fleming yachts sydney

Fleming 55: Sydney To Perth - Over The Top

December 2011

It is certainly unfortunate for most serious boat owners, that the ability to buy and own a luxury passage making motor yacht is usually impeded by a corporate life which cheats us of the time to use it. The purchase of ‘Wandarra’ my beloved Fleming 55 was a fabulous experience; the exciting selection of engineering and electronics options, swatches of luxury fabrics, tenders and outboard motors, sheets and towels and even down to the plates and glasses, was such fun. So much energy and interest was generated and then came the nightly dreams of far away places, tropical seas and the swish of a cocktail shaker or the whizz of a fishing reel with dinner hooked on the line. Such nights of bliss, only ruined by the shrill and tedium of a morning alarm clock reminding me that it was time to return to corporate life and the need to pay for all these experiences. Trapped, in my prime!

It was not all bad news though, as we had certainly enjoyed many weekends and holidays aboard ‘Wandarra’, mooching about Sydney Harbour and further afield on the New South Wales coastline. Very nice opportunities to hone our skills, familiarize ourselves with the new baby and how she performed and suited our needs. However, it was a career change which provided the impetus for ‘the big trip’ and one needs to turn to the map to see what happens next.

Australia is no puny continent. Vast spaces, often uninhabited and, unlike the cruising grounds of Europe or the USA, with very sparse and sometimes primitive facilities along the way. Perth, in Western Australia, my new family home, is the most isolated capital city in the world, a five hour flight from the eastern coast and Wandarra’s home port of Sydney. In order to re-unite owner and prized motor yacht, there were three possibilities. Ring a shipping company and have her uplifted and delivered by sea to Perth. Or, have professional crew take her via the Southern Ocean across the Great Australian Bight to Perth, not a matter for the feint hearted. Or, take some time, seize the opportunity, and take the big cruise of a lifetime, ‘over the top’ as we like to say. A doorway of opportunity had opened and thankfully we had the courage and good sense to step through.

‘Over the Top’ is not an exercise in dramatics, just the route from Sydney to Perth, north up the coast of NSW, Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef, through the Torres Strait between Papua New Guinea and the northern tip of Australia, across the top to Darwin and down the West Australian coast through the legendary Kimberley’s, and further down to our new home port of Perth. Over 5,000 nautical miles of tropical seas, coral reefs, dazzling scenery and balmy nights. My dream was upon us, so it was clearly a case of “Have Fleming, will travel.”

The most essential word at this stage of the game is logistics. Fuel, water, people, flights, food, emergency scenarios, navigation, local knowledge contacts, safety requirements and tourist information are some of the multitude of details, each one having its own minutiae, and each with significant importance. Once out there, there are few cash tellers, telephones, supermarkets or engine mechanics, so an advanced state of preparedness was the first requirement. Armed with my most efficient secretary and my sailing friend David Buzzard who had done the trip twice, we divided the journey into ten segments and then further reduced the focus to deal with the requirements of long distance cruising; fuel, crew and food being the most important categories. A review of our folders and documents is almost a textbook case of safe and competent cruise planning, the most significant component being the brilliant engineering and sea keeping of the renowned Fleming 55. As hundreds of others had cruised the world on their Fleming’s, in comfort and safety, we simply had to fill in the blanks.

So it was that ‘Wandarra’, having completed stringent testing and servicing at the Fleming HQ in Sydney, departed the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, with fanfare and fandango, on Sunday 17th April 2011, fueled and provisioned the red shirted crew a coiled spring of excitement under the cloudless blue skies, bound for Perth. Only 5,000 nautical miles to go with an ETA in early October. A team of plastic surgeons could not have wiped the smile off my face.

The New South Wales coastline is reasonably typical of our continents shores; the golden sandy beaches the first barrier to the mighty Pacific, with occasional ports and rivers being the only opportunities to seek shelter. Mercifully, we moved north in comfortable daily hops, up to Queensland’s Gold Coast, a Miami styled vision of chrome and glass high rise resort hotels and apartments. North past Brisbane one moves behind Fraser Island, the worlds largest sand island and begins the journey through sandy straits and coral reefs for several thousand miles to the northern tip of Australia.

