A Burraneer couple is relieved to be back with family and friends after the coronavirus pandemic hit while they were sailing a catamaran home from France.
The last leg of their 13,500 kilometre "bucket list" voyage was extremely harrowing for Gordon and Louise Coates.
After going through the Panama Canal, they sailed to Tahiti but were forbidden to land on any of the outer islands.
They were ordered to go directly to Papeete, where they were not allowed to leave the dock except to visit a doctor, pharmacy or a small supermarket.
After stocking up on supplies and refuelling, they left Papeete under orders not to stop anywhere else in the Pacific.
Twenty-eight days later, and after sailing through the tail end of Cyclone Harold, they arrived at Southport in Queensland, where they were ordered into hotel isolation.
The couple was allowed to leave after three days when authorities recognised they had been isolated on the ocean for nearly a month.
"We are very passionate about what we do and our love for the ocean," Ms Coates said.
"It is an achievement we are very proud of, particularly given the extra challenges we faced.
"We put our faith in technology, including our satellite communication system, and the seaworthiness of the boat.
"We knew what was happening around us and throughout the world and we were in close contact with our family, who were able to trace our course and read a story of our experiences each day.
"The most anxious part was the uncertainty. Like everyone, we were overwhelmed by the devastation the pandemic was causing and very apprehensive of what lay ahead."
The couple owned two previous catamarans and had to abort an earlier attempt to sail from France to Australia for family reasons.
But the desire to make the voyage remained and another opportunity presented when they were contacted by the Australian agent for leading French catamaran designers and boat builders Fountaine Pajot, Gibralter.
They were told about the availability of an Elba 45ft (13.7 metre) craft, which had been the firm's demonstration model at three major boat shows in Europe.
The couple purchased the vessel and sailed it from Cogolin near Saint-Tropez to Gibralter, where they picked up a friend, and then on to the Canary Islands, across the Atlantic Ocean to Martinique, through the Panama Canal and on to Tahiti.
Ms Coates said the catamaran had performed superbly.
"Modern catamaran design has made them very popular for long passage making and circumnavigation," she said.
"Catamarans have gained popularity due to their comfort, stability, safety, and speed."
