Please realize this is only a thought at this desperate moment.
I am stranded in Upper Austria, I was booked and paid with Qatar Airlines to fly from Vienna to Adelaide September 6th.( I've been more than a year now )For memory the last flight that I tried to book was about 14th July, that was cancelled, I was told I would need to wait now for 2 1/2 months until Sep 6th. I have had so many cancelled flights. Feeling a little worried I called Qatar Airlines, I was on hold just over an hour, that's good, on one of my last calls I was on hold for more than 2 hours, anyway, I hadn't heard anything and on speaking with the consultant (whom I could barely understand) I find my flight is cancelled, as I say, I'd had no notification, except when speaking with the consultant, and still haven't, no email confirming the cancellation. It's approx 300 km from here to the Vienna Airport, a long way to go to find out that your flight has been cancelled.
I asked the consultant to check and see when the next flight was available, he was extremely reluctant, in the end he said there maybe a flight December 14th, but it's only business class and I would need to pay an extra $11,000 dollars.
He mentioned several times... You have to keep checking online.

You can't complain about the service because there is none.

Now as I said, this is just a wild thought, ok I'm stuck, I just want to get home. I have heard that it's possible to purchase an ocean going sailboat at a very reasonable price.

If I was to do something like this, what would be the ideal size for the journey, what make of boat should I be looking for, baring in mind it will possibly be sailed single handed, and if I were to undertake such a journey what is the recommended time of year to do such a trip, for example, let's say from Germany or Sweden or even perhaps Britain.
If I spent $11,000 on a boat, at least I should be able to sell it and get something back as well as having extraordinary experience.

As I say, this may never happen but I'm wondering if it's a possibility. Maybe someone reading this has done this particular journey in the past.

Yes I do have a sailboat, (25 footer) but I've only sailed in the lower Murray region, so in answer to the question that is most likely on everyone's mind..... No I am not an experienced sailor.
If some of you believe that this is a possibility I would love to hear your thought.

I know it's stupid but if someone has an idea, perhaps you are here somewhere in Europe and want help sailing home or perhaps you're happy to have a paying passenger, who knows, I'm just putting it out there.

I think lockdowns will end and international travel will resume (but with less quantities) before you could arrive here by sail. I.e. It'd be faster to wait there than to sail all the way.
2nd thought is: fly to NZ and sail from there. (If NZ is open; or New Caledonia, a part of France)?
Arrived yachts will be subject to import taxes. But maybe you weigh that against waiting and business-class costs.

Have you ever sailed offshore? No, stay where you are. If you think you can get a yacht suitable for sailing to Australia for under $50,000 (more likely $100,000 because the cheap boat will need lots of experienced work to get it ready) you don't know enough about sailing, stay where you are.
The open ocean is a very unforgiving place, especially for someone who doesn't know what they are doing in a boat not prepared for the open ocean.
Stay where you are!
Another 3 months hopefully will see a solution.

I know what you are saying, I've been waiting over a year now, I guess at this moment I'm feeling a little depressed it feels like I will never get home.
I might be fortunate that someone who is already planning to sail to Australia sees this notice.
I know what you are saying is right, perhaps I just needed someone to confirm it.

Thanks, I appreciate your advice.

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HappyD said..
I know what you are saying, I've been waiting over a year now, I guess at this moment I'm feeling a little depressed it feels like I will never get home.
I might be fortunate that someone who is already planning to sail to Australia sees this notice.
I know what you are saying is right, perhaps I just needed someone to confirm it.

Thanks, I appreciate your advice.

Sit tight. There is a Federal election in the New Year and business will be back to normal long before then. I would suggest holding on and plan on being home for Christmas. Buy a boat when you get home. When overseas travel resumes the country will be awash with good buys.

