fiction – Kiwis Do Fly

October 2025, Indonesia

So here we are onboard SV Banana Split. We have been asked a few times now; What are you doing now? A boat? Why? How? Where? Well yes, a boat. A 12.5 m sailing catamaran, so how did this come about? Well, it all started in a castle in France in 2019.

Chateau de La Barbaliniere, Thure, France

There is a bit of history to Banana Split which is fascinating. She was built in 1989 by a French explorer/photographer/singer/sailor, Antoine. Following a career in Engineering, he embarked on a singing career. Apparently, Antoine was a bit of a Pop star back in the day. He sang all through Europe and America and recorded numerous albums. This was a great life. But for Antoine, something was still missing.

In 1974, quite by accident, Antoine discovered sailing. He promptly embarked on his first solo round-the-world voyage. This began a lifelong journey that continued for more than 45 years. For fifteen years, he first sailed on the oversized schooner, OM and then the too small sloop, Voyage. In 1989 he returned to France and built Banana Split, the perfect travel companion. Banana Split became his home, mode of transport, and his workplace. In his own words “I began to practice the most wonderful job in the world: Traveling, discovering, meeting, feeling, loving…. And then telling stories.”

Antoine has published numerous books. Stories, autobiographies and photographic diaries. These have been translated into many languages and released all over the world giving inspiration to sailors and travellers alike. Following great success with books, Antoine progressed into film, a series of documentary films on travel and practical how-to-be-a-sailor. He continued to write music during this time and could be seen on TV preforming at times.

There are so many of his books, CD’s and DVDs here onboard. Sadly, for us, these are the one’s in French so makes reading a little difficult. Glossy hard cover coffee table books, novels of life sailing solo around the world, blue ray DVD series still in their wrappers. A life’s work and history of 1 man travelling the world. On this boat! Banana Split, the boat we now have the privilege to continue that work.

Google translating what I can from the covers of the books and researching this inspirational storyteller, has have given me so much respect for both him and his boat. Banana Split; she has done the hard yards. She has seen the sights and can tell the stories. Now she is looking after us, making new friends and creating new memories.

I have discovered all Antoine’s charts onboard. Nautical navigation is a bit of a passion and seeing these charts, with the courses and calculations, drawings and notes all over them is a real pleasure. There is a sextant onboard also, there were no chart plotters back when he began his journey.

So how did we end up here? This is a good question, and as I said, it all started in a castle in France.

In the fall of 2019, we are house sitting in the Loire Valley, France, for a wonderful couple Marie-Laure and Arnaud. We spent three months enjoying life in rural France. Working on the land, helping with the various ongoing projects which are necessary to keep an estate of that size functioning well and looking good – and, of course there was a puppy – Havane, Getting to know the amazing culture and people. It was a magical time.

Check out our stories from that time

https://kiwisdofly.blog/2019/11/15/our-fairy-tale-in-france/

On several occasions during our time at the Chateau, Marie-Laure and Arnaud’s good friend Antoine and his sailing cat, Banana Split, where mentioned and discussed. The boat had been in New Zealand for some time, so we had a lot to talk about. Marie-Laure and Arnaud and their 2 children had spent many trips on Banana Split both with and without Antoine over the years.

A few years later, Banana Split got stuck in Australia, on the NSW coast. The call was made. Can we sail the boat back to New Zealand? Well, yes, we are boat people and would be willing to crew, but we do not know how to sail. The answer to this protest was – “you are Kiwi’s, of course you know how to sail!” Also, across the Tasman sea? That is a big piece of water! But with one thing and another, weather and COVID being some, Banana Split got stranded in Australia.

Then finally time came, Antoine decided it was time to lay down his sails and sell the boat. Who better to intrust her with than Marie-Laure and Arnaud. But she is still in Australia. Discussions were had and plans were made over the next few years to relocate her to Malaysia, or Fiji or Indonesia, where the change of ownership would take pace. Marie-Laure and Arnaud would buy Banana Split in syndicate with another friend, Lee, from Alaska.

During this process, we were asked if we would like to be part of the project. We are so honoured to have been asked and here we are.

Banana Split was sailed up from Harvey Bay in Queensland, Australia to Sorong, West Papua, Indonesia. The hired skipper and crew got her there safely mid 2025. We arrived in Sorong in September for a month.

We are enjoying this bright yellow boat with a personality the size of her creator. We will help ready her for her new owners arriving in November. Chris has brought dive gear and is sourcing a compressor to be installed onboard. She is off to have the next few years discovering and enjoying Raja Ampat with her new family. Diving, sailing and meeting new friends. How lucky are we to be part of the team.

It hasnt been all work and no play! We spent 1 week sailing around some of the closer islands to Sorong. While anchored at Pulau Friwen we went ashore with an Australian couple who were anchored up at the same place. (More about that in our next story) On our walk around the island, we came across a French family who were holidaying in the little homestay on the island. The Dad of the family would have been about our age so I took a punt and asked him if he knew of Antoine.

As my research is proving, he is a very famous man in Europe. Oui! yes I do know of this man, he says. In fact he had several of his books as he is a sailor himself. He was so excited that we were on Banana Split and that she was anchored just around the corner. He would take photos to show his friends back home. He relayed to us that he thought Antoine was an incredible man, a very down to earth, real man with a fantastic sense of humour. He said he had seen Antoine recently on TV doing a travel show or something similar, which is so great to hear. Is this not just the smallest of worlds?

We are so very excited to be on this “world famous” boat

Thank you for reading our story

img_6415-1 — Gisbourne, 9 April 1998, getting ready for a trip to Tauranga with Karen and Leigh-Ann

Almost to the day, 9^th April 1998. Twenty-Seven years ago, I was driving from Gisborne to Tauranga. It was the Thursday before Easter weekend that year.