The first step of the cruise was primarily a delivery style transit as one is keen to arrive at the Whitsunday Islands and the great glories of the world famous Great Barrier Reef. It is here that legendary explorer Captain James Cook made his remarkable foray into these uncharted waters in 1770, ending up trapped in a minefield of coral atolls and reefs, spectacular in their grandeur and beauty with the luxury of charts and GPS, but a foreboding and horrifying experience for the uninitiated. Australian islands are in fact, continental islands insomuch that they reflect the typical features and vegetation of the main continent. One has to slide into the resorts to find the lush tropical palms and vegetation associated with the typical tropical island, however the extraordinary beauty of the waters and coral reefs have to be seen to be truly appreciated. Ocean anchorages behind sunken reefs, deserted islands with glistening white beaches, and the sparkling blue sea make for a heady mix, and with the quiet confidence of ‘Wandarra’s’ twin Cummins diesels, it is not hard to unwind into a serene and languid state, occasionally lubricated (at anchor) by a well chilled quality wine or spirit.

This coast is well provisioned for the cruising sailor, with modern marinas offering safe havens and full facilities for all ones needs. We ambled from island to island, enjoying fishing, snorkeling and general exploratory missions, with the occasional lunch or dinner ashore. As one heads north the continental landscape becomes quite mountainous and adds to the drama and spectacle of the scenery. Following Cook’s log of the ‘Endeavour’ one marvels at the feat of navigation which lead them through this maze, and arriving at Lizard Island, a dramatic outcrop north of Cairns, one climbs the mountain and can only stare with amazement at the gap in the reef which provided Endeavour with an exit and safe passage home. All a rather humbling experience. Mind you, our cruising routine was somewhat different to Cook’s as we settled for the night with a Chicken Cacciatore, Banana daiquiri’s and watched ‘Master and Commander’. Exactly who held that title aboard out little ship is still a matter for considerable debate.

North from here one moves into the wilds of Australia with very few facilities, negligible population or settlements and very much the feeling of the long passage we were making. Island hopping, fishing and the odd burst of wind and weather make for exciting passages, however our first and only mechanical defect occurred at this point with the failure of the starboard engine fuel pump. As dreary as this was, one can be thankful that Fleming prefer twin engines of suitable size to continue the passage with some confidence, and once in electronic range we were able to contact Cummins in Sydney who located a replacement pump, and thanks to our extended warranty plan, promptly flew the part in the capable care of Robert the mechanic who then made the installation and put everything back to normal. During this two day interval we scoured and cleaned the ship, played cards and Scrabble and attended to more serious matters such as crab pots and their contents.

At this point we had travelled some 1800 miles since departing Sydney and were now at Cape York, the northern most tip of Australia, having paused at Sydney Island where William Bligh landed to ‘reprovision’ his longboat on his way to Timor after the mutiny on the Bounty. No such animosity aboard ‘Wandarra’ as our team of dedicated chefs, wine connoisseurs, vigorous fishermen and stalwart navigators were amiably making this voyage of wonder and pleasure. We celebrated our luck thus far with a very well chilled champagne.

Thursday Island in the Torres Strait was our stopping off point for a 350nm crossing of the Gulf of Carpentaria, and as we had not had the opportunity to refuel, we resorted to the graph paper and prepared a consumption/speed/distance chart which accurately monitored these variables. A lonely trip without land or another vessel in sight, averaging 8.6 knots and 3.17 litres per nautical mile, ‘Wandarra’ finally picked up a mooring in Gove Harbour and we could all relax with a delicious smoked salmon and champagne lunch. Unlike the other fish that had mysteriously ‘got away’ despite the expert handling of lines and nets, the salmon was deliciously trapped in its plastic packaging. Gove Harbour has a huge processing plant for alumina and bauxite and the lights and wharves provided a night spectacle not seen since Sydney Harbour.