HappyD,
Your biggest problem is clearing through customs on your stops along the way.
I looked at doing this to bring the new boat home from France, and we quickly racked up a dozen different customs clearances from the different countries you'd want to stop at to make it a series of short hops rather than a major non stop passage. If you are lucky enough at the moment in the Covid world to be granted clearance, that is not to say you won't get caught in a snap lockdown somewhere and you're back to where you started.
The wear and tear is not insignificant either. I was writing off the new sail wardrobe just to get home as well as factoring in the cost in engine and equipment life cycles. It's a helluva trip, we factored in three months from A to B.
I feel your pain mate, good luck with it all.

I assume you are looking at other airlines? I would suggest try Emirates, Singapore Airlines or Air NZ. Singapore is looking at reopening to international travel so maybe look at flying Vienna to Singapore. From there look at flying Singapore to Sydney or Auckland. If Qatar cant get you home and assuming you have a ticket with them, ask if a refund or credit is possible.

Good to see that those individuals who ignored the prime ministers instruction to come home in March April 2020 and who have been the cause of unquantifyable misery for millions, all of our lockdowns and hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollar losses are also experiencing some pain.

I heard some people have sailed back but l would recommend hitching a ride rather than buying a boat.

Trip of a lifetime TBH!

I think it would cheaper and a lot safer to book a business class flight home. With limited availability of people being allowed into Australia the airlines will be cancelling economy flights first. Last time I looked you were looking around A$20-25K.

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Madmouse said..
I heard some people have sailed back but l would recommend hitching a ride rather than buying a boat.

Trip of a lifetime TBH!

Mate of mine sailed his catamaran from the west coast to Sydney via the Southern Ocean and press-ganged a couple of friends as crew. High winds one night so at the end of his shift he reefed everything and went below to sleep. Freight train like noises woke him up and he came on deck to find that contrary to his express instructions the mate he had left on watch was high as a kite and had put full sail up and was doing like 22 knots in the middle of the night. If I was going round the world with somebody I would want quite a few hours of sailing with them and a serious inspection of their boat and lots of chatting with them first. Something a newbe probably wouldn't be capable of assessing either

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julesmoto said..
Good to see that those individuals who ignored the prime ministers instruction to come home in March April 2020 and who have been the cause of unquantifyable misery for millions, all of our lockdowns and hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollar losses are also experiencing some pain.

Savage! You know a little empathy goes a long way. you have no idea of HappyDs situation, perhaps s/he has been overseas working and been laid off because of the pandemic and is now stuck with no chance of getting another job and no residence status. The mere fact that there is still 30,000 Australians & PR ( where does that number come from? ) stuck overseas indicates that many expatriate Australians were able to ride out the first and second waves where they were but over time circumstances have changed.

Perhaps the failure to address quarantine as a long term necessity rather than a 2-3 month stop-gap method is the bigger culprit here.

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HappyD said..
I know what you are saying, I've been waiting over a year now, I guess at this moment I'm feeling a little depressed it feels like I will never get home.
I might be fortunate that someone who is already planning to sail to Australia sees this notice.
I know what you are saying is right, perhaps I just needed someone to confirm it.

Thanks, I appreciate your advice.

Hang in there, we are about to enter the living with covid phase you must already be experiencing. When we are in that state then international restrictions will be pointless .

I have a friend struggling to get back from France. Came out here for work and now as you said flights keep getting cancelled.
He joked about sailing back. A very experienced sailor. He realised it wasn't a good idea for various reasons people have mentioned.
He was saying now that COVID is spreading in Australia there is less point in stopping international flights.
If he flies into a state he dosnt live in he has to quarantine there. Then maybe quarantine again in the state he lives in. Depends on the state. All at his expense.
Good luck and hang in there. I hope things will change soon and you can get back.

Slightly risky (?) but what about the option of as a paying passenger onboard a commercial ship?
There have been those in the past who take on passengers, I always thought it would be cool as a bucket list thing.

Maybe get to Croatia, or back to Germany, then thumb a lift.

