Dream comes true for Sydney couple

BY CHERIE HOWE

It's not the Greek Islands, but Phil and Deb Clegg have definitely escaped the "four walls" of their old hair salon with a charter sailing business in the Kenepuru Sound.

The couple have run Sounds by Sail yacht charters on their luxury 32-foot Beneteau yacht Relax since crossing the Tasman to settle in Marlborough just over a year ago.

For the pair it was the realisation of a dream to own a sailing charter business – even if Deb's dream of sailing the Greek Islands has not yet been realised.

The former Sydney hairdresser says she loved sailing from the moment she stepped on a yacht.

The couple say they are very happy to make their home and their living in the idyllic Kenepuru Sound.

The parents-of-two fell in love with the area during a visit to Phil's brother Mike and his partner Lynley Perkins, who own Hopewell Lodge in the Sound.

"We just came here for a visit and thought this is where it's going to happen; it's beautiful and there's no-one else doing sailing charters here," Phil says.

During my trip with the pair we sail across the sound in a steady wind to Double Bay.

As a passenger, I don't have to do anything, but if passengers want to help, the opportunity is there, Phil says.

At Double Bay we discover kayakers napping on the beach, enjoying the peace and quiet of the sound.

They don't stir as Phil drops anchor and Deb prepares a delicious feast of marinated mussels, bread, hummus and pesto, washed down with a glass of Marlborough wine.

This is much better than sitting in front of my computer back at the office – something Phil readily agrees with.

The dream of running his own charter business developed when he worked as skipper for a yacht charter business in Sydney.

Formerly a tiler, and before that a hairdresser – he quit working in his and Deb's hairdressing business when the "four walls around" him became too much – it was during the charter work he realised he had found his dream job.

"As soon as I started doing that I thought, `This is what I want to do', [and] I love it here, every sailing day is different. Some of the best sails I've had have been in driving rain and wind."

For Deb her love of sailing is a natural extension of her passion for the sea.

"I loved it right from the start, it just felt natural."

The couple enjoy sharing their passion with guests from all over the world on a variety of sailing trips, ranging from three-hour tours to a "luxury night afloat" where guests are left alone on the yacht overnight while it is anchored in a sheltered bay.

The support of nearby resorts is particularly welcome, with both Phil and Deb grateful for the customers sent their way.

Business is growing, with large numbers of bookings in the past month, they say. Still, the business is not yet fully sustainable and Phil also works a few days a week on a mussel farm.

The eventual dream is to devote themselves solely to sailing charters, with the best scenario to work the New Zealand summer before sailing north for the winter, Phil says.

"It wouldn't even matter if we were working, just being out there is the main thing."

For more information see the website soundsbysail.co.nz.

- The Marlborough Express