About Harry and Malua
I am Harry Watson Smith, and I have been messing around in boats for most of my life. From building a canoe with my father in the Cape to racing, dive/fishing boats and cruising yachts, time on the water has shaped the experience I brought to Malua.
Building a boat for the journey
Malua – the yacht is an Australian cruising yacht designed by Joe Adams. Her hull and deck were moulded near Newcastle, and I completed the fit-out in Canberra over about three years. I planned her for extended cruising and living aboard, designing and installing the interior and choosing the systems for long passages. The myrtle timber interior is a particular part of her character.
Life aboard Malua
Malua has taken the family,friends and I through the Pacific, the Mediterranean, across the Atlantic and back through the Pacific to Australian waters. Denny has sailed with me since the late 1960s and joins me at many of the destinations. Friends and family have also shared different legs of the journey, each adding to the story.
The stories on this website
This website brings together the building of Malua, the voyages, photographs and practical experience gathered along the way. The voyage chapters tell the journeys in sailing order, while Tracks gives a quick reference to where Malua has cruised. My original blogs remain the journals for updates and other sailing and kayaking experiences.