If you had a clear CV test, had your 2 jabs,and took whatever passage was going, UK,USA or anything passing Au.
Commercial shipping has been stuffed for a while, but there is still plenty going on:

www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:1.6/centery:48.6/zoom:5

I bet youd end up here faster than sailing anyhow.

julesmoto, Thank you for your sharing your thoughts.
I should mention that I arrived in Vienna approx 29th January 2020, my travel agent said if I could leave one day later my fare would cost $500.00 less, unfortunately due to what might be considered life threatening circumstances, I couldn't wait even one day, I guess you would call it a mercy dash.
Covid 19 arrived here, there were massive lockdowns, yes I had my flight booked to come home in, March but as Vienna Airport was locked down, my flight was cancelled.
Since then I've booked flights to Perth, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide, I've lost count of how many flights, just trying to get into Australia, but if Australian airports are open it may be a lockdown in Austria, and when Austrian airports are open it may be Australian airports are closed. When all airports are open, it maybe no seats available due to Australian government restrictions. The airline staff member told me the reason my flight was cancelled this time was due the the Australian government, for what reason... I don't know.
Forgive me if my predicament has made you angry.

To everyone else, thank you for your concerns and your advise.
I have considered trying to get on a Merchant vessel, that might be a great way to go, I do see the cost are still pretty high, I have to think about that, it could be exciting.
I have looked at other airlines, I guess the numbers speak for themselves, I believe there is still roughly 30,000 Australians waiting to get home.
Perhaps sitting here and waiting until the end of the year is not such a bad option, gives the the chance to learn another language, I've just renewed my drivers license, my International drivers license, and with restrictions easing here maybe I can take the opportunity to look around, I just hope they don't lock me up for overstaying.

Again, thank you everyone and I'll let you know how it all pans out in the end.
I appreciate all of the positive comments.
Good health to you all.

Hi, I just looked at a company that specialises in Freighter cruises but looks like that is no longer an option.
www.freighterexpeditions.com.au/
I assume you are registered with the Australian government for their repatriation flights? I think so far Singapore airport is your best shot.
www.changiairport.com/en/airport-guide/Covid-19/visitors-to-changi.html. There is talk about a travel bubble with Singapore opening up in the next few months so keep an eye on that. Good luck and just keep plugging away.

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HappyD said..
julesmoto, Thank you for your sharing your thoughts.
I should mention that I arrived in Vienna approx 29th January 2020, my travel agent said if I could leave one day later my fare would cost $500.00 less, unfortunately due to what might be considered life threatening circumstances, I couldn't wait even one day, I guess you would call it a mercy dash.
Covid 19 arrived here, there were massive lockdowns, yes I had my flight booked to come home in, March but as Vienna Airport was locked down, my flight was cancelled.
Since then I've booked flights to Perth, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide, I've lost count of how many flights, just trying to get into Australia, but if Australian airports are open it may be a lockdown in Austria, and when Austrian airports are open it may be Australian airports are closed. When all airports are open, it maybe no seats available due to Australian government restrictions. The airline staff member told me the reason my flight was cancelled this time was due the the Australian government, for what reason... I don't know.
Forgive me if my predicament has made you angry.

To everyone else, thank you for your concerns and your advise.
I have considered trying to get on a Merchant vessel, that might be a great way to go, I do see the cost are still pretty high, I have to think about that, it could be exciting.
I have looked at other airlines, I guess the numbers speak for themselves, I believe there is still roughly 30,000 Australians waiting to get home.
Perhaps sitting here and waiting until the end of the year is not such a bad option, gives the the chance to learn another language, I've just renewed my drivers license, my International drivers license, and with restrictions easing here maybe I can take the opportunity to look around, I just hope they don't lock me up for overstaying.

Again, thank you everyone and I'll let you know how it all pans out in the end.
I appreciate all of the positive comments.
Good health to you all.

