Freedom, adventure and self-sufficiency, every day bringing new delights, challenges, and learnings, we are David and Cate, New Zealanders in our sixties, who want to explore the world while we can.

Now in our seventh season, drawing ever closer to New Zealand, NOETA has become our primary home, trips back to the shores of Lake Rotoiti have become fleeting, catching up with friends and family all too short and always hard to say goodbye….

So why NOETA? It had been a dream of David’s to get on the water before he turned sixty, so in 2013 he asked me what I thought about getting a boat and sailing around the world, and I said sure, that sounds like fun. And it is fun, if fun means scary, exhilarating, stressful, heartwarming, frustrating and intriguing, and it is the lifestyle we have chosen.

Our decision to get a catamaran was easy - stability, space, and lifestyle. And given that we share five children and eight grandchildren, a wise decision.

We found sailing blogs from Lets Dance and the Wynns really helpful, as were a number of forums like JimB Sail, Noonsite and Cruisers Forum. And of course boat shows, lots of boat shows..

By 2016 we had shortlisted down to a St Francis 50 and a Fountaine Pajot Saba 50 – Hugh Howey’s Wayfinder build was invaluable – but in the end it came down to money and a Saba 50 order was placed through Mark and his fantastic team at Multihull Solutions.

Now the hard part – optioning and paying for it – what did we need and want on our NOETA? Much research and many spreadsheets, emails, and phone calls later we nailed it and launched in La Rochelle, France in early 2018.

And so what about NOETA?

She is beautiful, a Fountaine Pajot Saba 50, New Zealand flagged with a length of 15 m,  width 8 m, draught 1.25 m and weight – who really knows.
And options that we chose and are really pleased about?

6 x 365 W SunPower Solar panels = 2.2 kW
Larger Victron inverter charger 5 kW
Mantus 57 kg anchor and M2 chain hook
Highfield 3.8 m tender with 30 HP power trim electric start
Beachmaster wheels for tender
AEG 10/6 KG washer dryer (heat pump technology)
2 x 70 L Vitrifrigo freezers = 140 L
Penguin biscuit (ice) maker
Hella lights
Aircon in cabins and salon
Cockpit and salon tables convertible to berths - we can comfortably sleep 6 couples
Railbraza cupholders