Welcome

We are Dione and crew.

Dione is our 40ft sailing boat we purchased in Scarborough, Queensland, July, 2024.

We were new to sailing and operating a boat of this size and keen to be living the dream. Over many years we have owned and enjoyed power boats and water activities mostly in South Australia and Tasmania.

As part of our travel experiences overseas and in Australia, we have travelled on a number of cruise liners, which were a highlight of our trips.

Since living on Dione in Scarborough Marina, we have started sailing in Moreton Bay and surrounding Islands to find our sea legs and prepare ourselves, and Dione for future sailing adventures.

We look forward to sailing to new destinations along the East Coast of Australia.

First day on board and moving in.

Experiencing our first sunset from Scarborough Marina carpark.

Searching and finding Dione

Finding Dione was our first adventure in itself.

Prior to us actively looking for our boat, we crewed on a 32 ft keel boat for a race on the Port River, which fired up Markus to pursue his dream of one day owning and sailing his own boat.

From February 2024, we commenced our search for our boat in Adelaide, North Haven Marina. Our adventure had already started even though we didn’t realize. By looking at these potential boats we were learning more and more about the sailing life onboard a boat. The people we met along the way have been lovely, very helpful and knowledgeable, and it has been amazing listening to all their stories from the times they sailed, some being amateurs like us at the beginning, to some sailing to many parts of the world.

Our first interstate trip was to Western Australia where we visited and stayed in Ningaloo. Whilst we were in Ningaloo we dived and snorkeled, the world heritage Ningaloo Reef. While in Perth we visited Mindarie Marina to view a boat, however, not quite what we were looking for, so the search continued. The trips to see these boats were never a waste of time or a hassle, even though there was usually some long distance travelling to arrive at these marinas but were always, definitely worth visiting. There was a lovely walking track at the marina with cafes and restaurants, where we stayed for dinner that night overlooking the boats and watching the sunset. Travelling to Mindarie Marina was also a scenic drive from Perth.

Next trip was a short visit to Hobart, Tasmania (Sandy Bay and Lindisfarne’s Farm Marinas) where we viewed a couple of boats which one of the boats was almost what we were looking for, but decided in the end to keep looking, so it was back to Adelaide to keep searching.

Next on our agenda was to view a few boats in New South Wales. Our trip to Sydney was so much fun, and we saw some lovely marinas and places in Sydney we would not have seen if we weren’t looking for a boat. Cammeray Bay is just stunning and the water taxi ride to the boat was so picturesque and memorable.

After viewing boats at Bowen, Scarborough and Manly, Queensland, we found our boat, Dione, at Scarborough Marina. So now the fun begins!

Lindisfarne’s Farm Marina, Hobart Tasmania

Coral Bay, Ningaloo Reef, WA

Mindarie Marina, WA

Cammeray Bay, NSW

Bowen, Qld.

The making of Dione

Dates on photos, indicate that building of Dione commenced in Sydney, NSW in 1986 by Vasin Craft Sydney, and was completed in December of 1987.

From records and photos found onboard, it appears Dione had already completed many voyages (since March 2016) which included Alaska, Tonga, Samoa, Guam, Saipan, Japan, Vanuatu, Canada and the USA.

It also appears that Dione spent many years in Adelaide, South Australia before moving to Queensland.

Dione is a steel, A40 ft Adams design. In 2005 a sugar scoop was added to the stern and in 2006 a hard dodger was installed to replace the soft dodger that had been used for many years.