With a weeks respite and a crew change we mooched across the top to Darwin, accompanied by our pilot, Captain Dan with his 18’ fishing boat in tow, at times, in conditions of remarkable glassy calm. With fresh fish and crabs cooked on our aft deck each evening, we experienced the solitude of the gulf, not another vessel sighted on this leg of the journey. After a few days wandering about Darwin, Capt Dan departed, leaving strict instruction for fishing spots, and we again departed into the wilds, heading for the fabled Kimberley coast, arriving on the last day of July in the Berkley River and motoring about 15 miles upstream. This is a photographer’s delight with the most spectacular and untouched scenery of ancient sandstone cliffs and rock formations, striated in bands of yellow and brown, with gorges and waterfalls and not a sign of mankind in evidence. It is here that the full impact of our great and wondrous country becomes apparent, the wide brown land girt by sea. Blazing sunsets and a curved night sky intoxicates the soul as a raised fingertip seems to touch the heavens. In this environment, one feels like a mere speck and the passage of city life and indeed, the whole complexities of our normal daily existence seem to be in a parallel universe. Man meets nature and this is the true joy of cruising.

Without too much bias, and without criticism of our past cruising grounds, we had arrived into a wonderland of rivers and islands, a coastline peppered with adventure opportunities and scenery which would dazzle even the most jaded onlooker. The boutique cruise industry has finally discovered the Kimberley coast, but having our own private cruise ship, dexterous into navigable rivers and estuaries, is a complete and absolute thrill. This is monsoonal territory, the sandstone and limestone cliffs and creeks gouged by extreme summer weather storms and floods, but during our visit the temperate climate and dry weather with sparkling skies was a tonic for the weary. You could reasonably describe the vegetation as savannah.

One is never tempted into the waters, a dynamic combination of sharks and crocodile poised to make a delicious human into lunch, however the keen fisherman can score barramundi or Spanish mackerel amongst others. Having been given some ‘local knowledge’ by our experienced pilot, the wealth of knowledge led through this wonderland via all the secret fishing and crabbing spots never seen by the average traveler. Ashore, the explorations will uncover amazing caves with almost Gothic chambers, Aboriginal paintings and a landscape of staggering beauty which seems to change by the hour according to the light. It is a mesmerizing feast of nature completely humbling to human life.

Another crew change courtesy of Cessna and helicopter, and it is a joy to see their response to the scenery, other than an alarming moment when a 5 metre crocodile contemplated the delicious looking crew perched on a rock with nowhere to run or climb. A hasty retreat to the Fleming and multiple wines to calm shattered nerves. The following day, whilst burning rubbish, another croc sighting actually turned out to be chickens, something of a relief, but an alarming error. Some of us had ‘croc fever’. With various detours and explorations, we arrived at Silver Gull Creek where we refueled and met some very interesting locals who had decided to reduce their clothing to the bare minimum. Their outside ‘dunny’ won the Toilet of the Year award. A memorable stopover.

Whale sightings are commonplace in the Kimberly’s, however one pod of four decided they were keen to inspect a Fleming at close quarters and the crew stood on the bow as they literally brushed past the hull at touching distance. This is a completely breathtaking experience and the sheer size of these creatures next to ‘Wandarra’ was so extraordinary in their power and yet so passive as they slid past. On some days, our fishing forays were been less than spectacular and occasionally we were forced to prepare something from the fridge, however, a strike off Beagle Bay saw a metre long mackerel brought aboard and the back deck was awash with blood and guts, a glorious moment for the hunters and fisherman of our crew!

Broome is the pearling capital of Australia and a bustling town with huge tidal beaches and many luxury resort hotels. It has become the starting point for the small boutique ships that cruise the region, enjoying the rare pleasures that we have just encountered. One could not recommend this stage of the journey more highly, whether it be aboard a private vessel such as the Fleming or aboard a small ship with tour guides and rubber ducky’s to explore the rivers in. It was an absolutely remarkable six weeks of my life.

The final stages of the coastal passage, like the journey north from Sydney, are long and interesting but without the intimacy of the Great Barrier Reef or Kimberley’s. Nevertheless, our new crews enjoyed the sandy beaches and coastal towns of Exmouth and Carnarvon, with the family flying out from there to Perth, and then a delivery passage for ‘Wandarra, arriving at the Royal Perth Yacht Club on Sunday 2nd October.

