TinTin is a 44ft Dutch-built Koopmans Kestaloo alloy ketch, TinTin has a rear cockpit and was built in 1974 to a very high standard. TinTins internal layout is very traditional and quite deep in the vessel making for a comfortable and safe sea boat sleeping 6 people at a push. 

The yacht has everything required for safe exploration and cruising in remote locations but none of the fluff you see on so many new production boats, I like to think TinTin is all business. 

TinTin was built and then sailed by the first owner from Holland to the Americas, spent some time there, then crossed the Pacific and spent 10 years racing in Sydney Harbour. It was then purchased by Peter and sailed by him and his boys around the top of Australia to Perth where he sailed raced TinTin for 20 years.

When I found the vessel that would become TinTin, it was a little beaten up and unloved. Peter had passed away, however, the energy I felt when I stepped on this boat told me it craved big green water and wanted for more sea miles in the big green.

After I purchased TinTin, I spent the next 6 mths refitting it to sail from Perth in Western Australia to Far North Queensland. Leaving Perth in June I crossed the Southern Ocean with one crew member from Finland. 

I always thought Erno was a little crazy but they breed them tuff in Finland, Erno learned to sail in the roaring 40's, we encountered some terrible weather multiple knock-downs, and where required to hove-to in a 90 knot Southern Ocean storm for 4 days, we were 600nm south of the Great Australian Bight.

We also endured losing the engine a long way from land, the cause, diesel bug. We still had 200nm to sail to Kangaroo Island. Not a bad shake-down cruise, the only other yacht trying to cross in winter at that time was rolled and demasted near Ceduna.

Arriving in the the Whitsundays after 105 days of sailing and exploring TinTin once again had sea legs and lots of stories to tell. The next adventure involved sailing to Rabaul in PNG and then onto Kaviang in New Ireland.

Our project, researched the history of our largely forgotten WW2 coast watchers who formed an integral element of the US Pacific fighting force, essential to repel the Japanese and ensure Australia was not invaded.

On returning to Australia I Spent a couple of years exploring Queensland then got the urge to chase colder water again and sail south to explore the West coast of Tasmania before sailing off to explore New Zealand and the Pacific.