Sailing The South Pacific

Considered the ultimate nautical marathon, racing around in the world in a yacht is not for the faint-hearted. Round-the-world sailors are about as tough as they come. So too are the yachts they sail. Built to withstand the harshest conditions of the Furious 50’s and the Screaming 60’s where liquid mountains of boiling ocean pummel the unprepared yachtsman, ocean racing yachts are designed to be bullet proof.

In 1981, newly launched 80 footer Ocean Greyhound sailed out of out hampton at the start of the third Whitbread Round the World Race with an enthusiastic crew led by a skipperon his third attempt to win the prestigious race. Had these hard-core sailors known that they’d be sustained by little more than stodgy porridge for the next 72 days, their fervour may have been tempered. This was before freeze dried food was invented and ocean-going racing yachts had to carry provisions for large crews for up to two months at sea. As the casualties mounted and one third of the original 29 yachts withdrew, Ocean Greyhound sailed back into Southampton nearly five months later. She had a new sponsor’s name blazoned on her stern, FCF Challenger, and presumably with a crew who had developed an abhorrence of oats.

Fastrack 37 years and this 80-foot thoroughbred has been transformed into a floating family home. Renamed Camara after 14 year-old Cameron and 11 year-old Tara, the former racing yacht has undergone a massive refit at the hands of Peter and Christina Palmer.

Laying in New Zealand in frightful condition in 2015 and then named Crieghton’s Naturally, Peter and Christina rescued the yacht from a certain scrapheap, spending more than three years restoring and converting her into a cruising yacht to accommodate their family of four.

“We poured our souls and funds into the ‘new’ Camara and after three and a half years had almost depleted both,” said Peter.

“But now, we are in beautiful Fiji, enjoying what this awesome way of living afloat has to offer. We know this is our lifestyle of choice and suits us in every way.”

A Formidable Undertaking

This intrepid couple had met in the Caribbean when Peter had sailed from his native South Africa and Christina was on holidays. They fell in love and continued sailing as a couple for another 16 years, having a family on the way and living a nomadic ocean-going life as they worked their way across the Pacific Ocean. Working when they had to, to replenish their funds and sailing whenever they could, they eventually built a home in New Zealand and ‘moved ashore’. Avid outdoor enthusiasts who adore kite surfing, scuba diving, surfing and sailing, the cruising life still beckoned, despite enjoying the comfort of living in a house.

“We realised when we lived in the house we’d built that our hearts really belong to the ocean and the sailing lifestyle that really suits us. The real highlight is getting to live the milliondollar cruising lifestyle every day (even without the million dollars)!” says Christina.

Refitting a large yacht is a formidable undertaking, and as their expenses and challenges mounted, the couple had to remind each other of their final goal.

“Most people thought we could never finish the project. But little did they know that this only fueled our motivation. Any goal and dream is achievable with motivation and dedication. Often Christina and I would remind each other of our end goal of sitting in the tropics living the life of our dreams on a beautiful boat that is our home,” Peter said. “The financial pressure and all the stress on our relationship from working seven days a week and often nights was the biggest challenge,” chimes in Christina.

“Cruising for 16 years previously on a very small budget had already made us into a very solid team and was the best preparation for the rebuild project and all its challenges,” she adds. Launching Camara on Christmas Day 2015, they decided that Fiji was the ideal destination for their first season living aboard. After all the hard work, long hours and stress, they were desperate to enjoy the fruits of their labour.

“After nearly seven years of projects, building a house, having full time jobs and then the boat rebuild which we mostly did ourselves, we just needed to go sailing and have an easy holiday in a stunning location! Having been to Fiji three time previously we knew this was where we’d find everything we love in one easy place,” said Christina.

“Fiji has friendly people, a variety of excellent free diving spots, kitesurfing in tropical warm waters and pretty locations and is one of the most stunning tropical island groups.” The Palmers plan on cruising the Pacific Islands for many years to come, though will spend the Pacific cyclone season in New Zealand.

“We are planning on exploring the Marshall Islands and potentially the Solomon Islands, but also Vanuatu and New Caledonia too. We are hoping to find likeminded couples who would like to come aboard and share our experiences sailing, kiting and surfing in these stunning tropical locations,” Christina said.

Cruising the tropical South Pacific on a newly refitted racing yacht promises to be a far more comfortable adventure than the one those Whitbread sailors encountered. One presumes that porridge is to be an option this time round.

Follow the Palmers and their adventures on board Camara at camarasailing.com