Other than our fuel pump and some minor irritations of little consequence, our trusty Fleming 55 had carried the various crews with safety and confidence, and considerable comfort, over 5,000 nautical miles and nearly 640 hours of motoring. It really was the trip of a lifetime and completely validated the purchase of ‘Wandarra’. Everyone was overjoyed and many have quipped “When are you getting a new job in Sydney so we can take her back, Over the Top?”

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40 Years of Fleming Yachts History

Fleming Yachts have a classic look but they are always at the cutting edge in design and equipment.

1985 was a big year for yachtsmen and adventurers the world over. Against a background of international political turmoil, records were set for everything from speed to size (not to mention some wild trends in interiors). At home, the nation watched Apollo take out the Sydney to Hobart (again). The fourth ever edition of what’s now known as the Volvo Ocean Race started out from Southampton. And that same year, in another corner of the world, a future international legend was quietly born. 

European and American boat yards may be somewhat historical homes for the development of cruising yachts, but in 1985, founder Tony Fleming was looking to the future. At the time, the business of building yachts in Taiwan was only really a few decades old, yet the local industry was already developing an incredible reputation for quality and finesse. Along with business partner Anton Emmerton, Fleming handpicked the Tung Hwa boat yard as the facility in which to create the very first Fleming 55.

Tung Hwa is located in Kaohsiung, on the south end of the island. Kaohsiung is today broadly considered south east Asia’s hub for yacht construction. Local yards in Taiwan produce the majority of the 50-plus foot yachts in the world today. And while Kaohsiung is the third biggest city in the country today, back in the ‘80s it was still on its way up from its roots as a tiny port town. And Fleming Yachts was going to be a part of the rise, with the evolution of the Fleming 55.

The original mould for this model was built for a 55-foot yacht, but the first eight of these were actually 50 feet — built with slightly shorter cockpits. By the mid ‘90s, this had been extended out to 55, and by the late ‘90s over 100 had been delivered to customers worldwide. The very first arrived in Australia in 2001, marking the launch of the brand here.

It’s easy to see why this model was such an early customer favourite when you look at the technical flexibility. With a range of 2,000 nautical miles at eight knots, she can still hit a top speed of around 18 knots, though most owners tend to stick around ten for longer passages. Of course, the design has also come a long way since the very first was completed in 1986. Hundreds of incremental improvements have been made, incorporating the latest in advanced yachting technology, to produce a modern yacht that’s evolved with the times. And that’s not even touching on the addictive aesthetic. Back in 2012, Trade a Boat magazine noted that “the class isn't intangible; you can see it in the depth of the paintwork and the quality of the fittings. Take one step aboard, through the wide gate in the side bulwark and you're hooked forever — much like sliding into the back seat of a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost”. Over 250 have now been produced for owners across the globe, and over a dozen of those are cruising in Australia.

Fleming 75 

The first Fleming 75 was launched in 2000, the result of customer demand for a larger model, and years of input to kick the engineering excellence and effortless elegance up a notch. The evolution didn’t stop there; 10 years later, it was upgraded to a 78, with a slightly longer hull and keel, to reduce fuel consumption and increase range. Smart and artful. While the Fleming 78 is considered the ‘ultimate Fleming’ by owners around the globe, we’re yet to see any grace Aussie waters.

Not content with resting on the laurels earned by the 55 and 78, the next Fleming model was launched in 2005. It’s probably a pretty good sign when the very first of a new model is snapped up by the founder themselves. But even without the well-documented adventures of Tony Fleming’s VENTURE, there was enough demand for five 65s to have been delivered within the year. It probably helped that Yachts magazine voted the Fleming 65 best in her class *in the world* for 2006. But quite apart from the international recognition, engineering obsessives have appreciated the considerable upgrade in interior and deck space compared with the 55. Further testing and evaluation of refinements (by Tony himself on Venture) has led to an impressive list of new items available on production models. The brand’s official VR tour of hull 65-051 is a must-see if you’re ready to daydream about being miles away from lockdowns on land in an unimaginably spacious master suite.

The very first Fleming 65 landed in Australia not long after, in 2010. In fact, it was brought in by the same lucky owners who’d acquired the first 55 here. Today, there are four Fleming 65s around the country. 

