< Alone in Santorini
Read Dream Time's story in the
August / September 2020 issue
of Cruising World magazine

The Rock
Where We Were Today... September 27 2009
Niue

When we first crossed the South Pacific we visited Niue, one of the world's smallest nations, which is affectionately referred to as "The Rock" by locals. There are no harbors, no protective barrier reefs for visiting yachts, and the entire shoreline is a jagged tangle of limestone rock. There's not even a dock for dinghies so visiting yachties must quickly jump, scramble up concrete steps and winch their tender to safety between swells. A tsunami warning chased us away from the island after just five days. Read our September 27th, 2009 entry >

King of The Hill
Where We Were Today... September 22 2019
Gibraltar

Unlike the great apes of Borneo, these little fellas might not be quite as impressive, but they still rule their territory which, in this case, is a towering monolith with a commanding view of the Mediterranean Sea. They're a lucky charm to the British, even Winston Churchill demanded they be fed and well looked after lest the empire should fall. Read our September 22nd, 2019 entry >

Bali to Borneo
Where We Were Today... September 12 2018
Borneo, Indonesia

Our sail from Bali to Borneo, a 405 nautical mile voyage across the Java Sea, was our most chaotic and congested passage to date. Thousands of unmarked nets, local fishing boats, tankers, and tugs worked at night, some even anchored and unlit in open seas over three hundred feet deep. There was barely a traditional navigational light to be seen, but it was worth the effort. After sailing up the Kumai River in Kalimantan, we finally got to meet the Bornean Orangutan of the Tanjung Puting National Park. Read our September 12th, 2018 entry >

Save the Dog!
Where We Were Today... September 9 2017
Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Three years ago today we relayed a Mayday for a stricken fishing boat on the Great Barrier Reef. The Australian coast guard requested our help so we evacuated the captain, the crew and their dog, Stubby (Australian slang for beer can) from the floundering vessel. Sporting a snug life jacket complete with an emergency strobe light, carrying handle and his clipped on 'tucker bowl', Stubby, who could be heard wailing inside the hull, was first to abandon ship. The captain, understandably, was reluctant to leave both his home and his livelihood behind. Read our September 9th, 2017 entry >

Island of the Gods
Where We Were Today... September 7 2018
Bali, Indonesia

Bali is home to Indonesia's largest Hindu population, 83% of the island's 4.2 million, in fact, so thousands of temples and shrines adorned with fierce, boggly-eyed growling gods, crafted from the crushed powder of black volcanic rock, leer at you from every direction. Tiny palm frond trays filled with flowers and food - fruit, Ritz crackers, even snack-size candy bars - are placed at the base of each shrine as a daily offering. By late afternoon the contents is strewn across streets and sidewalks in colorful trails of confetti, the contents either scavenged by street dogs or accidently kicked by sandaled feet. Read our September 7th, 2018 entry >

Buddies For Life
Where We Were Today... September 1 2010
Monuriki, Fiji

Jono, our nephew from London, joined us for a month on Dream Time. Perhaps his most memorable (and sleepless) night was spent in a hammock on the uninhabited island of Monuriki, which was used in the Tom Hank's movie Cast Away. But Jono was not alone on the island, he did have a Wilson to keep him company. They now live comfortably together in England. Read our September 1st, 2010 entry >

Navigating Indonesia
Where We Were Today... September 1 2018
Bali, Indonesia

Charts for Indonesia often serve more as a vague guideline rather than a tool for accurate navigation. Not all reefs are surveyed, whole islands are omitted, and inaccuracies can register not in mere meters but miles, and our electronic charts regularly display Dream Time charging up a hillside when approaching an anchorage... Read our September 1st, 2018 entry >