My apologies as in your circumstances it seems justified. What is not justified are most people who are dual citizens ( who in my book are not really Australians anyway) coming and going for financial and family reasons.
There are so many loopholes for those in the know. We can't go anywhere including sailing because of the selfish dot-dot-dots that think somehow they are justified to work overseas to make a few extra bucks or go and see their new grandchild or grandfather's funeral or not hurry back from their gap year. Due to them we can't even go out of Sydney and certainly not interstate to see a new grandchild or a funeral.
If you have been genuinely trying since March last year the government system sucks and you should get priority but then we all know that most government systems suck. Not worth you risking your life at sea however when the whole system will change within a couple of months and be majorly opened up at least in New South Wales

Mate I don't think is overseas arrivals that are the major cause of the NSW lockdown it's the folks that are here and don't understand stay at home, just spoke to a friend in Sydney and from all accounts it's no different to normal ie lots of people out and shops open. I can't get over the border to see a doctor and that sucks but I won't die so I'm doing what I can and make the most of it

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woko said..
Mate I don't think is overseas arrivals that are the major cause of the NSW lockdown it's the folks that are here and don't understand stay at home, just spoke to a friend in Sydney and from all accounts it's no different to normal ie lots of people out and shops open. I can't get over the border to see a doctor and that sucks but I won't die so I'm doing what I can and make the most of it

Not here in the inner west of Sydney. Very few out, all wearing masks, only essential shops open. The exception is the various exercise areas which have a fair few on them but all wearing masks and keeping distancing.

Thanks everyone again, You know, every day that you wake up is a blessing, and I forgot that for a moment.
I'm crying about my situation, but I have food to eat and a bed in which to sleep. Yes, I miss my home, my friends, my country, and my boat.
Life has dealt us a bit of a curveball here, a challenge, but we will overcome it and perhaps learn something here as well.
What has surprised me is how people I don't even know have taken time out of their life to show me some compassion and offer ideas and help, it makes you realise there are some beautiful people out there.
It's sad that the merchant ships aren't allowed to help out at the moment, so I will go out and represent Australia and the Australian people as best I can.
julesmoto, thank you and I do understand how you feel, it is important to think and care about each other, especially in times like this.

Good luck and good health to you all, and I will let you know if any new developments happen.

Going to put something else out there...way off topic for this forum but have you ever ridden a motorcycle? Could be an alternative to sailing.

Advrider is a good place to find out anything you would need to know. You could ride all the way across to Asia. About as dangerous with the countries you would have to cross. But at least you are on shore.

Have to say both ways need pretty good planning and reliability. Lots of spares and funds to look after unexpected things. And don't leave for home without good insurance.

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HappyD said..
Thanks everyone again, You know, every day that you wake up is a blessing, and I forgot that for a moment.
I'm crying about my situation, but I have food to eat and a bed in which to sleep. Yes, I miss my home, my friends, my country, and my boat.
Life has dealt us a bit of a curveball here, a challenge, but we will overcome it and perhaps learn something here as well.
What has surprised me is how people I don't even know have taken time out of their life to show me some compassion and offer ideas and help, it makes you realise there are some beautiful people out there.
It's sad that the merchant ships aren't allowed to help out at the moment, so I will go out and represent Australia and the Australian people as best I can.
julesmoto, thank you and I do understand how you feel, it is important to think and care about each other, especially in times like this.

Good luck and good health to you all, and I will let you know if any new developments happen.

Take it easy Happy, if I were in Vienna at the moment I'd be at the Schweizerhaus in the Prater eating pork knuckles and drinking Budwieser Budvar (no, not the American version, the original) .... Or, if you want to see some stuff, why not go visit Sunbeam Yachts in Mattsee.... go to Salzburg and do the Sound of Music tour, visit a salt mine.... it's endless. It's also not that far to Pils, and Budvar the home of the best beweries in Europe. If that's your thing.