2006 also marked the year that Tony Fleming stepped up to his next adventure. Fleming handed over the reigns in Kaohsiung to his nephew, engineer Adi Shard, his daughter Nicky, and experienced engineer (and yacht captain) Duncan Cowie, who’d joined the team in 2001. From her new home in Newport Beach, California, VENTURE explored destinations around North, Central and South America, from BC and Alaska, down to Mexico, the Galapagos, through the Panama Canal and back up the east coast up to Nova Scotia and PEI. At the time it was called “the world’s most extensive sea trial”, leading to many of the aforementioned improvements to the 65 since first launch. 

Fleming Yachts had to do something big to mark their 25th anniversary in 2013. So with a ton of research and input from dozens of owners, they created the Fleming 58. This new model represented the perfect balance between the strengths of the 55 and 65. However, to get it right required not just a few adjustments, but re-engineering from the keel up. 

Naval architects Norman Wright and Sons, based here in Brisbane, were selected for their expertise in hull design and tank testing. The (adorable) 1/12 scale model was built and tested in Tassie, making the Aussie contribution to Fleming heritage more significant than ever. While the first (full size) Fleming 58 didn’t arrive in here until 2017, there are now a couple of them making up the contingent in Australia.

When we checked out the 58, we noted the builder mentioned that “the design of the hull and increased waterline length will deliver fuel consumption similar to the Fleming 55” but that “a 50 per cent increase in tankage over the smaller sibling greatly increases the 58’s range”. It’s not just the extra tankage that’s stacked on this model. The cockpit is bigger by a couple of square metres, there’s crucial extra room in the saloon, and space for a freezer, fridge and barbie. Of course, with a variety of layout options, it’s up to new owners how they make the most of this space. 

Fleming 85 

With the latest model in the Fleming range, the 85, engineers had the (incredibly modest) mission of creating “literally the finest possible ocean going pilothouse motor yacht, in every respect.” So, apparently no slowing down for this pioneering team with less than 30 years’ production on the board, but hundreds of years of combined experience and expertise. Not to mention extensive CFD technology, thorough fine-tuning and testing to ensure the performance lives up to all promises.

When Trade a Boat reviewed the 85 last year, they noted that “the Fleming 85 has come a long way from the downeast lobster boats from which it borrows nautical styling”. Not just because of the deck space or the flexibility of getting your 85 with either an open flybridge or enclosed pilothouse, depending on your entertaining preferences. It’d have to be a pretty fancy lobster boat to have this kind of cream leather upholstery, flawless blonde wood panelling and tasteful finishes. It’s not just meticulously engineered, it’s classy. The exclusivity is real; there are only a few of these in the world at present, and one on order for a lucky owner in Australia. 

The Fleming 85 is the latest in a line that represents a dedication to classic looks, whilst being at the cutting edge of design and equipment. But it’s certainly not the end of the line. Tony’s voyages on the VENTURE II continue ( check out the Fleming Yachts YouTube for some serious cruising inspiration ). Fleming owners continue to post some of the most stunning content from all corners of the map, whilst delivering further performance feedback that’s going straight into next generation designs.

There are currently over 340 Flemings worldwide. By the end of this year, 27 of them will be cruising in Australia. With a growing base of loyal owners, and a string of international accolades, it’s well on its way to becoming a contemporary classic in its class.

Meet the Fleming Yachts Australian Team

Fleming Yachts’ Aussie contingent consists of Egil Paulsen and Samuel Nicholas. They’re supported by a team of contractors who help deliver specialist services to Fleming owners around the country. Both are long-term Fleming followers, Paulsen the proud owner of a 55 himself, Nicholas having cruised aboard a 55 in Scandinavian waters may times. They’re proud to have been part of bringing the current 23 Flemings to Australia.

The Australian team maintain strong relationships with the current unit that run the building operations in Taiwan. Up-to-the-minute communication helps them offer the highest levels of personal service and technical insight to clients. It’s also telling that Paulsen has a close relationship with founder Tony Fleming, and introduced director Duncan Cowie to him. This close-knit group are prepared for a bright future for Fleming Yachts in Australia, along with loyal owners. Don’t hesitate to pay them a visit at E pier and experience “the ultimate cruising yachts” for yourself.

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