A Treleaven Life and its Wildest Dream

by Sail-World Cruising on 2 May 2006 When Ian and Andrea Treleaven set off to make their sailing dreams come true three years ago, even their wildest dreams didn’t show what lay ahead.

Next month the superbly designed ‘coffee table’ quality book telling tales of their adventures in the Mediterranean will go on sale in two hemispheres. Called ‘Letters from the Med’, it describes in luscious detail the story of three summers of idyllic cruising, three summers which were described and published in Sail-World long before their cruising magazine was conceived.

'The book is beyond our wildest dreams,’ says Ian, ‘and the pics that Andrea took have certainly made it.’ It’s true – the photography is of the highest quality and the subject matter should have many making plans to follow in the Treleavens’ footsteps.

The Treleavens’ motto for the book says it all. ‘You only get one life but plenty of dreams to fulfil.’

The Treleavens were owners of the highly successful Line 7 and Musto nautical clothing brands in Australia. They decided to follow their dream while they were still fit enough to enjoy it. Their particular dream was to buy a yacht in the Mediterranean and slowly cruise back to the Australia. In 2003 they sold their business and bought a 1-year-old Beneteau Oceanis 473 yacht moored in Spain. But after spending an idyllic summer sailing the Med they decided to leave their boat, Cadiz, in Europe and return at the same time each year to explore this diverse region.

During their Mediterranean travels Andrea honed her skills with the keyboard and camera and began writing a weekly newsletter to friends. This expanded to a weekly feature on the www.sail-world.com website called ‘Treleaven’s Travels’.

Ian has a lifetime’s sailing experience. He was introduced to the sport as a young boy by his father who was president of the New Zealand Yachting Federation. He has represented New Zealand in racing and has worked in the industry across the globe.

Covering 11 countries and 8000 nautical miles Letters from the Med is the story of their travels. Filled with interesting tales of exotic places with stunning photographs to match, this book paints an alluring portrait of the playgrounds of the jet-set, balmy remote coves, mouth-watering markets and fascinating ancient history.

Letters from the Med has something for everyone – it’s a travel narrative, a cookbook and a sailing guide featuring hints, tips and recipes throughout its pages. But although it is infinitely practical it is also enchanting, transporting you to the deck of Cadiz and allowing you to experience the Med at its best as well as the joys and sorrows of living aboard a boat.

Andrea and Ian now live in Sydney, Australia, and spend as much of their free time as possible aboard Cadiz.

'Letters from the Med: Summer cruising under the endless sun' Written by Andrea and Ian Treleaven, will be launched to the Media in Australia at the CYCA at 6.30pm on the 6th June and in New Zealand at the Tamaki Yacht Club Auckland at 6.30pm on the 8th June. The book is available in the UK on www.amazon.co.uk and worldwide at Boat Books .

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