid mosh pit.

Easter weekend arrived Friday 3rd April and we did a four hour sail down to Port Jackson better known as Sydney Harbour. We spent a pleasant time with Paul and Rob on Leeuwin, and John and Jody on Pronto the first night at Cobblers Beach. The next day we went under the Spit bridge for a night at Sugarloaf Bay. On the Sunday we picked up Annie’s nephew Paolo and his wife Shahlaa in Manly for a sail down the harbour to Blackwattle Bay.

Pronto at Cobblers Beach.

Esprit and Leeuwin passing under the Spit bridge.

Jody and Rob.

Dirk, Annie and Paul.

The impressive new fish markets here was worth a visit – we bought take away seafood for lunch on the boat, where Karen, Evan and Nina joined us. Afterwards, we motored back to Quarantine beach to join Paul and Rob for the last night before we sailed back to the Pittwater on the Monday. We had a Aussie submarine cruising next to us.

Paolo, Annie and Shahlaa at the fish markets.

Submarine next to us, going past Shark Beach.

Esprit at Quarantine beach.

Last week, Annie had a repeat PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) injection in her left hamstring which has continued troubling her. This is the use of a patient’s own concentrated platelets extracted from her blood, injected into damaged tissue to accelerate healing, reduce pain, and stimulate tissue repair. She has been told to stop gym and pickle ball for a month. I have taken her place in the pickle ball group, since my Achilles tendon now appears to be fine. That’s all for now.

Until later, cheers,

Annie and Dirk.