Chris Dahlberg  sailed into Port Douglas on 27 Jan 1985 to start a new life with boats. He had his own private sailing boat and joined the crew of the Martin Cash to gain some local sea time. With sea time accrued with the Royal Australian Navy and sea time on private boats Chris was able to sit the USL (Universal Shipping Laws) Master Class V Trading exams in 1989. Of the the 45 candidates Chris was only one of three to pass the exams on the first attempt.
Back in 1970 Chris topped the Australia wide SGCE (Services General Certificate of Education) Navigation exam with a credit. Only one other candidate passed of the 11 that sat the exam.
Whilst sailing up the Queensland coast in 1984 Chris entered the Gold Coast Marine Academy Competition for Navigation and was awarded first prize.
Chris sailed into Port Douglas the day after Australia Day in 1985 after a near 12 month adventure sailing up the Queensland coast. Sailing along with him were a past Commodore of the Port Douglas Yacht Club, Kiwi, Henry Cotter and legendary Sergio Testa from Brisbane. Serge's homemade 11' 10" aluminum sloop, Acrohoc Australis continued on to circumnavigate the world over the next 3 years. Achoroc is in the Brisbane Maritime Museum within spitting distance of where Serge launched her in June 1984.

Photo by Niels Helleman