Family Cruising

Swapping South Australia for East Coast cruising, the Luscombe family are now planning for overseas, Credit: Emma Luscombe

This feature article originally appeared in AFLOAT Magazine and forms part of our latest edition of boating features exploring family cruising, liveaboard sailing and offshore adventure.

While our friends were backpacking through Europe and out clubbing till the early morning, we were juggling nappies, night shifts and the kind of chaos only young parents truly understand. Now, in our late thirties and early forties, with the kids old enough to remember the world beyond their bedrooms we have been chasing adventure, never really content with ‘normal life’ and now we’ve decided it’s time to make up for lost miles. Losing my dad at just 60 was the final push. It reminded us both that waiting for retirement is a gamble – not a guarantee. So when we told our two teenagers that we were sailing to Indonesia, we expected at least a flicker of shared excitement. Instead, we were met with some resistance, concern, fear of missing out and a lack of enthusiasm.

Overseas

But wanderlust is a powerful current and sometimes being a parent means nudging your reluctant crew toward the sort of adventure they’ll hopefully thank us for one day. A little arm-twisting, a solid Starlink connection helped. And the promise of rolling waves to surf and epic spear fishing and diving, so here we are. A family of four preparing an old boat, with a plan to sail to Indonesia in 2026 with two semi-willing teenagers surging towards the passage of a lifetime.

Last year we upgraded from a 36ft Swanson yacht to a slightly bigger yet perhaps less graceful 45ft Roberts Mauritius. Once again on a pretty tight budget, we were looking for a solid seaworthy vessel that met most of our requirements. We needed a larger tender with a more powerful outboard as well as more storage for dive gear, toys and food. It ticked a lot of boxes, including budget. For the boys, embracing a minimalist lifestyle and having to continue sharing a vee-berth is going to be all part of the journey. It’s proving to be an exercise in patience, resilience and often character building. So our new life on Oema (pronounced Oh Eh Ma) begins.

Early August 2025, we finally left the confines of the Gladstone Marina on what would be our three months long shakedown sail. We had been living on Oema for a while but hardly had the time to sail her while we continued to work and save for the sailing season ahead.

Aground

It was a bumpy start, literally. At Pearl Bay we encountered ‘Pete’s uncharted rocks’ which had us grinding along the bottom and causing some damage to our keel. Then, 24hrs later, we discovered we were taking on water slowly. We assessed the situation, jammed some knead-it in the hole and continue onwards! It was a stark reminder after a long break from sailing and feeling a little rusty at the helm that we needed to be on our game at all times. Lesson learned. Finally, after shaking off a few mishaps at the beginning of the season we started to find our groove. Buddy-boating our way up the coast with our dear friends aboard Promise 2, we enjoyed countless fires on the beach, whale watching, diving, hiking and exploring the island and reefs of the southern Great Barrier Reef.

At that point the idea of sailing overseas had been put on the back burner. However, meeting other like-minded sailors along the way re-ignited the idea of sailing overseas, leaving the safe haven of the Reef and the familiarity of Australian culture. I don’t think we could really envision ourselves continuing to sail the Queensland coast. We wanted more to this sailing life. To add overseas travel and the ability to discover a different culture, showing the boys another way of life, voyaging to remote surf and dive locations is exactly the adventure we are wanting.

Logistics

So what does it take to sail to Indonesia? There are so many logistics to consider and we are only just starting to get our heads around the process and legalities of it all. Budgets, visas and understanding the bureaucracy of a foreign country. Also, when and how to fly back to Australia when we need to top up the cruising kitty and finding a safe haven to store the boat while we are away working. Plus, how we will continue to school and educate the boys while we are overseas. Then, there is the sailing – understanding different weather patterns and cruising routes and how to ensure everyone aboard is happy and safe. It’s all part of a long list of things we need to consider.

In addition, I’m also planning to begin studying a nursing degree online all while working, planning and sailing. In reality, the idea of the trip is overwhelming and terrifying but we just don’t want to let the idea go because it’s all too hard. We are trying to take it step-by-step, trying to tick off our to- do list and consuming as much information as we can, so we can be as prepared as possible. But at some point we just need to take the leap and get off the dock and go! Forever inspired by those who have crossed oceans before us with a lot less.

Townsville refit

Upon arriving in Townsville early October 2025 we hauled the boat out immediately at Ross Haven Marina not only to fix our damaged keel but to do all the essential maintenance. We encountered vicious midges at sunrise and sunset but were welcomed by the friendly, helpful staff and a well- stocked chandlery. We did all the work ourselves, including changing the cutlass bearing, strengthening the hull in areas, fixing some osmosis spots, changing through-holes, replacing skin fittings, installing a new transducer, antifouling and painting the top sides of the boat.

After completing all the work and wiping off all the blood sweat and tears, we settled into the serene Breakwater Marina, perfectly located on the Townsville strand that will be our home for the next 6-7 months. Next on the list; we need to find jobs to start saving the money we need to continue preparing Oema for our voyage to Indonesia. I found work cleaning at JCU university and Steve’s doing electrical work with a local company. Some of the essential items we are saving for include a watermaker and generator which we hear are invaluable when travelling to South East Asia. We want to replace the chainplates and bow roller and need to purchase countless spares that we might not be readily available in remote places.

Dream chasing

We’re still knee-deep in jobs lists, spreadsheets, and the occasional teenage protest, but little by little the impossible is becoming doable. Every through-hull replaced, every dollar saved, every conversation had with sailors who’ve gone before us builds confidence. One day soon we’ll slip the lines again – this time not just up the coast, but out into the world. It’s daunting, exhilarating, and exactly why we’re doing it. In the end, preparing for Indonesia isn’t really about ticking-off checklists or perfecting systems – it’s about believing in the life we want our family to live. The boat will never be “done”, the timing will never be perfect, and we’ll never have all the answers. But we do have each other, a sturdy old girl named Oema, and a dream worth chasing. And sometimes, that’s all the certainty you need before pointing the bow toward a new horizon.

This feature article originally appeared in AFLOAT Magazine. To explore more stories like this, browse the AFLOAT Magazine archive or view the latest edition of AFLOAT Magazine.