It's a shame, and very hard that so many people like yourself are in untenable situations. However, if you look on the bright side, you'll probably find a lot of positives too. You know what they say, if life gives you lemons, make lemonade....

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MichaelR said..


Take it easy Happy, if I were in Vienna at the moment I'd be at the Schweizerhaus in the Prater eating pork knuckles and drinking Budwieser Budvar (no, not the American version, the original) .... Or, if you want to see some stuff, why not go visit Sunbeam Yachts in Mattsee.... go to Salzburg and do the Sound of Music tour, visit a salt mine.... it's endless. It's also not that far to Pils, and Budvar the home of the best beweries in Europe. If that's your thing.....

For shame Michael, you missed out Figlmuller at 6 Backerstrasse

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LooseChange said..

MichaelR said..


Take it easy Happy, if I were in Vienna at the moment I'd be at the Schweizerhaus in the Prater eating pork knuckles and drinking Budwieser Budvar (no, not the American version, the original) .... Or, if you want to see some stuff, why not go visit Sunbeam Yachts in Mattsee.... go to Salzburg and do the Sound of Music tour, visit a salt mine.... it's endless. It's also not that far to Pils, and Budvar the home of the best beweries in Europe. If that's your thing.....

For shame Michael, you missed out Figlmuller at 6 Backerstrasse

Ah, but of course! Although, I'm not that partial to giant Schnitzels....they have a good selection of beer I don't think I could live there without my cholesterol and blood pressure pills!

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MichaelR said..

Ah, but of course! Although, I'm not that partial to giant Schnitzels....they have a good selection of beer I don't think I could live there without my cholesterol and blood pressure pills!

If they have Budejovicky that is all the selection you need. Aldi have it on sale currently for $12.99/6 pack

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LooseChange said..

MichaelR said..

Ah, but of course! Although, I'm not that partial to giant Schnitzels....they have a good selection of beer I don't think I could live there without my cholesterol and blood pressure pills!

If they have Budejovicky that is all the selection you need. Aldi have it on sale currently for $12.99/6 pack

Budejovicky is the Czech name for Budvar/Budwieser.... I see they've just changed the label.... and you're right, that is all the choice you need....

Perhaps this is the best strategy Michael. Just drink and enjoy yourself. Home is where your heart is and make it...

You used the term "stranded" but the boundary is an illusion made in your mind from experience. If you rework it you are still on planet Earth and in reality there are no barriers. Just an endless infinite possibilities.

You could make it all the way back here to find you are no better off. NSW is showing little sign of curtailing the virus and it's only a matter of time before it's everywhere here too. So no guarantee of a better life. Grab a bit of time go sit on a mountain and gain some perspective on it. Sounds airy fairy but it works...plus you'll work off all the beer calories....

Thanks guys, I have decided to take the bull by the horns and make the most of the situation here, yes in other words turn lemons into lemonade. I have managed to renew my Australia drivers licence, my international drivers licence, got a bit of a fitness routine happening here, what will be will be, I look forward to each day and take it as it comes.
I'm sorry to hear about the covid flair up there, stay safe and I wish you all good health.

I hope it goes well for you too HappyD. It's a mixed up world right now and nothing really feels as though it is a sure thing. The only way to keep sanity is just to make sure you live each day the best way possible...in whatever circumstances. Some good advice I have always remembered is to look at everything as good. If you have a bad experience, what good has come of it....perhaps a lesson to learn...Micheal Jordans coach said those lessons teach you how to be better the next time.

Anyway hopefully you won't become a beer swilling fugitive in a foreign country and can make a good go of where you are.

Thanks simmrr for your words of wisdom , I do try and look at life with the same positive attitude as yourself, ofcourse there are times when one does have a weak moment.
You won't have to worry about me becoming a beer swilling fugitive, people seem to think very highly of Australia and the Australian people and I believe it's my duty to represent us in the highest possible way, you can count on me in that regard, I will not let Australia down.