The Crew
Our home is a yacht- Big Mama
Big Mama Sailing is owned and operated by Lisa, Stu, their son Fletcher and little sea dog Coco!
About your crew
Our passion, commitment, & many years of experience in the marine tourism industry, inspired us to follow our dream of owning and operating our own charter vessel (dreams do come true). 13 years later we are still happily sharing our vessels, our lifestyle and backyard with others.
We are proud that we have expanded our business, 2019, by restoring, Ragamuffin 111 and late 2023, restoring our third vessel, Samurai.
Stu has been sailing since he was 8 years old and for the past almost 40 years has been working in the marine
commercial industry, as a mate/snorkel guide, skippering, engineering on vessels and also as a skipper.
Lisa has been sailing and working in the commercial marine industry since she first met Stu over 29 years ago
whilst living in Townsville and working for Coral Princess Cruises.
Both completed our Master V and Marine Engineer Driver 111 commercial tickets and have been skippering
vessels prior to owning and operating Big Mama Sailing.
In 2004, we welcomed a new yachty aboard with the arrival of our son Fletcher.
Fletcher lived on board all his life & he was home schooled.
Fletcher is a competent crew member and has gained many important life skills & diverse marine experience. He also has his Master V, Marine Engine Driver 11 & STWC.
Coco, has lived on the boat since she was 8 weeks old. She turns 13 years old in May. She is a North Queensland born doggie, she was born in Cairns. This little dog has sailed enough sea miles in her life, that are equal to being around the world three times.
Prior to Big Mama Sailing, we spent around 16 years cruising, & we have sailed extensively in the waters of Australia, the Torres Straits, The Gulf, PNG & SE Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia & Thailand).
It is how we live.
It is our lifestyle.
We love what we do.
Our Vessels-Big Mama, Ragamuffin 111 & Samurai
BIG MAMA was built to replace a yacht of the same name and size, but different design, between 1989 and 1995.
Big Mama is a well known North Queensland built local vessel.
She was built at Wyalla Gardens, in Bloomfield River, Cape York, Far North Queensland, Australia.
The cabin and hull are steel, with high tensile being used below the waterline.
The naval architect was Joe Adams, with the ‘Scheel’ keel designed by Henry Scheel. The Master Yacht Builder was Olgut Upite, originally of Latvia.
Tradesmen and shipwrights included Oly’s 3 sons, Robert, Nick and Chris, as well as carpenters Ken and Mark Zippel and hull fairing by Geoff Freestone.
We purchased RAGAMUFFIN 111, a 47ft German Frers design, in March 2019 as a restoration project. She has a colourful history of racing - well known for her involvement in the Sydney to Hobart Race.
Naturally, she is fast, but she also boasts of an impressive saloon and generous deck space.
Both vessels are self sufficient and can operate off the grid.
We recently purchased our third vessel, SAMURAI, a 60ft Sparkman and Stephens design late 2023 as another restoration project. Samuari was built in Perth in 1979, by Veal Enginnering. Her birth name was Santervea. Samurai also has competed in various ocean races including Sydney to Hobart. Samurai is a comfortable & big volume vessel, with spacious decks & large open living area