New member from Australia

[Katabatic]

Hello everyone, I'm Tom, 58 from Perth, Western Australia. I'm starting planning for the Great Loop in 2-3 years time. I'm single with a fairly limited budget. I have a lot of experience with boat DIY. From my research over the last few years an Albin FC looks like the ideal vessel for me. I'll lurk for a bit while I learn. I look forward to meeting some of you in real life if a few years! - Tom

[Nancy]

Welcome aboard, Tom! Sounds like a great adventure!

[DCatSea]

Welcome aboard mate,
43 years ago I married girl from Melbourne; a very good move. Before that I helped train RAN submariners in the yookay (O boats).
Now well and truly retired, I run an FC out of Alexandria. We bought her to do the ditch, but life and COVID intervened, as did fishing on the Chesapeake Bay.
I think the FC is a great choice for single bloke to do the ICW. Check out “smacksman” on YouTube for the definitive “single bloke in an FC on the ICW”. (He’s a Pom).
If you make it to the DC area give me a shout and we’ll take you for ride on the Potomac.

Doug and Georgia.

[REBMystic]

Hi Tom. Welcome! I can't give advice on the FC, but I want to comment we have been really into new music from your part of world. I'm fact, we cruised to Nantucket this summer and saw "Old Mervs" play, who are from South of Perth. They are great!!

Good luck with the boat and adventure!! World be great to see you over here.

[Katabatic]

Thanks Nancy.

REBMystic - thanks for the shout out for Perth music. I live in Fremantle, the original port city at the mouth of the Swan River, on which Perth is founded. Fremantle is now part of greater Perth, but maintains a proud independent identity with a thriving creative scene. If you haven't already, some of my favourite local indie bands/artists to check out: The Triffids, The Panics, Tame Impala, Eskimo Joe, Birds of Tokyo, San Cisco, Little Birdy, Spacey Jane, Stella Donnelly, and of course INXS!

Doug & Georgia - My 3 young adult children all live in Melbourne. Training submariners? Are you a submariner Doug? Just south of Fremantle is Australia's main submarine base so I've met a few serving & retired submariners. A hard core bunch! Thanks so much for pointing me to "smacksman". I've only watched the first episode but you're right - looks spot on for me!

[REBMystic]

Thanks for the band list! Yes, Tame Impala (we saw them in concert). We like the Pacels too!

FYI. I ended up in Mystic CT via the Submarine Force. Was on a 688 years ago . @Doug, I remember we hosted some UK sub officers at Sub School here in Groton. Top notch...

[DCatSea]

I also have a source for VB and meat pies, so if you make it over here, we can make you feel at home.
I was a mere Killick (weapons elec) on Olympus class diesel boats (Olympus and Cachalot) but finished my time for 4 years on HMS Andrew, the LAST A boat running (despite what Alliance blokes might say). We worked the Med, North Sea, North Atlantic and the White Sea (shhh). It was always exciting, and occasionally not fun at all. And we fired the last submarine 4" deck gun in the service. Andrew also "starred" in "On the Beach" with Fred Astaire.
REB - I didn't do Perishers but knew many great blokes who did, and a few who didn't make the cut