A spring weekend at Rottnest Island

I was lucky enough to be once again be invited out on the boat of a sailing colleague for a weekend at Rottnest Island during what is the sailing season. We were at the beginning of the season with summer approaching, it is time for a little fun and relaxation combined with a few drinks.

We were skipping a sailing weekend, this was the Governor's Cup with all classes sailing together in in race with a handicapped start. The yacht owner hates this race as the start is confusing, we are all bunched up and fighting for space, rounding buoys are a fight with collisions and damage galore. We sail in a restricted class with identical yachts, the racing is close and competitive.

While I was there, I began to reflect on what Rottnest Island means to the locals. What gives me some hope is successive state governments have not buggered up the island for the common people. Rottnest Island is not an exclusive enclave for the movers and shakers of the business world or Perth high society - Rottnest Island is truly for the people.

Naturally, an invitation on board a Riviera 48 is a pretty exclusive ride. The owner usually moors in Thompson Bay on a permanent mooring he owns. Thompson Bay is the main bay on Rottnest Island with only a short trip on a tender to the main settlement. The Perth weather in November should be consistent, so some time spent on a reasonably sized boat on the water in an idyllic location can't be beaten.

On calm winter days, Rottnest Island is marvelous, what makes this experience even better is the lack of crowds in the off-season. The Christmas to New Year break is the period when the majority of businesses are closed for summer holidays and Rottnest Island is flat out with activity, this is our summer holidays. Mid November, Rottnest is still busy but not over the top so I was happy about this invite, it would be fun without the crowds.

I have to question the logic of heading over to Bali at Christmas time during the middle of the wet season dealing with the crowds and heavily increased prices. Rottnest Island is assessable to just about everyone, there are so many families spending their days in harmony with the island, I was amazed with the laid back approach of the floating residences from large to small, everyone was friends with everybody else. What a great place, maybe it is time for me to invest in my own floating holiday house.