I had been living in Scotland for the previous eight years. We had decided to move back to New Zealand to raise our family. We had bought a house in Tauranga and were waiting for the settlement date and for our container load of household goods to arrive. My partner had gone back overseas to work and I was catching up with friends and family, filling in time until move-in day.

img_6429-1 — Playing at the beach, all limbs still intact

It was just starting to get dark. My dear friend Karen was in a car in front, I was following with my beautiful daughter Leigh-Ann, then only 2 years old. It was getting close to dinner time. We had stopped at the gas station in Opotiki and made the decision to go into Whakatane to McDonalds and have a break. I can’t remember that stop.

Somewhere after Taneatua, on the open road, 100km/h, a car swerved onto the middle line in front of Karen. She remembers thinking, “that was close” …. That car kept coming over the middle line and when he reached me it was a head on collision. Karen looked in her rear vision mirror and my lights had gone. I don’t remember the impact.

She turned her car around and found the carnage. I was unconscious. Karen unbuckled Leigh-Ann and put her into her car then came back to me. She thought I was dead. I can’t imagine the terror she must have felt in that moment. She leaned in on the passenger seat, I lifted my head up and looked at her. It was the weirdest feeling. I thought I had just woken from a lovely peaceful sleep and was confused why Karen was there. This lasted probably only seconds, it was almost in slow motion. Then I realised what had happened. My first thought was Leigh-Ann and I looked into the back seat where she had been buckled up in her car seat, she was gone. I will never ever forget Karen saying, “she’s ok, she’s beautiful”

I can’t remember an awful lot after that. I do remember the noise of the cutting gear and generators. There were also the blinding lights that had been set up. I remember a face very close to mine. The face had a fireman’s helmet on and it was through where the windscreen should have been. I remember a paramedic leaning on the passenger seat where Karen had leaned, talking to me. I can’t remember the conversation.

The steering wheel was close to my face so I could just lean my head forward and have a little rest on the wheel. I was holding my right elbow with my left hand, just like casually folding my arms, but I could feel the graunch and grind if I tried to move. But I felt no pain. I may have been medicated, but I can’t remember. My feet were stuck in the foot well. I was completely trapped, I couldn’t move. I got cramp in my foot but by then they were able to open up the gap to relieve the pressure on my feet.

They cut the two front pillars and peeled back the roof. My seat was wound back and a back board was slid down my back. The gap between dash and seat was widened with some sort of loud machinery and they hauled me out. Two firemen stood on the back seat and I was pulled straight up, out of the seat, onto the board and into the ambulance. Just like that I was free. The pain I felt during that manoeuvre was indescribable. Give me childbirth any day!

Off to Whakatane hospital where I was x-rayed top to bottom. I was in a bit of a mess. Too much for them so I was transferred to Tauranga hospital to get put back together.

It turns out that the driver of the other car was drunk. He sustained a few injuries, broken ribs and broken hip. He eventually went to court and was given a 12 month suspended sentence and was suspended from driving for 12 months. This was his third drink driving offense. What does it take to keep these lunatics off the road, will he kill the next one he crashes into?

My right elbow with big gaps in the bone

I sustained multiple fractures, some compound. My left pelvis was also fractured. I had deep cuts and bruises—bruises so severe, they’re hard to even describe. An imprint of the window winder was visible in the bruise pattern on my right thigh. After a few weeks a hematoma the size of a rugby ball developed in that spot. It’s hard to believe I didn’t sustain any internal injuries—just lucky, I guess. Since then, I’ve undergone several surgeries to remove various pieces of metal, including plates, screws, and wires. I have a jar full of them, tucked away in a box somewhere.

So that is the story of the accident. I got all patched up and sent on my way to live a long and healthy life. It was a five hour surgery, I was lucky to keep my arm. It was a long recovery with a month in hospital and another 5 weeks in a wheel chair. It was tricky to get mobile as I only had one limb in working order, that was my left arm. Have you ever tried to wipe your bum with you non-dominant hand? It is amazing what you can learn when you have to. Onto one crutch and then a walking stick. It took until October before I felt whole and able to go without home help etc.

img_6416-1 — you should have seen the circles, steering 1 handed

img_6417-1 — you should have seen the circles, steering 1 handed

Here I sit, 27 years later, almost to the day, just out of hospital following a triple Arthrodesis operation on my foot. That is a fusion of 3 joints in my ankle to us laymen. As a direct result of the accident, I have developed severe Post Traumatic Osteoarthritis. This has been causing more and more pain as the years go by. Fusing those joints will take away the pain. More screws and a plate – can’t wait to see the new x-ray! Apparently my foot was jammed on the brake at the time of the accident taking full impact and snapping my Talus in half. This tells us that I saw the accident happen and reacted – but I don’t remember. Isn’t it amazing how our brain can protect us from traumatic memories..

img_6360-1 — 1 April 2025, here we go again!

img_6366-1 — 1 April 2025, here we go again!

FYI my pelvis has never given me any trouble and other than plates and screws removal, my arm, though I have been left without full range of movement, has been almost fully functional from the get go. I am very lucky and thankful every day. I am especially thankful that my beautiful Leigh-Ann was not hurt.

They say 5 months recovery from this operation…. Hmmm lets try see if we can make it less! There is still an awful lot of world to see out there, people to meet and adventures to have. I won’t be idle for long!!

Tag: fiction

The Story Of Banana Split

October 2025, Indonesia

Thank you for reading our story

The Story Of The Accident

Thank you for reading my story.